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Worried about Flooding? There's an App for That in King County

King County's Flood Warning App showing recent data from the Snoqualmie River at high flow.

King County has released an appthat puts flood warning information at residents' fingertips. The smartphone- and tablet-friendly app displays real-time flooding information on major rivers in the county.

The app shows graphs and charts for flood gages on eight rivers. Easy-to-read displays show recent data in blue and the forecast data in green. The aim is to help users understand when flooding might occur, and how high the water might rise.

“It tells you what’s currently happening, and it also tells you what to expect in terms of the best available forecasts,” said program manager Ken Zweig. “It only takes a few clicks to get to the river of interest and the gage of interest.”

Of course, this information can also be accessed via computer, but many people may have trouble accessing a computer during a flood.

King County also has a flood alert system that notifies residents via email, text message, or voice call when certain river conditions arise. Residents can sign up by calling 206-477-4899.

Residents can also call a 24-hour phone line during flood events: 206-296-8200 or 1-800-945-9263.)

An estimated 11,000 properties with more than 6,000 structures are located in the King County flood plain.

Bellamy Pailthorp covers the environment for KNKX with an emphasis on climate justice, human health and food sovereignty. She enjoys reporting about how we will power our future while maintaining healthy cultures and livable cities. Story tips can be sent to bpailthorp@knkx.org.