County Centralizes Its Flood Response Property Owners Warned They Are Likely To Be On Their Own

Folks who live near water shouldn’t count on the government to protect their property from spring floods, Spokane County officials said Wednesday.

In most cases, county crews and firefighters can only help homeowners if lives are at risk, officials said at a news conference that capped recent meetings of emergency response agencies. That means people whose property lies in the path of high waters should stockpile sandbags and sand, and take other steps to defend their homes.

In past years, when homeowners have called for help during rising water, they’ve often been shuffled from one agency to another in their search for help, county engineer Bill Johns said. This year, Johns and other county officials met with area fire chiefs to decide exactly which agency could do what.

Now, those frantic callers will be told that the county can only protect roads and other publicly owned infrastructure. The Sheriff’s Department and fire districts will handle any crisis that threatens human life, with the county Public Works Department providing equipment and other assistance.

Otherwise, homeowners are officially on their own.

Fire District 4 Chief Ed Lewis said the rules aren’t hard and fast.

“Every fire organization’s going to respond a little bit differently,” he said. “In our organization, if we can assist someone, we will do so.”

But the fire district can’t do much if more than a few houses flood. And firefighters won’t respond to calls to help prevent property damage if they’re needed elsewhere for more urgent matters, he said.

The National Weather Service warns that a near-record snowpack could mean big floods along the Little Spokane River, Newman Lake and other lakes and rivers fed with water from the highest peaks. The risk is less severe for Hangman Creek and other streams fed by foothills, where most of the snow is gone, meteorologist Lyle Hammer said.

Hammer said recent warm days and cool nights are ideal for a gradual thaw that limits flooding. Trouble will come if there’s a long spell of hot weather or warm rains that would melt the snow quickly, he said.

TO FIND HELP Sandbag suppliers Spokane County provides a list of companies that sell sand and sandbags to property owners concerned about flooding. The same fact sheet includes tips for coping with high water. For a copy, call 477-2204.