South Park residents prepare for next round of flooding as many are still displaced from their homes

SEATTLE — A whole bunch of sandbags line the Duwamish River shoreline in anticipation of one other spherical of King Tides.

Three weeks in the past, Seattle’s South Park neighborhood was submerged in ft of water after the river spilled over its banks. Officers at Seattle Public Utilities say the flooding there was unprecedented.

“In our Dec. 27 occasion, we had the bottom stress of your complete yr, which created a storm surge,” stated Ellen Stewart with SPU.

In line with Stewart, SPU surveyed the river final week and recognized 5 low factors. Crews have since fortified these with sandbags and different barricades like eco-blocks.

Beginning on Jan. 21, crews will likely be on standby in case sea stage rises sooner than anticipated.

Within the meantime, displaced residents like Andy Cenarussa really feel helpless. His household has spent the final three weeks dwelling out of a lodge. He’s unsure if it should ever be secure to completely return house.

“It’s form of my opinion that that is now not liveable land,” stated Cenarussa. “That is going to proceed to worsen.”

Whereas Cenarussa appreciates the emergency response from SPU, he thinks a long-term answer is desperately wanted. His neighbor, Emily Lucey, agrees.

“Whereas this river flood is a brand new occasion, we’ve had sewage flooding right here for the final forty or fifty years,” stated Lucey. “Town’s lack of response and lack of infrastructure has led to lots of homes being run down.”

In line with the town, housing will likely be offered for displaced residents till the top of January.

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