New Houses in Flood Plain

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Story Published: Nov 24, 2009 at 12:20 AM PDT

By Stacy Lilienthal

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The Naches River has been shifting. Now a new map adds 300 new properties to the flood plain.

"I have my flood insurance," Jack Ellenberger told Action News. He said his property hasn't flooded since the late 1920s, but he buys insurance anyway. Now 300 more properties in the Lower Valley may also need the insurance. Many people just found out they're now in a flood plain. That not only impacts their reason for getting flood insurance, but it also impacts the things they can do on their own property. "A lot of time you have to leave a lot of trees and habitat out there to help the flood water slow down, also there's fishery concerns, there's a lot of them. Just check your local jurisdiction," Yakima County Surface Water Program Coordinator, Jeff Legg told Action News. You may also have a more difficult time passing new construction unless it's built above the flood level. The county recommends you flood proof your home or business.

Damage still left from the 1996 flood and new flood predicting technology helped expand the flood perimeter. "So you feel pretty confident?" Action News asked Ellenberger. "Oh I feel very safe," he replied. While homeowners like Ellenberger don't expect a flood any time soon, at least now more know to expect it.

You should have already received a letter from the county if you're now in the flood plain. Go to the links section to find out if you’re in the flood plain, learn how to flood proof your home, and how to find flood insurance.

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