Down come the leaves and out go the warnings.
In an annual plea at this time of year, Pierce County is asking the public to help reduce roadway flooding by keeping storm drains free of leaves.
“Leaves are falling and the rainy season is back,” a combination that, if unchecked, can turn roads into mini-lakes said Dennis Hanberg, the county’s Planning and Public Works director.
“Leaves can clog storm drains, resulting in roadway flooding when it rains,” Hanberg said, so the county encourages citizens to think of themselves as de facto road crews and “regularly check storm drains near their properties to make sure they aren’t blocked by leaves.”
To keep storm drains clear:
• Put leaves and other yard debris in bins for pickup. Or find transfer stations where you can drop off yard waste at www.piercecountywa.org/yardwaste.
• If it can be done safely, remove leaves from storm drains with a rake.
• If a blockage can’t be cleared, the roadway is flooding, or a storm drain is on a busy road, call Pierce County Planning and Public Works at 253-798-6000 or submit a request for action at www.piercecountywa.org/rfa. That applies to county roads. Residents of cities need to work with their municipalities.
• Call 253-798-6000 if flooding is along a stream, river or pond in unincorporated (outside city limits) areas of the county.
Heavy rain may cause roadside storm drains and ditches to overflow and flood the roadway. River flooding may also affect roads. As the rain saturates the ground, there is also an increased risk of downed trees and landslide, Hanberg noted.
County road crews clear drainage systems, downed trees and landslides when possible, close roads or lanes if they aren’t passable, and maintain drain systems proactively to reduce flooding. When even all that can’t prevent flooding, the public should take certain precautions, Hanberg said.
The county has 1,560 miles of roads.
Motorists shouldn’t drive through standing water, near downed trees or utility lines, or around road-closure barricades.
Additional information about winter or severe weather is available at piercecountywa.org/winterwise.
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