Commission to consider more flood warning

How much warning of potential flooding do residents of Wahkiakum County's low lying areas need?

County officials are going to analyze the potential benefit of installing a system that would remotely monitor water levels and report fluctuations by radio to a computer which would post the information on a website and notify emergency management officials of potential flooding.

Ron Kimmel, a retired naval officer and amateur radio enthusiast who has been working with the sheriff's office on emergency management issues, brought the idea to the board of commissioners on Tuesday. He said that he had learned of the system while attending a ham operator conference in Clark County, which has the monitors on five rivers.

He estimated it would cost, at most, $1,800, to set up the system with one monitor on the Grays River. Additional monitoring stations could be added for a few hundred dollars, he said.

Commissioners gave the suggestion a lukewarm reception but said they wanted to know details about costs and operational needs.

"We get notification of potential flooding from the state," said Commissioner Blair Brady. "I wonder if this wouldn't be a duplication. It's cheaper to use data that's already in place."

Commissioner Dan Cothren questioned what need, if any, the system would address. People who live in a valley know how their streams respond to heavy rains and storm tides.

"What are you going to solve," he asked. "You know the river is going to flood. I don't see a big advantage to it."

Kimmel said the radio system would provide information very fast.

"With what you have now, you have to gather data and put it together," he said. "What I'm suggesting would put it all together immediately."

After further discussion, board Chair Lisa Marsyla asked Kimmel to gather more information and present it to the board at a future meeting.