The National Weather Service has issued a flood warning for the Puyallup River upstream of the Orting area, and a flood watch for other rivers in Pierce County. With more rain expected this week, Pierce County officials have provided information related to resources available for areas in unincorporated Pierce County. Residents in cities and towns should contact their local public works departments to report flooding or storm drain problems. To report flooding on roadways, call (253) 798-6000. To report all other flooding problems and to listen to a recording with flood updates, contact the Pierce County Flood Information Hotline at (253) 798-4274. Finally, visit http://www.piercecountywa.org/flood for continuous flood alerts.

You can prevent street flooding by cleaning up leaves. If it’s safe to do so, rake leaves off storm drains in your neighborhood to avoid clogging.

Residents living near river and floodplains and other flood-prone areas are encouraged to watch the latest forecasts on flooding potential.

If it does flood, there are several health concerns to keep in mind. Flood waters can be dangerous, so do not try to walk or drive through them. If you come into contact with flood waters, wash your hands with soap and clean water to avoid bacteria. After the flood waters recede, clean up wearing gloves and boots. Wash all clothes and linens in hot water and discard mattresses or stuff furniture that had contact with flood waters.

Food that had contact with flood waters is not safe to eat and should be discarded, although canned food is safe if the cans are thoroughly washed. If your well is flooded, your tap water is probably unsafe for use. If you have public water, the Health Department will let you know when your water is safe to drink. Septic systems do not function when there is standing water on the ground around it, so should not be used until the soil has dried. For more information about health issues related to floods, please visit http://www.tpchd.org .