[VIDEO] During Monday’s briefing, the Mason County Commission discussed what residents of the upper Skokomish Valley can do if flooding forces the closure of Skokomish Valley Road this winter.
For years, Green Diamond Resource Company allowed it’s 800/808 roads to be used as an evacuation route. Last January, a landslide restricted the roads to daytime traffic only. The route was then closed to all traffic after road conditions deteriorated. Green Diamond is now saying the 800/808 roads are no longer safe to travel and are no longer available as an emergency route.
In the short term, County officials will be asking those 100 or so people who live in the affected area to evacuate before flood water forces the closure of Skokomish Valley Road or be ready to shelter in place until water recedes and the road reopens. That population should also sign up for the County’s Alert Sense to be notified of weather events and road closures as well as other emergency information. (Click here to sign up for Alert Sense.)
West Mason Fire Chief Matthew Welander ask the County to install gates at some key access points to limit outsiders from coming into the valley during flood events. These non-valley residents have prompted several water rescues over the years.
The County will be looking into what it will take to make the 800/808 roads passable and work continues to improve the Skokomish Valley Road to make it more passable during flood events. However, that work wouldn’t start until the summer of 2022 at the earliest.
If warranted, and only as a last resort, the County could use its emergency power to open the 800/808 roads in case an evacuation is necessary.
Mason County Public Works and Mason County Emergency Management will be sending letters to Skokomish Valley residents explaining the situation.