Officials anticipate the largest amount of water flow to Kings County will arrive within the next 12 to 24 hours.

As extreme weather passes throughout the state, the Kings County Director of Emergency Services proclaimed a state of emergency due to the impacts of the recent winter storms and their sustained effect on Kings County. County officials warn that the storm has and will continue to impact several roads and cause numerous hazards throughout the County, all of which can cause risk to human safety and property.

  The purpose of the emergency proclamation is to address extensive weather-related damage and future damage from snow melt, debris flow, and flooding anticipated to occur throughout the County’s 1,292 square miles.

 County officials say large amounts of snow have accumulated in the Sierra Nevada Mountains in the watersheds of the Kings River, the Kaweah River, the Tule River, and Deer Creek, and Kings County anticipates flood releases from Pine Flat Dam, Terminus Dam and Success Dam and uncontrolled flood flows in Mill Creek, Dry Creek, Deer Creek, and other local streams, on both the east and west sides of the Valley.

Emergency Preparedness

Kings County officials are encouraging residents to be adequately prepared. Tips issued by the Red Cross on how to prepare you and your family for emergencies including flooding, power outages, and winter storms can be found at the following link: https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies.html.

Driving in Rain

Wet pavement contributes to nearly 1.2 million accidents per year. Prepare your car in advance of a rainstorm by making sure windshield wipers are in good working condition. Tire treads should also be the proper depth to provide good traction on wet roadways.

In a rainstorm, be sure to:

• Turn on your headlights. Rain impedes visibility. By turning on your headlights, other drivers are more likely to see your car.
• Turn off your cruise control. When roadways are slick, cruise control impairs your ability to adjust speed quickly. You should be in full control of your car when the rain falls.
• Slow down to avoid hydroplaning. At speeds as low as 35 miles per hour, tires can lose contact with the roadway during a rainstorm.
• If you begin to skid, avoid hard braking, or turns, which can also contribute to hydroplaning. Try to remain calm and continue looking and driving in the direction you would like the car to go.

Preparing Your House for Rain

A little preparation goes a long way to take care of your home during heavy rains. Here are some tips to keep your home safe and dry:

• Check the inside of the house to be sure there are no signs of water leaks—mold, water rings, or paint discoloration. Make any necessary repairs.
• Check doors and windows to ensure they seal properly.
• Prune and remove dead branches from trees in your yard, which can fall on or around your house during a storm.
• Have sandbags on hand for low areas of your house to keep water at bay during a flood.

Staying Safe During a Flash Flood

Emergency preparedness is the best way to keep you and your family safe during a flood. The following tips will help you prepare for the worst:

• Listen to local weather stations during storms for possible flood warnings.
• If there is a flood in your area, get to higher ground and stay there until it is safe to return.
• Steer clear of flood water. As little as six inches of moving water can sweep you off your feet. Keep children away from flood water too.
• If approaching a flooded road by car, turn around. Cars can be swept away by less than two feet of moving water. If you cannot turn around and water is rising around you, get out of the car quickly and move to higher ground.
• Assemble an emergency supply of food, water, and other necessities. For a list of suggested supplies to have on hand during a flash flood, visit redcross.org.
• If you see someone in distress due to flooding, DO NOT ENTER THE FLOOD AREA TO HELP THEM. Please call 911 and follow any instructions given.

Sandbags 

The following locations are providing sandbags to residents for no cost, just simply bring a shovel, supplies are limited so we encourage residents to only take what is needed. These are self-service locations. *Sandbag tip fill bag 1⁄2 to 3⁄4, they work better keeping water out when stacked than bags that are completely full*

• City of Hanford 900 S. 10th Ave. 7:00 a.m. through 8:00 p.m. Monday-Friday
• City of Corcoran 750 North Ave. 7:00 a.m. through 4:00 p.m. Monday-Friday
• City of Lemoore Corner of F. St. and Fox St. is open Monday-Sunday
• City of Avenal 108 W Kings St, Avenal, CA 93204 Monday-Sunday
• County of Kings 10871 Bonneyview Lane, Hanford CA, 24-hour access

If you have a critical emergency, call 911.

Kings County Non-Emergency Communication Centers

Kings County Sheriff’s Office and Avenal PD 559-852-2720 and 559-584-9276

Hanford PD and Lemoore PD  559-585-2535

Corcoran PD 559-992-5151 dispatch is option 1.

By opting into the Kings County emergency mass notification system, you will be informed before, during, and after incidents that could impact your safety. Kings County OES will launch a mass notification system that notifies registered users of important emergency information pertaining to severe weather, police and fire emergencies, public health crises, etc.

You have complete control over alerts and can choose the delivery method of your choice: text, email, or phone call. Register today to receive alerts and notifications through the citizen opt-in portal by visiting: www.kingsoes.com/alert Maps Attached is the link to Kings County Community Development Geographic Information System, this allows the public to view the Kings County map with various layers to view local flood watch area of concern and other functions.

https://kingscomdev.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=35c6e6dac504