By DENNIS BOX

Reporter Newspapers

If the Green River floods the valley this winter, Covington is as prepared as any city can be to assist people who are evacuating and provide emergency services.

Although Covington is not in the Green River flood zone, it is one of the evacuation routes for Auburn and Kent residents if problems with the Howard Hanson Dam occur as predicted.

Community Relations Coordinator Karla Slate has set up an emergency page on the city’s Web site with information concerning any regional emergency, and community links with more information.

“I was getting a lot of calls about what would happen if there was a flood,” Slate said. “We are in the direct evacuation route. I wanted people to know there could be a lot traffic and trucks may not be able to deliver goods.”

The city’s Public Works Director Glenn Akramoff said backups on Kent-Kangley Road and State Route 18 could cause serious problems for residents. Commuters may have problems getting to work and parents could have difficulty finding routes to get their children to school on time.

Slate took the city’s Web site and added the emergency-preparedness page so anyone could “get the most current information,” she said.

Slate said people also can sign up for police e-mail alerts, which can be sent to their computer or cell phone.

The site is an information tool for residents and for people living outside the city.