It was interesting last week, breaking in a new editorial staff to the intricacies of flooding here in the Snoqualmie Valley. I laughed at the television as several stations aired footage from Fall City with the Snoqualmie River in the background. I even had to laugh a bit at our own company when I got a call from a photo editor, asking if we had any good flood shots.

Yes, the mud puddle across the street from the Valley Record office was about 4 inches deep in the middle. (Good thing I drive a truck with a lift kit.) Yes, we experienced a high amount of rain and, yes, I again could not find a good coat to wear. Yes, we do get flooding in some low-lying areas when we get that kind of rainfall, and yes, inevitably, some idiot decides to try and drive through these low-lying areas and gets stuck. (I kind of have this urge to test things out myself.)

If you’re new to the area, or just new to flooding, you might have noticed that most long-time residents weren’t too nervous. So what is it they knew that the television stations didn’t. Well, it just wasn’t time. None of the factors were there to make things flood.

First, there usually has to be snow in the mountains. Then, if the temperature warms and rains start to melt the snowpack, as well as pound the Valley, the rivers rise much faster and we start getting nervous.

And the numbers weren’t there. A great Web site, www.wa.water.usgs.gov/rt-cgi/gen_tbl_pg, tells you everything you need to know. The U.S. Geological Survey has five monitors in the Upper Valley and nine in the Lower Valley, watching the Snoqualmie, Raging and Tolt rivers. The Upper Valley monitors have one on each fork of the Snoqualmie, one on Boxley Creek and one in Snoqualmie. I typically watch the Snoqualmie monitor and react only if the numbers get too high. In the case of the Snoqualmie monitor, if the numbers get into the 40,000-cubic-feet-per-second (cfs) range, then we start to get a little anxious. In comparison, last week the cfs came in at about 22,500 at the peak of flow, not even close to anxiety range. And as the staff was making preparations for big flood stories and heading to Carmichael’s to buy chest waders, I was calmly trying to inform them not to worry. I watched the North, South and Middle Fork gauges peak and fall as the Snoqualmie gauge kept rising, telling me that things were about over. But never fear, the television news is here to make things loom larger than life.

There are, however, things you can do to prepare. If floods are in the forecast, have plenty of fuel in your vehicles. If you are in a low-lying area, be prepared with sandbags, shovels, flashlights, food and water. It is not uncommon for some areas to be cut off from the rest of us.

Do not attempt to drive through areas that are flooded. You may know a road well, but you wouldn’t know if the road has been undermined by running water. One common aggravation from flooding is lookie-loos. Please, keep in mind that families may be facing the loss of personal property in a flood. High water does not give others the right to observe the tragedies of flooding. In other words, stay away if you aren’t involved.

Last, but not least, if you want to get involved, lend a hand in sand-bagging, or some volunteer activity. We have survived many floods with the help of our neighbors.

One more thing. It doesn’t hurt to have a boat, just in case that cfs reading climbs above 50,000.