Evacuations urged in Orting, Pierce County

With water rising in the Orting area, emergency officials have urged 700 residents in the area to evacuate to avoid flooding from the Carbon and Puyallup rivers.

A Pierce County emergency management spokeswoman, Sheri Badger, said that automated phone calls went to the residents at about 5 a.m., and sheriff's deputies went house-to-house asking residents to move to higher ground.

"We just think it's going to get worse," Badger said. "They're expecting them to crest at 4 a.m. tomorrow morning at well over flood stage."

At least three people were rescued by boat this morning after being trapped by high water outside Orting, about 10 miles southeast of Tacoma. Fire and rescue personnel from several agencies launched at least two small motorboats to check an area where neighbors said about two dozen people live.

Diane Knowles of Eatonville said three of her relatives were taken to safety in the rescue operation.

"It came up so fast this time, there wasn't really time to think about it," she said, adding that the family's homes did not appear to be in danger.

Rescue personnel also were checking for others who might be trapped. Knowles said there were 20 to 30 homes in the area.

Pierce County opened its Emergency Operations Center this morning in preparation for predicted flooding. Current flooding could equal the floods experienced in November of 2006.

In Sumner, officials were advising some residents to get to higher ground: Those living at Rainier Manor, the Rivergrove Apartments and the units of Riverwalk directly adjacent to the Puyallup River.

Several Pierce County roads are under water, shelters have opened for displaced residents, and some schools have closed. The Evergreen Presbyterian Church in Graham, at 10118 249th St. East, opened as of 8:30 a.m. to accommodate evacuees, according to Pierce County officials.

A six-mile stretch of Highway 162 is closed in Orting. And the northbound lane of Highway 161 was closed at 224th Street.

Portions of this report were provided by The News Tribune in Tacoma.