Seven emergency responders from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District, return to Seattle after deploying to Taholah, Wash., beginning March 25 to perform emergency repairs to a damaged seawall.
More than half of the 1,100-foot seawall suffered excessive damage when severe weather impacted the area last week.
After receiving a request for direct assistance from the Quinault Indian Nation, Corps emergency responders arrived within 24 hours and built an access ramp to allow equipment onto the seawall, removed the capstones, and installed a filter blanket and armor rock.
The emergency temporary repairs remained intact through high tides and storm surge and prevented flooding to 700 Taholah residents who make their homes nearby.
The Corps team worked around the clock to complete repairs to the seawall before high tides peaked Saturday afternoon.
They then shifted their focus to clean-up operations as the heavy rains passed.
Corps assistance peaked with 11 deployed members and 24-hour operations over the weekend in the district’s Emergency Operations Center.
Teams remained to monitor conditions until the major storm threat passed.
Light rain is expected over the next few days and should have little impact on the return of Corps personnel.
Public Law 84-99 enables the Corps to assist state and local authorities in flood fight activities and cost share in the repair of flood protection structures.
The purpose is to prevent loss of life and minimize property damage associated with severe weather.
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Press Release, April 1, 2014