The Green River reached a Phase IV flood alert Jan. 16 following a controlled water being released from Howard Hanson Dam.

Maple Valley Community Emergency Response Team or CERT members opened and managed a sandbagging station to assist flood victims Jan. 17 and 18.

King County Flood Control Division supplied the sand and bags while Tahoma School District supplied the facility located at 23015 SE 216th Way, Maple Valley (the old Tahoma bus garage).

Most of the flood victims were from the lower part of the Dorre Don Road, Byers Road, Bain Road and Royal Arches Park. More than 40 yards of sand was shoveled and about 3,000 bags were filled in a 3 hour period. The following is a list of participants who managed and/or filled bags and deserve a hugh thank you.

• Boy Scout Troop 711, 767 and the LDS Church

• Layton Meyers, Griffin Meyers, Bella Meyers, Sophia Meyers, Don Nicholas, and Eric Weber

• King County Flood Control District: John Koon and Ken Zweig

• Maple Valley CERT members Stephanie Kenitzer, Paul Bokor, Janine Johnson, AJ Downer, Rick Downer, Diana Holt, David Johnston, Carole Johnston, Ron Snyder, Brenda Carl, James Hoge, Mary Ann Knarreborg, Ilene Beal, Cathy Coselman, Troy Coselman, Marcus Coselman, Dana Coselman, Debra Barrett, Brain Winterlich and Claudia Barnes

• Maple Valley Transitional Program

Also a big thank you to Sue VanRuff from the Maple Valley/Black Diamond Chamber of Commerce for helping to get the word out that the station was open. Together we made a difference.

Janine Johnson

Public information officer

Maple Valley Fire and Life Safety