South Hill Red Cross shelter open for Pierce County flood evacuees
The American Red Cross has set up a shelter in South Hill for people to use if they are flooded out of their homes.
Residents can go to the shelter at Meridian Habitat Park, which is located at 14422 Meridian East. Tracy Sheehy, the Red Cross manager, said the building is owned by Pierce County and they worked with the county to open the shelter Wednesday morning. It is open 24 hours a day.
“When they come in here, we will register them, get them into our system, and we will get them assigned to a cot,” Sheehy said. “We provide blankets, we expect folks – if they’re going to come in – to bring their personal toiletries, their personal clothing and things like that. If they have a pillow they want to bring with them, bring that.”
Sheehy said they also offer food to keep visitors fed.
“We provide food – so it can be a hot meal, it can be snacks, water, coffee, things like that for them so they can come in, relax and not worry about what’s happening in their homes,” Sheehy said.
This is the only shelter that is open in Pierce County, Sheehy said, although Sumner residents can visit the Gordon Family YMCA during the day without a membership pass.
The City of Puyallup issued a Level 3 (Go Now) evacuation order to all residents living at the Crossroads at Meridian apartment complex at 1027 N Meridian. Level 2 (Get Set) evacuation warnings have also been issued for the Riverside Park Apartments and a Level 1 (Be Ready) notice for the River Trail Apartments.
According to a Facebook post from the Sumner Police Department, a Level 3 evacuation order has been issued for the Rainier Manor neighborhood. A Level 2 evacuation warning is in place for the 29th Street residential area off of 29th Street, and businesses up to the roadway at 142nd Avenue East. The Retreat Apartments and Rivergrove neighborhood are under Level 1 evacuation warnings.
The City of Orting lifted all of its evacuation warnings at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday and said all of its residents can return home.
“With the additional evacuations going on, we’re expecting folks to come in tonight and stay until they can get back in their homes,” Sheehy said.
Orting had a shelter open at the Multi-Purpose Center at 202 Washington Avenue South on Wednesday, but it was closed when The News Tribune visited on Thursday at 3 p.m.
“If you are in need of housing or evacuation assistance, please contact Pierce County [Office of Emergency Management] at 253-798-6595,” the City of Orting wrote in a Facebook post.
Floods also caused road closures across East Pierce County, which prompted traffic congestion in Puyallup, Sumner, Orting, South Prairie and more.
To stay up-to-date on flooding throughout the county, visit PierceCountyWa.gov/Ready.
