Issaquah is now on flood watch as Issaquah Creek flood level is at Phase 1 with an over 6.5-foot swell and heavy rains expected to continue.

A stream monitor placed in Issaquah Creek near Hobart and managed by the U.S. Geological survey indicated that by 2:45 pm on Feb. 28, the creek had swelled to over 7 feet in height and had a discharge of over 600 cubic feet per second.

For reference, the same stream monitor had not measured the water level to be over 4.25 feet or the discharge to be over 81 cubic feet per second in the last 30 days.

Issaquah will enter Flood Phase II when the creek surges to 7.5 feet and will escalate to Flood Phase III once the creek level surges to 8.5. At Flood Phase III the city recommends evacuations for certain residents.

The city is recommending that residents follow flood safety steps and protocols including making sure everyone knows the emergency phone numbers, learning the safest route from your home or business to high ground, making arrangements for housing in case you need to evacuate your home, identifying a meeting place and share phone numbers in case your family is separated by rising flood waters, and teaching all family members how and when to turn off gas, electricity and water lines.

The city announced that free sandbags are available for community members at the Issaquah Community Center at 301 Rainier Blvd S.

Residents can sign up for flood alerts here.