With the rain falling, and more predicted, Issaquah residents will be casting a wary eye on Issaquah Creek to see if we are headed for a repeat of the floods in January of this year.

In order to keep residents informed of high water conditions in their area, King County has developed a Flood Warning Program, to warn residents and agencies of impending floodwaters on major rivers.

At www.kingcounty.gov/flood you can check up-to-date data on the flow and water height of Issaquah Creek, as well as other vulnerable waterways in the area, such as the Cedar and Raging rivers.

The purpose of the Web site is to help residents take action to prepare themselves before serious flooding occurs.

In most locations, the warning system provides at least two hours lead time before floodwaters reach damaging levels.

Residents can sign up to receive flood alerts, via e-mail or voice and text messages.

River and flood information is also available by calling the flood warning information line at 206-296-8200 or 800-945-9263.

Flood warnings are triggered on a four-tier system.

Issaquah Creek triggers a Phase 1 alert when a water of height of 6.5 ft is measured. Phase 2 is triggered at 7.5 ft, Phase 3 at 8.5 ft, and Phase 4 = 9 ft.

As of Wednesday morning, the Issaquah Creek was at 4.18 ft, with a flow rate of 126 cubic feet per second (cfs). This compares to the average of records taken over the last 45 years of 139 cfs.

The highest recorded figure during that time was 612 cfs in 2004. The lowest was in 1980, when flow measured just 22 cfs.

If a warning is issued by the National Weather Service or by King County, residents should prepare for flooding.

At Phase 1, county personnel are put on alert and preparations are made to open the Flood Warning Center.

When a Phase 2 threshold is reached, the center is opened. Staff at the center monitor river gages and flood conditions around the clock and are available to take calls from the public.

When a Phase 3 threshold is reached, investigation crews are sent out to monitor flood control facilities (such as levees).

A Phase 4 event would involve evacuation procedures and steps to limit damage to property.

For information on what to do if there is flooding in your area, go to www.kingcounty.gov/environment/waterandland/flooding, or call the numbers listed above.