Water damage restoration in Tenino, WA covers the town and the Scatter Creek valley in south Thurston County, along with the small town of Bucoda a few miles south on the Skookumchuck River. Through our referral line (opening soon), you can be connected with an independent restoration company that works in the 98589 and 98530 areas, whether the water came from a river, groundwater or a pipe.
Bucoda and the Skookumchuck River
Bucoda sits right on the Skookumchuck, one of the five rivers Thurston County lists as most prone to significant flooding. The county publishes clear thresholds for the river gauge near Bucoda:
| Gauge near Bucoda | What it means |
|---|---|
| 211.65 ft forecast | National Weather Service issues a flood warning |
| About 213.65 ft | Moderate flooding: individual homes are threatened |
| About 215.15 ft | Major flooding: widespread threat to the community and main roads |
If you live in Bucoda, know where your nearest sandbag station is, sign up for county alerts and move valuables up before the river peaks. Flood damage from the river is usually excluded from homeowners policies and needs flood insurance.
Tenino and Scatter Creek
FEMA's flood insurance study for Thurston County maps Scatter Creek and one of its tributaries, which run through the prairie country west of Tenino. Low ground near the creek can flood after long rain. Much of the area around Tenino is also flat prairie where groundwater rises in a wet winter, which shows up as water in crawl spaces rather than on the surface. See crawl space water damage.
Older homes and rural lots
Tenino's town center has older houses with crawl spaces and aging plumbing, and the surrounding area is rural, with wells, septic systems and outbuildings. Common calls include pipes freezing in well houses and crawl spaces, septic backups when the ground is saturated and roof leaks during windstorms.
Fire service
South Thurston Fire & EMS serves Tenino. It was formed by the merger of Thurston County Fire Districts 12 and 16. After a fire, drying the firefighting water is part of the recovery. See fire damage restoration.
Common jobs around Tenino and Bucoda
- River and creek flood cleanup, including mud removal.
- Groundwater in crawl spaces on flat prairie lots.
- Frozen pipes during cold snaps.
- Septic backups in long wet spells.
Book help in Tenino or Bucoda
Once it is safe to go back in, email info@olympiawaterdamagewa.com while our phone line is being set up. Mention whether the water came from the river or creek, from groundwater or from inside the house.
Common questions
When does the Skookumchuck River flood at Bucoda?
Thurston County says the National Weather Service issues a flood warning when the river is forecast to reach 211.65 feet at the gauge near Bucoda. Moderate flooding, threatening individual homes, starts at about 213.65 feet, and major flooding, threatening communities and main roads, at about 215.15 feet.
Who provides fire service in Tenino?
South Thurston Fire & EMS serves Tenino. It was formed by the merger of Thurston County Fire Districts 12 and 16. Bucoda, a few miles south, has its own fire response district. In any emergency, call 911 and dispatch will send the right agency.
Does Scatter Creek flood?
FEMA's flood insurance study for Thurston County includes flood profiles for Scatter Creek and a Scatter Creek tributary, which means parts of the creek corridor are mapped flood hazard areas. Properties near the creek should check the county flood hazard map and consider flood insurance.
Sources
Facts on this page come from these public sources. Rules and figures change, so check the source before you rely on them.