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Levee breach prompts Flash Flood Warning in King County, WA
After a levee along the Green River failed in Tukwila, a Flash Flood Warning went out for the surrounding area due to "life-threatening" flooding risks.
SEATTLE - A levee failure caused a flash flood warning for southern parts of King County on Monday as rain continues to impact already flooded areas across western Washington.
The backstory:
The National Weather Service (NWS) in Seattle issued a Flash Flood Warning on Monday after county dispatch reported the failure of the Desimone levee holding back Green River near Tukwila, prompting immediate concerns for flash flooding in parts of west central King County.
The warning, issued at 11:51 a.m. PST, was officially canceled at around 5:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 15.
Representatives from multiple law enforcement and state agencies gathered at 2 p.m. to address operations to fix the levee break. King County Sheriff Cole-Tindall said there are helicopters and drones keeping an eye on the breach and other vulnerable areas.
According to the bulletin, county dispatch reported "the failure of Green River Levee causing flash flooding near the Green River in Tukwilla."
Crews used sandbags to plug the section of the levee that failed, which held into Monday evening. A long-term fix is expected in the coming days.
Upwards of 500 people were evacuated, according to the King County Emergency Management. Most of the evacuation zone was in an industrial area. All evacuations were lifted or downgraded to Level 1, meaning "Be Ready," on Monday night.
Dig deeper:
The NWS described the situation as "life-threatening flash flooding from the failure of Green River levee." The agency warned that areas near Tukwila along the levee could experience significant impacts.
The Washington National Guard has confirmed they are sending personnel to assist first responders in the area.
Communities listed in the warning included Kent, Renton and Tukwila. Affected waterways include the Green River, the Duwamish Waterway and the Cedar River. Residents in low-lying areas were urged to take immediate action.
The bulletin advises: "If you are in low lying areas below should move to higher ground immediately." It continues, "Move to higher ground now. Act quickly to protect your life."
The NWS classified the flash flood threat as "observed" with a "considerable" damage threat.
What they're saying:
"I never imagined we would face flooding like this, especially in Auburn," said Gaurav Sood, who received flood alerts on his phone about the situation Monday. "I’m getting it every 30 minutes."
Sood says the levee breach on the Green River is concerning.
"It’s bad. I never thought we would see something like this. I watched New Orleans and other places, but never thought it would happen to our state. It’s sad," said Sood.
King County Emergency Manager Brendan McCluskey explained how it was being repaired.
"There is basically a hole in the levee," said McCluskey. "Our department of Natural Resources and Parks our Department of local services road services division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and others are out there actively to repair the levee. That really constitutes putting standard gravel and other material in the breach to try to close it."
"I’m hoping that the water recedes and it doesn’t damage any more and people go back to their holidays, but I know a lot of people aren’t that lucky right now," said Sood.
Flash flood safety tips
If you are in or near the affected areas, follow these life-saving recommendations:
If you’re near rising water
- Move to higher ground immediately—do not wait for instructions.
- Avoid low-lying areas, riverbanks and drainage channels.
If driving
- Never drive through flooded roads. As little as 12 inches of water can sweep a vehicle away.
- Turn around, don’t drown—water may be deeper or faster-moving than it appears.
- Avoid bridges over fast-moving water if they appear unsafe.
If instructed to evacuate
- Follow directions from local officials without delay.
- Take essential items only and avoid walking through floodwaters.
General preparedness
- Keep your phone charged and monitor local alerts.
- Have a go-bag ready with medication, documents and basic supplies.
- Check on neighbors who may need assistance evacuating.
This is a breaking story and will be updated as information continues to become available.
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