ENVIRONMENT

Levee Breaches Trigger Evacuations Across Western Washington Communities

▪

Read, Watch or Listen

Media Bias Meter

Sources: 8

Left 17%

Center 67%

Right 17%

Sources: 8

Tukwila, Washington — A breached levee on the Green River triggered flash-flood warnings, evacuations and emergency repairs Monday after a week of heavy rain. National Weather Service alerts first warned thousands potentially at risk before officials narrowed the evacuation area to roughly 1,100 homes in parts of Kent, Renton and Tukwila. Crews used sandbags and deployed Washington National Guard personnel to shore levees; county officials reported no injuries. A levee failure along the White River prompted Level 3 evacuations in Pacific on Tuesday. Emergency warnings were later lifted as repair efforts contained flooding. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.

Prepared by Olivia Bennett and reviewed by editorial team.

Timeline of Events

A week of heavy rain saturated levees across western Washington before breaches occurred.
Around 11:30 a.m. Monday the Desimone levee on the Green River breached; NWS issued a flash-flood warning at 11:51 a.m.
King County issued Level 3 evacuations for roughly 1,100 homes in Kent, Renton and Tukwila; sandbagging and repairs began and the Washington National Guard responded.
Officials narrowed the affected area and the county's flash-flood warning ended by Monday evening as repairs progressed.
Early Tuesday the White River levee near Pacific broke, prompting Level 3 evacuations for about 220 homes, and a separate flood-related fatality was reported in Snohomish County.