On Dec. 8, the first of two atmospheric rivers slammed into King County and brought historic river flooding, setting all-time records for portions of the Snoqualmie and Cedar rivers. Severe (flood phase 4) flooding occurred across the county on the Cedar, Green, South Fork Skykomish, Snoqualmie, and White rivers and Issaquah Creek during the storm while the Tolt River peaked at moderate (flood phase 3).
After three weeks of activation to monitor and patrol rivers, coordinate emergency actions with partners, and train members of the National Guard who were deployed by Gov. Bob Ferguson to provide reinforcements, King County’s Flood Warning Center is closing now that rivers have receded.
From the first forecasts indicating a strong atmospheric river event that might lead to river flooding, to the final days of monitoring, repairs and recovery, multiple teams from the Department of Natural Resources and Parks worked around the clock to reduce flood risks, share timely information, and respond where conditions demanded immediate action for public safety.
Flooding is never just about water levels — it’s also about people, infrastructure, ecosystems, and the relationships that allow us to respond effectively when conditions change quickly.
While numbers never tell the full story, they do illustrate the scale of effort involved in responding to the catastrophic flood:
88 staff cover 1,902 miles on flood patrol
The King County Flood Warning Program is designed to begin patrolling a river’s corridor at a flood Phase 3 or above to monitor levees, revetments, and river conditions. Flood patrols consist of a two-person team, assigned an eight-hour shift, per river. Flood patrol members are staff from across work teams in DNRP’s Water and Land Resources Division, many work in the field throughout King County and are trained before flood season begins.
Flood patrols worked a total of 952 combined hours during the flood, going into the darkest hours of the night and morning, walking miles of riverbanks in all weather and conditions. Patrol staff looked for early signs of erosion, seepage, debris impacts such as fallen trees, or issues that could escalate if left unaddressed. With safety in mind, some patrols were temporarily suspended due to impassable conditions.
Flood patrol observations informed real-time decision making and helped prioritize where resources were needed the most – like the sinkhole and levee breach repairs on the Green River and the breach of a HESCO barrier on the White River and subsequent evacuation – to keep people and property safe.
This work is physically demanding and often unseen, but it is a critical element of protection.
482 hours of Flood Warning Center operations
This was the longest Flood Warning Center activation in at least 40 years.
Staff were scheduled for eight-hour shifts, 24/7. The Flood Warning Center, established in 1960, is the coordination hub for flood events — tracking weather and river forecasts, maintaining situational awareness, coordinating with vital partners such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and providing two-way communication with the public. Staff answered calls from residents, agencies, and jurisdictions, providing information, and guidance during a period of heightened concern.
Nine emergency repairs completed, four ongoing
As conditions evolved, crews responded to locations where levees and other flood structures needed immediate attention. Emergency repairs were completed at Somes Dolan, Desimone, Tukwila 205-Segale, Pipeline/Okimoto, Cedar River Trail 3, Tabor-Crowall, and Nursing Home to stabilize flood protection facilities and reduce the risk of damage to nearby communities, work will continue well into the new year.
These actions — completed under challenging conditions — are a testament to the experience and readiness of King County’s flood response teams, mainly comprised of engineers, geologists, and ecologists, based in the Department of Natural Resources and Parks.
An emergency repair on the Cedar River.
Looking ahead
Every flood event offers lessons — about our infrastructure, our communication systems, and how changing weather patterns continue to shape flood risk in King County. Teams review what worked well and identify opportunities to strengthen our readiness for the next flood.
The Department of Natural Resources and Parks, as service provider to the independent King County Flood Control District, has and continues to reduce flood risk to people, homes, and infrastructure. The King County Flood Control District is a special purpose district created in 2007 to implement flood risk reduction policies and projects to protect life and property while advancing various benefits including equity and social justice, sustainable livelihoods, habitat protection, salmon recovery, agriculture, recreation, and resilient communities.
Thank you to the flood patrol staff, Flood Warning Center operators, maintenance crews, partner agencies, and community members who played a role during this event. Preparedness and collaboration remain our strongest tools as we continue to live and work alongside King County’s rivers.
Recovery related links
- King County Disaster Assistance Centers open this weekend (Jan, 2 – 5)
- Free weekend storm debris drop-off at locations through Jan. 11
- Crisis Cleanup: Washington Floods Home Cleanup Hotline (hotline remains open through Jan. 2)
- How to help: donations and volunteering
- King County Parks and Flood Recovery
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