Flooding update

King County is actively responding to the current atmospheric river event. Conditions are dynamic. Residents should stay informed, limit travel, and follow official guidance to stay safe.

What’s happening right now

If you’re experiencing limited access in and out of your home or community, know that King County teams are working around the clock to support your communities. Please stay safe and keep these resources close at hand. If you are in immediate danger, call 911.

Stay informed

We will share updates as soon as they become available. Check kcemergency.com and sign up for emergency alerts at ALERT King County-King County, Washington
For river levels, flood conditions, and sandbag resources and distribution: go to flood.kingcounty.gov, or call the King County Flood Warning Center at 206‑296‑8200 or 1‑800‑945‑9263

Road safety

Stay home and avoid driving if you can. Stay away from landslides and downed power lines. Never drive through flooded roads. If you encounter a flooded road: Turn Around, Don’t Drown. It’s not worth the risk.

Please be patient and conscious of road safety. Recovery will take time. Roads and bridges must be inspected, cleaned, and sometimes repaired before they are safe again.

Check for transportation updates here:

MyCommute: Road closures and restrictions in unincorporated King County
WSDOT: Real-time travel across the region
Metro and Sound Transit service impacts

Report road maintenance and safety issues in unincorporated King County on the 24/7 Road Helpline, 206‑477‑8100 or 1‑800‑527‑6237.

Shelter

If you are experiencing homelessness and need information about shelters and navigating to shelter locations, call 206‑245‑1026 between 8 am and 11:30 pm.

Current shelters available are:

Peace Lutheran Church, 18615 SE 272nd Street in Kent – Pets welcome
Evergreen State Fairgrounds, 14405 179th Avenue SE in Monroe (open 24 hrs) – Pets welcome
Meridian Habitat Park, 14422 Meridian Avenue E in Puyallup (open 24 hours) – Pets welcome

For more information, see the King County Regional Homelessness Authority website: Severe Weather Response

Home, property, and debris cleanup

Property damage caused by flooding can feel overwhelming and stressful. King County’s priority is keeping you safe and support your recovery.

Find more information here on how to report damage to your property or home and which resources may become available to help you.

Solid waste

King County transfer stations and drop boxes remain open to self-haul customers and are accepting garbage, recycling and yard waste.

Use this list of King County Solid Waste facilities to find a facility near you and understand disposal fees.
Due to regional flooding, please check local road conditions and solid waste disposal facilities pages before visiting any King County transfer station.
Here’s a visual guide of accepted materials by station.
If you have questions about where to dispose of flood-related debris, contact Solid Waste Division Customer Service at [email protected] or 206‑477‑4466.

Hazardous waste

If you have questions or concerns about hazardous waste at your home—and where you can dispose of it—contact King County’s Hazardous Waste team at [email protected] or 206‑296‑4692.

Stay healthy

Rainfall and flooding have caused sewage overflows in many areas across King County.

Avoid touching all surface water for now. This includes lakes, ponds, streams, rivers, and Puget Sound.
Never walk or drive through flood water. It can hide deep holes, strong currents, and sharp objects.
Always wash your hands with soap before you eat.
If you have a flooded private water system or well, only use bottled, boiled, or treated water. If you boil your water, make sure it remains at a rolling boil for at least one minute. Then it is safe to drink.
If you have a flooded septic system, do not use your septic system, and disinfect it after the flood. When flooding subsides, call a maintainer to check that the flooding did not damage your septic system. Here’s a list of maintainers.
Mold can grow within 24‑48 hours after a flood. Open windows and doors and pump out water after flood waters recede.
When cleaning up, wear rubber gloves and boots, a mask, eye protection, long-sleeved shirts, and long pants.