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Our 24/7 emergency response to historic flooding continues in the field, at facilities, and in coordination centers
King County flood response. 4 photos, flood patrol an aerial view of flooding, operator selfie, levee monitoring.
Our employees continue a sustained, 24/7 response to historic flooding, working across divisions and in coordination with local, state, and federal partners. Crews remain in the field, at facilities, and in coordination centers as rivers stay at high levels and response efforts extend beyond the initial storm impacts.
Our Flood Patrol teams have operated nonstop since Dec. 8, monitoring rivers, levees, and flood walls across major waterways. Their on-the-ground observations identified critical risks along the Green River, allowing crews to quickly coordinate with King County Road Services Division to complete overnight levee repairs. Then, early Tuesday morning along the White River in Pacific, another Flood Patrol crew went door-to-door to alert neighbors after they witnessed a industrial-size sandbag wall collapse, urging them to leave the area immediately.
At the same time, our Wastewater Treatment Division safely treated more than 2 billion gallons of wastewater during the storm, including responding to heavy groundwater infiltration at the Black Diamond Pump Station to prevent a sewer overflow. Our Parks teams quickly repurposed sections of the Cedar River and Snoqualmie River trails to maintain access for emergency responders and residents when floodwaters closed nearby roads.
Our teams will continue coordinating with partner agencies as response efforts transition toward recovery.
“Years of training, preparation, and coordination by our staff has saved lives, homes, and property,” said John Taylor, Director of the Department of Natural Resources and Parks. “In the field, at our facilities, and in emergency coordination centers, our employees are working day and night to keep our neighbors safe.”
*Read more* [ [link removed] ]
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Flood recovery resources
King County has created a one-stop resource [ [link removed] ] to help residents safely clean up and recover from flooding. Visit the Flood Recovery Resources page for guidance on debris cleanup, health and safety, and disposal options.
If your home is flooded
* Turn off utilities before re-entering.
* Do not touch electrical equipment while standing in water; contact your utility to disconnect service.
* Avoid contact with floodwater and wash hands — and pets — thoroughly.
* Wear protective gear, including an N95 mask, gloves, and eye protection, during cleanup.
* Open windows and doors and begin pumping out water once floodwaters recede. Mold can begin growing within 24–48 hours.
* Discard any garden produce or food that came into contact with floodwater.
Clean-up and debris disposal
* Bring garbage, recycling, and yard waste to King County solid waste facilities. Use the facilities guide to check accepted materials.
* If possible, sort materials before drop-off.
* Separate yard waste from garbage and keep hazardous waste separate from other debris.
* If hazardous products became wet or damaged, set them aside safely and bring them to a collection site for proper disposal.
*Free flood debris disposal (weekends only)*
Beginning Saturday, Dec. 20, three King County transfer stations will accept flood debris at no cost on Saturdays and Sundays only, through Jan. 11, 2026.
This service applies to self-haul customers only and is available at the following locations:
* Bow Lake Recycling and Transfer Station
* Shoreline Recycling and Transfer Station
* Enumclaw Recycling and Transfer Station
Please sort materials before arriving and keep hazardous waste separate from other debris. Use the *facilities guide [ [link removed] ]* to confirm accepted materials and hours before visiting.
*Flood recovery resources* [ [link removed] ]
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Study of Lake Washington confirms that cities can grow without harming water quality with environmental protections and personal actions
Lake Washington study over a photo of Lake Washington at dusk. [ [link removed] ]
A landmark study by our scientists found that Lake Washington has become clearer this century even as the surrounding population rapidly increased, demonstrating that cities can grow without harming urban lakes.
The study results – recently published in a national scientific journal – found surprising improvements in Lake Washington’s water quality from 1998 through 2022, even as the watershed’s population grew by more than 350,000 people. During those 25 years, spring algae blooms decreased by 50% while summer underwater visibility increased by 3 feet.
Experts believe that multiple environmental protections likely contributed to the meaningful progress, including stormwater upgrades, erosion controls, transitioning homes from septic systems to the regional sewer system, and many everyday personal actions in the Lake Washington watershed where nearly 20% of the state’s population lives.
*Watch the video* [ [link removed] ]
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