ALERT King County Message – KCOEM Individual and Business Damage Assessment Survey
Hello,
This is King County Emergency Management. We are evaluating impacts from the recent flooding. Please respond to the survey if you experienced damages or losses to private property or businesses.
For residential and individuals (including renters) go to: KCOEM Residential Impact Survey and for businesses go to: KCOEM Business Impact Survey.
For other recovery resources go to Flood recovery – King County, Washington.
Thank you, King County Emergency Management
Ready, Set, Go – What evacuation alerts in King County mean
Evacuation alerts can be overwhelming to receive. This is why King County uses the Ready, Set, Go framework in order to make our alerts clear.
Level 1 READY: Possible evacuation in your area
Level 1 alerts are sent to make residents aware of danger in the area. Emergency officials are asking you to start preparing to evacuate.
- Update your emergency kit or plan, prepare your home, and leave if you feel unsafe.
Level 2 SET: Short notice evacuation likely in your area
Level 2 alerts are sent to prepare residents for a sudden evacuation. If you need extra time to evacuate you should leave now.
- Put your important belongings or go kit in your car, or arrange transportation to evacuate, monitor updates from officials and media, and leave if you feel unsafe.
Level 3 GO: Evacuate immediately from your area
Level 3 alerts are sent when officials advise residents to leave immediately. Follow directions from police and fire departments.
- Do not return home until officials have determined it is safe.
ALERT King County, emergency blog saving lives
What’s better than signing up for emergency alerts during a crisis? Signing up BEFORE the crisis, to ensure you get critical information to keep you and your family safe!
Register for ALERT King County today if you haven’t yet. ALERT King County helps you stay informed about potential hazards and threats in your area. It is free to sign up. You can register to receive alerts in English or any of nearly 30 other languages.
More than 86,000 people are now signed up. This number has grown steadily as King County Emergency Management has continued to promote the free service. In the first 11 days since the heavy rains and flooding began in King County earlier this month, 11,000 people signed up to receive ALERT King County emergency messages, a 13 percent increase. This is more than the numbers of people who signed up during the protests in September 2020 (about 7,600).
Signing up for alerts is voluntary and helps keep you informed before and during severe weather and other emergencies in your area.
Another resource in emergencies is the King County Emergency Blog at kcemergency.com. The site has had nearly 244,000 visits by almost 134,000 visitors since the flooding began earlier this month. The blog, activated during regional emergencies, shares information about preparing for and dealing with severe weather and other crises.
Crisis Cleanup: Washington Floods Home Cleanup Hotline
(844) 965-1386
If you need assistance with damage from the Washington Floods, call the number above to ask for help. Crisis Cleanup will connect you with volunteers from local relief organizations, community groups, and faith communities who may be able to assist with:
- Cut fallen trees
- Drywall, flooring, and appliance removal
- Tarping roofs
- Mold mitigation
All services are free, but service is not guaranteed due to the overwhelming need. This hotline will remain open through January 2, 2026.
Please note: This hotline cannot assist with social services such as food, clothing, shelter, or insurance. Volunteers work free of charge and provide the tools and equipment necessary to complete the work.
State food benefits after the flooding
Disaster Cash Assistance is available December 17, 2025, to January 15, 2026, for eligible households affected by flooding in specific counties, including King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties. Read more in the full news release.
To apply, call the Washington Department Social and Health Services (DSHS) Customer Service Contact Center at 877-501-2233 or visit your local Community Services Office between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. Monday through Friday.
If you lose food bought with food benefits because of recent flooding or a power outage, you can file a claim to replace those food benefits. Call DSHS at 877-501-2233 or visit your local Community Services Office to request a replacement. To receive this help, you must file a claim within 10 days of the flooding or outage.
Free weekend storm debris drop-off at three locations through January 11
Updated December 22, 2025 2:49 p.m.
The King County Solid Waste Division will accept flood debris, including yard waste and garbage, free of charge from individual customers* on Saturdays and Sundays through January 11, at three stations:
- Bow Lake Recycling and Transfer Station
18800 Orillia Rd. S., Tukwila
Saturday and Sunday: 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. - Shoreline Recycling and Transfer Station
2300 N. 165th St., Shoreline
Saturday and Sunday: 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. - Enumclaw Recycling and Transfer Station
1650 Battersby Ave. E., Enumclaw
Saturday and Sunday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
To further assist communities impacted by recent flooding, King County Solid Waste will open two additional temporary storm debris collection sites to provide expanded options for residents and businesses in unincorporated areas. Disposal of storm-related garage and yard waste will be accepted free of charge.
- Ravensdale (temporary drop site)
Ravensdale Park
27025 SE Kent-Kangley Rd.
Saturday and Sunday: 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. - Issaquah-Fall City (temporary drop site)
31015 SE Issaquah-Fall City Rd.
Saturday and Sunday: 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Temporary drop-off locations will operate Saturday, December 20 and Sunday, December 21 only.
Find a full list of accepted items on the King County website
What’s not accepted, and what to do with it
All King County solid waste facilities will also be open during their regular weekday hours, when regular fees will be charged for disposal. Find locations, rates, and other information
*Free disposal is only for self-haul customers. Third-party haulers are excluded from the free disposal policy and must pay standard fees.
City of Pacific – Evacuation Level Changes
UPDATED: December 22, 2025 – 2:31 p.m.
An evacuation notice issued December 16 remains in effect for portions of the City of Pacific, but the affected area has been significantly reduced.
Closed Roads:
- 3rd Ave SE at Spencer Ct.
- 3rd Ave SE at Alder Ln
- 4th Ave SE at Pacific Ave S
- Butte Ave at White River Dr
- Butte Ave SE at Stewart Rd SE
Residents are being allowed to return to other areas near the evacuation zone, but may be delayed by heavy equipment or flood response workers, and officers may be checking residency.
Information is available at PacificWA.gov or on the city’s Facebook page at facebook.com/CityOfPacificWA.
If you need emergency evacuation assistance, call 9-1-1. Shelters are available for those who need them.
Information in other languages / Información en otros idiomas
This information in available in other languages. Select your desired language from the dropdown menu in the upper right corner of this website.
Esta información está disponible en otros idiomas. Seleccione el idioma deseado del menú desplegable en la esquina superior derecha de este sitio web.
Green River Area Alert
UPDATED: December 22, 2025 – 2:58 p.m.
Some areas near the Green River are still advised to evacuate and GO NOW (Level 3) due to ongoing flooding.
This includes areas of:
- Unincorporated King County north of South 277th Street, south and west of the Green River, and east and west of SR 167.
If you need assistance, call 9-1-1. If you need shelter, a list of shelters is available.
How to help: donations and volunteering
Many people are asking how they can help by donating their time or money during this difficult time. While King County is not able to accept donations directly, there are several trusted ways to support response and recovery efforts.
If you are considering making a financial donation, one safe place to donate is through give.wa.gov, which has a page specifically designated for the 2025 WA State Floods. Or, you can support a reputable charitable organization that is providing assistance. Before giving, take a moment to review the organization on Charity Navigator, which offers independent charity ratings and donor resources. Donors are encouraged to give thoughtfully, avoid urgent or high-pressure requests, and confirm how contributions will be used.
If you are interested in volunteering, consider checking with local organizations in your community to see what support is needed and whether they are currently accepting volunteers. You can also visit Serve Washington, the state’s official volunteer coordination program, which helps connect people with legitimate volunteer opportunities aligned with current needs.
Shelters available
REVIEWED: December 17, 2025 – 6 p.m.
If you have been asked to leave areas that are in danger of flooding or have flooded, there are shelters available in the following locations:
- Auburn Community and Event Center, 910 9th Street SE, Auburn, WA, 98002
- Ray of Hope Shelter, 2806 Auburn Way N. Auburn, WA, 98002
- Evergreen State Fairgrounds, 14405 179th Ave. SE., Monroe, WA 98272 (Open 24 hours) – Pets welcomed
If you need assistance finding shelter, call 211 or visit wa211.org. Assistance may also be available from the American Red Cross, 1-800-RED-CROSS (800-733-2767)
City of Auburn – Level 1 – East Bank White River Area Near Roegner Park
POSTED December 19, 2025 – 6 p.m.
A Level 1 (GET READY) evacuation notice for areas along the east and south bank of the White River near Roegner Park.
As the White River may potentially rise toward approximately 10,000 cubic feet per second (cfs), the City of Auburn has identified areas along HESCO and sandbag barriers that are at risk of potential failure if river levels remain elevated.
Businesses likely impacted:
- Little Jack’s Corner Preschool
- Danner Corporation
- Auburn Valley Humane Society
At this time, localized residential flooding is not expected. However, businesses in the area may experience impacts, and conditions could change quickly.
GET READY means you should take these steps as soon as possible:
- Stay informed
- Protect your property
- Gather supplies
- Talk with your household and neighbors
Evacuation levels may change with little notice. Please continue to monitor official City of Auburn communications and visit auburnwa.gov/flood for the most up-to-date information.
If you need immediate assistance, call 9-1-1.
City of Tukwila – Media Alert
UPDATED: December 22, 2025 – 3:10 p.m.
The City of Tukwila is rescinding the Level 1 “READY” evacuation notice that has been in effect since last week due to flooding along the Green River. Improved weather conditions and lower river levels have reduced the immediate risk, allowing the City to lift the notice at this time.
The Level 1 notice was previously issued for the Southcenter District, parts of Interurban Avenue South, and all of West Valley Highway (both north of S.180th Street and south of S.180th Street). As of today, there are no evacuation notices in effect for any area of the City of Tukwila.
While conditions have improved, residents and businesses are encouraged to remain aware and stay informed. For the most up-to-date regional emergency information, visit KCEmergency.com, and consider signing up for Alert King County to receive timely notifications. For the latest updates on the City of Tukwila’s flood response, please follow www.facebook.com/CityofTukwila.
This information is specific to Tukwila. The city will use its Facebook page at facebook.com/CityOfTukwila and TukwilaWA.gov/flooding for updates.
Find alerts that impact you
Due to a high volume of requests for information about the specific locations of emergency evacuation alerts, we are making a King County Emergency Alerts Mapping Tool available to the public.
This tool is experimental and imperfect, however it is being updated with accurate information. Addresses can be put into the search bar at the top of the map, and people can see if their addresses are within any alert zones.
After the flood – resources, services, and information to know
As efforts turn from response to recovery after this week’s heavy rain and historic floods, King County Emergency Management offers tips and information for residents dealing with the aftermath.
Heavy rainfall and flooding have affected many roads and bridges across the county. This recovery will take time. Road maintenance crews and engineers will continue to inspect damaged areas, assess safety conditions, and make necessary repairs. Some roads and bridges may reopen soon; others will require longer-term work. We appreciate your continued patience with our teams as they work around the clock.
- Check for road restrictions and closures
- King County MyCommute (King County My Commute)
- Washington State Department of Transportation Travel Center Map | WSDOT
- For transit, check if your route is affected via King County Metro Service Advisories and Service alerts | Sound Transit
Property damage caused by flooding can feel overwhelming and stressful. King County’s priority is keeping you safe and supporting your recovery.
- King County Solid Waste Division facilities, including all transfer stations and drop boxes, remain open to self-haul customers and are accepting garbage, recycling and yard waste. Residents can find a list of King County Solid Waste facilities here, including disposal fees. A visual guide of accepted materials by station is available here.
- King County is also working with our partners to establish debris collection sites outside of our regular facilities. Locations and more information will be shared with residents as soon as possible.
- If you have questions about where to dispose of flood-related debris, contact Solid Waste Division Customer Service at solidwaste@kingcounty.gov or 206-477-4466.
Do you have used sandbags?
- Sandbags that came into contact with floodwater are usually considered contaminated.
- Take your used sandbags to a King County solid waste facility near you. Disposal fees apply.
- Do not pour sand from sandbags onto streets or in your yard, down a drain, or into any lakes, rivers, or streams. This can cause dangerous conditions for drivers and harm our storm drains and wetlands.
- If your sandbag is rain-soaked but did not touch floodwater, you may save it for reuse. Dry out the bag before storing to prevent mold and damage.
Damaged vehicles or vessels? Do not abandon them!
- Abandoned vehicles and vessels may be subject to fines or fees.
- Vehicles or vessels may be towed away at the property owner’s expense by a state-registered tow service.
- Owners should contact their insurance company for additional guidance if needed.
Used batteries, old paint, lawn care products and other chemicals can leak harmful toxins into floodwater and put your home and community at risk. Here are some tips to keep you, your home or your business safe.
What to do with hazardous waste after a flood:
- If any hazardous products got wet or damaged, set them aside in a safe spot until you can bring them in for proper disposal.
- Do not open the containers or try to empty them. Leave the labels on so staff can tell what the product is.
- If something is leaking, place the whole container inside a sturdy bin or bucket to keep the mess contained.
- Keep everything away from kids and pets.
How to safely clean up hazardous product spills:
- Only try to clean up spills once the water has gone down and the area is dry and aired out.
- Wear gloves, long sleeves and eye protection while you clean.
- Do not mix products while you clean. Some chemicals react when they touch each other.
How to prepare for more heavy rains:
- Move any hazardous products you still have to higher shelves (not above eye level) or storage spots that stayed dry last time.
- Make sure containers are closed tightly and keep them in a plastic bin or secondary container if possible.
More tips
- Do not pour anything down storm drains, sinks or outside on the ground. This can carry chemicals right into our streams and lakes.
- If the label is gone or unreadable, treat the item as hazardous.
- Reach out if you have any questions. Our call center agents can walk you through what is safe to handle and recommend. Contact our Hazardous Waste team at haz.waste@kingcounty.gov or 206-296-4692.
Asbestos during flood cleanup
- Asbestos should not go in regular debris or to transfer stations.
Haz Waste does not accept asbestos, and asbestos is not accepted at King County or City of Seattle transfer stations. - Cedar Hills Landfill is the only disposal option.
Asbestos is accepted at Cedar Hills by appointment only and requires proper packaging and paperwork. - When in doubt, stop and get guidance.
If materials are known or suspected to contain asbestos, do not disturb or dispose of them with regular debris. Pause cleanup and get direction before moving or disposing of materials.
Safety around surface water
Rainfall and flooding have caused sewage overflows in many areas. Avoid touching all surface water (including lakes, ponds, streams, rivers, and Puget Sound) at this time.
If your home has flooded
- Turn off utilities before re-entering (do NOT touch electrical equipment while touching water – call your utility to disconnect).
- Avoid touching flood water and wash hands (and pets).
- Flooded private water system or well? Only use bottled, boiled (rolling boil for one minute), or treated water.
- Flooded septic system? Don’t use your septic system during a flood and disinfect it after the flood. After flooding subsides, call a maintainer to check that the flooding did not damage your septic system. Click here for a list of maintainers.
- Mold can grow within 24 to 48 hours after a flood. Open windows and doors and pump out water after flood waters recede.
- Wear an N95 mask, gloves, goggles, and protective gear when cleaning.
- More info at kingcounty.gov/floodrecovery
If you live in unincorporated King County, you may need a permit to fix property damage. We’re committed to responding as quickly as possible. This video outlines the steps to take to get a permit to fix property damage as a result of a natural disaster.