Maps shared by the National Weather Service (NWS) and King County Emergency Management in Washington state show where more than 46,000 people were ordered to evacuate around 15 miles south of Seattle on Monday afternoon as a levee failed and life-threatening flash floods hit the area.
The Green River Levee failed just before noon local time Monday, causing life-threatening flash flooding near the river in Tukwila. People in low lying areas east of the Green River in Tukwila, Kent, and Renton have been told to seek higher ground immediately. The NWS office in Seattle issued the flash flood warning after county officials alerted them to the levee failure, NWS science and operations officer Kirby Cook previously told Newsweek.
“If you are in low lying areas along the Green River levee you should move to higher ground immediately,” NWS Seattle said in a flash flood warning. “Move to higher ground now. Act quickly to protect your life.”
King County Emergency Management published an urgent “GO NOW” message included with a map of the evacuation area in a post on its website.
“This is for residents and businesses east of the Green River in the Orillia area in Tukwila, Renton and Kent. Due to breach in the Desimone Levee, this area is under a GO NOW evacuation notice,” the post said. “Leave immediately if you are in this area. Conditions are dangerous and access routes may be lost at any time. Go north or south of evacuated area away from flooding waters. Do not drive or walk through standing or moving water. Turn around, don’t drown. Do not drive around barricades or road closures. If you need emergency evacuation assistance, call 911.”
The impacted area included two schools and one hospital.
The flash flood warning will remain in place until 9 p.m. local time.
“In coordination with King County, we have issued a FLASH FLOOD WARNING for a levee breach in Tukwila WA near Todd, Blvd. Water is likely moving north towards I-405. In addition, an evacuation notice is now in effect from King County,” NWS Seattle posted on X.
“Conditions are dangerous and access routes may be lost at any time,” a follow-up post said. “Go north or south of evacuated area away from flooding waters. Do not drive or walk through standing or moving water. Turn around, don’t drown. Do not drive around barricades or road closures.”
More rain is expected to arrive this week, causing another crest in area rivers, Cook told Newsweek. Flood messaging shared by the NWS urged people to never drive through floodwaters, as most flood deaths occur in a vehicle.
