“A small breach in an earthen levee south of Seattle prompted an evacuation order that covered 1,100 homes and businesses, but officials reported no injuries.\n\n## Levee Breach and Immediate Response\n\nThe Desimone levee, which runs beside the Green River, failed after a week of heavy rain. Workers had been installing a seepage blanket—a permeable material designed to remove water from a cut slope—to reduce flood risk. When the breach occurred, crews used sandbags to shore up the remaining structure.\n\n\”The breach was minimal and was being filled with sandbags, including large ones about 3 feet tall and holding about a ton of sand,\” said Laura Pettitt, spokesperson for Renton. \”What we understand is that the area is being managed and the breach has been controlled,\” she added. \”However, that’s not to say that there wouldn’t be future impact with any changing situation.\”\n\n## Flood Warning and Evacuation Order\n\nThe National Weather Service initially issued a flash flood warning that covered nearly 47,000 people. Within a few hours, the warning was narrowed to an area covering 7,000 people. King County’s emergency management director, Brendan McCluskey, said the evacuation order was sent to about 1,100 homes and businesses east of the Green River in parts of Kent, Renton and Tukwila. No one was injured, McCluskey said.\n\n## Levee Condition and Repair History\n\nJohn Taylor, director of the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks, said the levee breach followed days of heavy rain and flooding that had already forced evacuations of tens of thousands of people and prompted rescues across western Washington. He noted that the area had been flagged as a potential breach spot and that high water levels had prompted the installation of the seepage blanket. \”We were there because we are monitoring these levees closely,\” Taylor said. \”It’s just not typical to have these levees have this much water behind them for this long. They’re getting saturated and they’re starting to show the effects of that.\”\n\nThe levee was badly damaged during flooding in 2020. Long‑term repairs were not expected to be completed until 2031, according to a blog post from the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks. In August 2015, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began repairs to a 775‑foot‑long (235‑meter) segment of the levee, a result of flooding in March 2014. The damage had significantly impacted the levee’s ability to protect an area of about 7.5 square miles (19 square kilometers). Repairs were to be completed by the end of 2015, though it wasn’t immediately clear when work concluded.\n\n## Community Impact and Ongoing Monitoring\n\nAuthorities in Renton and Tukwila said Monday afternoon that the flooding was confined to small industrial areas and that no residents were being evacuated. A section of a paved bike path along the top of the levee in Tukwila cratered and broke where the levee washed away beneath it. Reid Wolcott, warning coordination meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said the flash flood warning was initially issued for a \”rather large area because we didn’t know specifically which areas would flood.\” He added that the warning had been refined to a smaller area and would continue to be refined as more information became available.\n\nThe incident prompted a correction to the original story, noting that the three cities affected were Tukwila, Kent and Renton, rather than Tukwila, Kent and Auburn.\n\n## Key Takeaways\n\n- The Desimone levee breach triggered an evacuation order for 1,100 homes and businesses, but no injuries were reported.\n- The National Weather Service flash flood warning was narrowed from 47,000 to 7,000 people within hours.\n- Long‑term repair of the levee is expected to be completed in 2031, following earlier repairs that began in 2015.\n\nWhile the breach was quickly contained with sandbags and monitoring, officials warned that changing conditions could still pose risks. Residents and businesses in the affected areas remain under close observation as the county works to restore the levee’s full protective capacity.\n\nRush reported from Portland, Oregon. Associated Press writer Christopher L. Keller contributed from Albuquerque, New Mexico.”
Morgan J. Carter is a Texas-based journalist covering breaking news, local government, public safety, and community developments across Austin. With more than six years of reporting experience, Morgan focuses on delivering accurate, clear, and timely stories that reflect the fast-moving pulse of the city.
At newsofaustin.com, Morgan reports on everything from severe weather alerts and traffic updates to city council decisions, crime reports, and the issues shaping daily life in Austin. Known for reliable fact-checking and a strong commitment to public-interest journalism, Morgan brings readers the information they need to stay informed and engaged.
When not tracking a developing story, Morgan enjoys exploring Austin’s neighborhoods, attending local events, and connecting with residents to share the voices and experiences that define the community.
