Levee breach

South Seattle Suburbs Evacuated After Levee Failure Amid Heavy Rain

A levee breach south of Seattle, following a week of heavy rains, prompted an evacuation order for portions of Kent, Renton, and Tukwila. The failure on the Desimone levee along the Green River led to the evacuation of approximately 1,100 homes and businesses. While the initial flash flood warning covered a large area, it was later reduced as authorities assessed the impact, with the flooding primarily affecting industrial areas. Crews were present and utilizing sandbags to manage the breach, which damaged a bike path, while long-term repairs to the damaged levee are not expected until 2031.

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