King County, Washington – A levee on the lower Green River broke on December 15, raising the threat of a life-threatening flash flood for parts of Tukwila. King County Executive Girmay Zahilay, in his first emergency since taking office less than a month ago, held a press conference outside the Emergency Operations Center in Renton.

“This is a very serious and emerging situation,” Zahilay said, urging residents to follow safety instructions.

At 11:51 a.m., authorities issued a “GO NOW” evacuation for the Orillia area in Tukwila, Renton, and Kent. The Desimone Levee had failed, creating a “v” shaped breach and triggering a flash flood warning. Crews were already on site repairing the levee when it gave way. While it was the first levee to fail in the county, others have shown signs of stress after a week of historic rainfall.

John Taylor, director of the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks, said initial concerns over extensive damage eased when the breach was found to be small. Crews are expected to complete temporary repairs in hours while monitoring the levee for stability.

“The thing that we want folks to understand is it’s not typical to have these levees have this much water behind them for this long,” Taylor explained, noting the saturation risks.

Initial reports suggested around 46,000 people were at risk, later revised to 6,000 as more information became available. No injuries have been reported, but officials warn the situation is still developing amid ongoing storms.

The breach followed record rainfall and flooding, with a Pineapple Express storm bringing additional rain and high winds. Officials urge residents to monitor emergency alerts, evacuate when advised, and avoid closed roads.

“As rain returns and water levels continue to rise and change in unpredictable ways, the most important action that residents can take is to please listen to experts, listen to responders and listen to law enforcement,” Zahilay emphasized.

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