Washington leaders say flood risk eased but still 'moderate'; National Guard, Army Corps deployed for levee repairs

Gov. Bob Ferguson and King County and federal officials said Saturday that recent flooding has put unprecedented stress on levees across parts of western Washington but that the immediate risk of a new breach has decreased in recent days while remaining "moderate." They described a multiagency effort to patrol, shore up and, where needed, temporarily repair levees while the flood fight continues.

The governor opened the availability by offering condolences after a Washington State Trooper, identified in the remarks as Trooper Gooding, died in the line of duty. He then turned to the flooding response, saying the state has recorded two levee breaches so far — in Tukwila and Pacific — and is treating the situation as "historic" and unpredictable. "The risk of another breach has most certainly come down in the past week," Ferguson said, while stressing that the threat remains real and weather and debris make conditions unpredictable.

Ferguson outlined immediate steps the state has taken: mobilizing roughly 100 National Guard members, with about 50 assigned to levee patrols to keep "eyes on the levee at all times"; stationing 24/7 spotters; deploying additional swift-water rescue teams and strike teams to execute rapid emergency repairs; and sending equipment including loaders, dump trucks and roughly 600 "super sacks" (large sandbag-like containers). Many of those resources, he said, were drawn from or coordinated with state agencies including WSDOT.

King County Executive Girmay Zahilay said there are three central messages for residents: flood risk has improved compared with earlier in the event but a moderate risk of levee breaches remains (particularly along the Green and White rivers); county and state partners have staged personnel, equipment and materials where the risk is highest; and residents should remain cautious, sign up for alerts and follow local officials' instructions. "There remains a moderate level of risk of levees breaching," Zahilay said, adding that the county has staged sand, rock, super sacks and satellite debris collection sites and is preparing rapid-response staging areas.

Zahilay directed residents to two county resources for information and recovery help: kingcounty.gov/floodrecovery and kcemergency.com, and provided the flood-warning center phone number (206-296-8200). He also said the county had enrolled tens of thousands in the local alert system and that satellite collection sites would open to help residents with debris removal.

Col. Katherine Sanborn of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers described the Corps' role in supporting local partners, including dam operations intended to reduce downstream flows. She said the Corps’ operation of Howard A. Hansen and Mud Mountain dams reduced flows and, in one cited example, prevented an estimated additional 5 feet of floodwater at Auburn that would have overtopped many levees. Sanborn added that the Corps had been asked to conduct emergency levee repairs on 11 levees in Whatcom, Skagit and Snohomish counties and that nearly nine of those repairs were completed with two more in process. The Corps has also provided heavy equipment and pumps to support local responses in areas such as Pacific.

Officials repeatedly cautioned that a full assessment of levee damage cannot be completed until waters recede and on-the-ground inspections are possible. When asked about long-term repairs and funding, the governor said staff would convene federal, state and local partners — including the Army Corps and flood districts — to review lessons learned and identify investment needs.

All three speakers emphasized public safety steps: obey evacuation and road-closure orders, avoid flooded roads and not to walk or drive through standing water. Officials warned that another atmospheric river was forecast and that the state and county would continue to monitor weather and river levels closely.

The availability concluded with officials thanking local responders, partner agencies and media partners for coordination and information-sharing. The officials said they would provide further updates as more information becomes available and as on-site damage assessments are completed.