Emergency Evacuations and Immediate Response
Emergency services sprang into action shortly after the levee failure was detected at 1:30 a.m. Pacific police, Valley Regional Fire Authority, and King County Sheriff’s Office used helicopters like Guardian One to broadcast Level 3 evacuation orders. Responders went door-to-door, urging residents to leave immediately as floodwaters rose swiftly.
Hundreds of people, including families like that of resident Arturo Romero, were jolted awake by encroaching water. City staff opened shelters at the Pacific Senior Center by 1:45 a.m., providing food, blankets, and supplies with help from volunteers and the Red Cross. Council member Katie Garberding, despite her own home flooding, assisted at the shelter, highlighting community resilience.
Officials reported 220 residences impacted, affecting several hundred individuals who cannot return home for days. Evacuees like Andrew Good praised the 'heroism' of first responders working in rain and wind.
Flooding Impacts and Resident Stories
Flooding was most severe near the failed HESCO barrier, with water reaching a foot deep in driveways within minutes. Neighborhoods saw yards and homes submerged, forcing quick evacuations with minimal time to gather belongings. Roads became impassable, complicating rescue efforts.
Residents described chaotic scenes: water creeping from backyards turned into rapid inundation, prompting neighbors to aid each other to higher ground. The breach's speed left many scrambling, as seen in accounts from those who moved cars just before streets flooded completely.
City officials warned against onlookers, as they hindered heavy equipment operations. The flooding has disrupted daily life, with no timeline for lifting orders amid expected higher river flows.
Repair Efforts and Ongoing Risks
Pacific Mayor Kave noted close collaboration with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers prior to the failure, but rapid changes overwhelmed preventive measures. Crews are now lowering water levels to access and repair the HESCO wall, reinforced with sandbags and barriers.
Support from neighboring cities like Auburn and Sumner, plus counties and federal partners, has brought heavy equipment, trucks, and supplies. Priorities include halting further damage ahead of incoming storms and continued Mud Mountain Dam releases.
King County officials highlighted over a dozen weak spots in levees along the White and Green Rivers, with Pacific's barriers acknowledged as 15 years old and needing replacement. This breach raises statewide concerns about aging flood protections.