By Steven Schauer, Deputy Executive Director
It’s October 1st. Halloween decorations are starting to go up. Some of you may already be planning for your family Thanksgiving celebration. Others may be looking even further into the future and getting your Christmas décor ready to go.
We don’t want to be a wet blanket and dampen your fall celebrations. However, it’s important to remind you that today is the beginning of the rainy season in the Pacific Northwest. Here in King County, flood season runs from October through April, bringing with it the potential for swollen rivers, rising groundwater, and storm-related impacts. Flooding remains the most common natural disaster in King County, making flood preparedness essential for everyone throughout the county.
Revisiting the 2025-2026 Flood Season
Flooding can happen all year round, not just during flood season. The risks of flooding are real and heightened during flood season. In fact, during a typical flood season, smaller flood events occur with regularity. Large flooding disasters, unfortunately, are also not uncommon in King County. Since 1956, King County has experienced 30 presidentially declared flooding disasters, including the flooding that occurred between December 8 – 30, 2025.
“The historic flooding we experienced in December 2025 is a reminder of how significant the flood risks are here in King County,” said King County Flood Control District Chair Regan Dunn. “Despite the severity of flooding last year, it’s important to note that there was no loss of life in King County. This is due in part to the flood risk reduction infrastructure implemented by the Flood Control District, and in part to well-informed residents. Individual flood preparedness is critical. This is why we promote Be Flood Ready messages, giving residents the flood preparedness tools they need to help protect their families and reduce risks before disaster strikes.”
The 2025-2026 flood season included the significant three-week long flood event in December 2025, when five major rivers (Cedar, Green, Snoqualmie, South Fork Skykomish, and White) and Issaquah Creek all reached Flood Phase 4, which is the highest flood stage. A series of smaller floods in March 2026 also did some damage, particularly along the Cedar River. In total, over 160 flood risk reduction facilities were damaged throughout King County during the 2025-2026 flood season. This number amounted to about one-third of all flood reduction facilities throughout the county.
The King County Flood Control District provided funding for 17 emergency and immediate repair projects implemented in December 2025 and through March 2026 as well as 10 urgent repair projects and 11 operations and maintenance repair projects, most all of which were completed before the beginning of the 2026-2027 flood season. In total, over $60 million was allocated in 2026 by the King County Flood Control District for these flood recovery projects, which were implemented by King County.
Expanded Be Flood Ready Outreach Wins National Award
This July, the National Association of Flood and Stormwater Management Agencies (NAFSMA) announced the King County Flood Control District Be Flood Ready outreach initiative as the winner of its 2026 Excellence in Communications Award. The Excellence in Communications Award honors outreach that advances public understanding of flood risk, emergency preparedness, or water quality. The Be Flood Ready outreach initiative advances public understanding of all three.
“We appreciate NAFSMA’s national recognition for the expansion of our Be Flood Ready program,” said King County Flood Control District Vice Chair Sarah Perry. “Flood preparedness is vital. Having good information and knowing what to do before, during, and after a flood will help increase your safety. Flood preparedness can also minimize flood damage, which can help fast-track recovery efforts. That’s why we encourage all residents of King County to be flood ready.”
The King County Flood Control District’s Be Flood Ready outreach initiative was expanded in 2025. The expansion included a refreshed Be Flood Ready brochure, doubling the annual flood preparedness brochure to eight pages. The brochure was produced in 24 languages and was mailed directly to nearly 25,000 King County residents. Additionally, a flood preparedness video was created, and a Community Navigators program was launched, placing trusted local leaders at community events to share flood preparedness information. The Be Flood Ready program is also instrumental in King County’s participation in the National Flood Insurance Program’s Community Rating System, which helps residents qualify for flood insurance discounts of up to 45 percent.
Be Flood Ready
Be Flood Ready messaging is distributed in several ways to reach as many King County residents as possible with this important flood preparedness information. The following are highlights of the 2026-2027 Be Flood Ready outreach initiative.
- There is a Be Flood Ready webpage, which has been updated this year to provide more information than ever before.
- The 8-page Be Flood Ready brochure was mailed across the county to addresses in the 1%-annual chance floodplain, also known as the 100-year floodplain. This is the standard Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) regulatory benchmark for floodplain management nationwide. The Be Flood Ready brochure is also on the Be Flood Ready webpage, and is available in 24 languages, reflecting our commitment to reaching residents of all backgrounds.
- The Be Flood Ready video, which is available on the Be Flood Ready webpage, provides residents with clear, practical guidance on how to prepare for, respond to, and recover from flood events. Short clips of the video will also be shared on social media throughout the flood season.
- Speaking of social media, the King County Flood Control District uses its social media channels to share flood preparedness information all year, including ramping up Be Flood Ready messaging during flood season. Residents are encouraged to follow the King County Flood Control District on Facebook, Instagram, X, and Bluesky.
Properties along the Duwamish River will receive a postcard providing the dates for potential King Tides expected during the 2026-2027 winter season. While not a scientific term, a King Tide is generally used to describe exceptionally high tides. Flood risks can increase for communities along the Duwamish River during King Tides, particularly if these unusually high tides occur during a rain event.
Flood Preparedness Works Best When We Work Together
Flood season is here, and now is the time to get prepared! The King County Flood Control District is committed to investing in flood risk reduction projects and programs that help safeguard people, property, and essential infrastructure. The Be Flood Ready outreach initiative is one way we invest in helping area residents prepare for flooding.
Flood preparedness, however, is something we all share. When residents take time to understand their flood risks and create an emergency plan, this helps to strengthen flood preparation across the county.
Stay tuned to the King County Flood Control District’s weekly blog. Later in October, we’ll be sharing additional information about how to prepare before, during, and after a flood. Together, we can help reduce flood risks, protect our communities, and keep one another safe.