King County crews fanned out across the county today to begin mop-up efforts following Monday’s record-setting rainfall. This afternoon, the Snoqualmie River continues to rise in Carnation and Duvall due to moderate Phase Three flooding. Motorists heading out for the afternoon commute should also be prepared for flood-related detours, especially in the rain-soaked Snoqualmie Valley.

"I am very proud of the many King County employees who have been working around-the-clock shifts to monitor river flows and weather conditions, inspect levees, and respond to a variety of storm related problems," King County Executive Ron Sims said. "This record-breaking storm proved once again that our crews and first responders are committed to quickly mobilizing every available resource to minimize damage and protect the public’s health and safety."

The Snoqualmie River, which has been causing moderate flooding since last evening, continues to rise this afternoon downstream in Carnation and Duvall. The river crested early this morning in the town of Snoqualmie and is projected to crest at Carnation early this evening at 56 to 57 feet –two to three feet above flood stage. This moderate flooding has caused several road closures and is expected to impact additional roads later today as the peak flow makes its way downstream.

The Tolt River, which experienced Phase Four flooding – the county’s highest flood level - crested at 11,100 cubic feet per second (cfs) at about 9 p.m. Monday night. The highest flood peak on record for the Tolt is 11,400 cfs in November of 1995. Despite the high flow, no serious incidents were reported.

A variety of county resources were activated to respond to yesterday’s storm. In addition to the Flood Warning Center, the county’s Emergency Operations Center was activated for several hours last evening to monitor and coordinate resources. County levee patrols have been out since yesterday performing inspections along the Tolt and Snoqualmie rivers. County customer service lines have also been inundated. The Road Services Division estimates it responded to over 300 calls yesterday. The Department of Natural Resources Drainage Complaint Line fielded more than 100 calls.

Motorists can monitor conditions and get the latest road closure information on the Regional Public Information Network (RPIN) Web site, which also provides information and links to other responding agencies, as well. It is located at: www.govlink.org. Residents can also monitor the King County Road Alert Road Closures Web page at: http://www.metrokc.gov/kcdot/alert/index.htm. You can subscribe to King County Alert and be notified by email or page about the latest road closures and travel conditions.

King County crews will continue to monitor rivers and roads prone to flooding. Motorists are warned not to drive through standing water or around barricades and road closure signs. The number one cause of flood-related deaths is motorists driving into flooded roadways. Motorists spotting a problem on a road maintained by King County should report it by calling 206-296-8100 or 1-800-KC ROADS.