Western WA evacuation updates: ‘Go Now’ evacuation ordered for Burlington residents as floodwaters rise
Dec 12, 2025, 7:19 AM | Updated: 4:03 pm
(Photo courtesy of KIRO 7)
(Photo courtesy of KIRO 7)
Level 3 “Go Now” evacuation notices have been issued for residents of Burlington, asking them to leave immediately, due to rising floodwaters from Gages Slough.
“Gages Slough is flooding into homes in Burlington,” the evacuation notice read. “All residents in the city of Burlington should evacuate immediately.” The notice was first posted at 6:12 a.m. Friday.
The National Guard was assigned to go door-to-door to notify residents and help with evacuations.
KIRO Newsradio has a reporter in Burlington providing updates on the evacuations.
#Burlington flooding Gages Slough that connects to Skagit River flooding homes – evacuation order in place @KIRONewsradio @Mynorthwest pic.twitter.com/Lp8oRK7Gxa
— Luke Duecy (@LukeKIRO) December 12, 2025
Puyallup River flooding forces evacuations in Orting, Puyallup
Flood waters from the Puyallup River continue to force residents from their homes in Orting and Puyallup.
More residents in downtown Puyallup received the order to evacuate Thursday afternoon.
Nearby, the Puyallup River has turned into a downtown attraction, with pedestrians strolling under the North Meridian Bridge marveling at the sheer spectacle.
UPDATE: Due to flooding from the Puyallup River, we are issuing a Level 3 Evacuation Notice (GO Now Notice) to all residents of the Crossroads at Meridian apartment complex, located at 1027 N Meridian. Residents of this apartment complex must evacuate. Puyallup PD is on scene to… pic.twitter.com/AuHwaE36g6
— Puyallup Police (@PuyallupPD) December 11, 2025
Dozens of homes were under evacuation orders Thursday, Orting Mayor Josh Penner said.
The Puyallup River has been forcing evacuations this week. Drivers are dealing with standing water, and homeowners are doing what they can to shore up their property. pic.twitter.com/kNYEPEsANP
— KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM🎙 (@KIRONewsradio) December 12, 2025
Level 2 and Level 3 evacuations were previously established in Orting on Wednesday.
Central Pierce Fire & Rescue publicly stated that people living in the area of Williams Boulevard N.W., Mellinger Avenue N.W., and Stone Street N.W. need to evacuate now.
An additional Level 2 “Be Set” evacuation order has been issued for community members who live in the area near High Cedars Golf Course community, south of the Puyallup River near 150th Avenue E., 188th Street E., 184th Street E., 176th Street E., 168th Street E., off Pioneer Way E., 177th Street E., and Patterson Road E.
“Please be prepared to evacuate at a moment’s notice,” Central Pierce Fire & Rescue.
“River levels within Orting are extremely high. City of Orting levee improvements are working as designed,” Central Pierce & Fire stated. “Our concern is the levees upstream on the Puyallup River in the south end of town. We are actively monitoring river levels in that area.”
Evacuation Information for the Orting Community
There is a LEVEL 3- GO NOW evacuation notice for community members that live in the area of Williams Bvld NW, Mellinger Ave NW, and Stone St NW.
There is a LEVEL 2 – BE SET evacuation notice for community members that live in the… pic.twitter.com/o4iuDfks36
— Central Pierce Fire & Rescue (@CentralPierce) December 10, 2025
More Pierce County evacuations
Residents in specific areas of South Prairie have been told to evacuate just before 12 p.m. Thursday.
Level 3 “Go Now” evacuation notices were issued for those who live between SR 162 and South Prairie Road E., west to Emery Avenue N.
According to The Tacoma News Tribune, the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office is going door-to-door to notify people in the area.
Level 2 “Be Set” evacuation notices have been issued for people living between SR 162, east of Rainier Avenue S.E., to Veterans’ Park.
Skagit County evacuations
The governor shared via the National Water Prediction Service that the state could see 18 major floods and 15 moderate floods.
“Catastrophic flooding is likely,” Ferguson said on social media. “Please pay close attention to local officials and sign up for emergency alerts with your county.”
In Skagit County, those living in Burlington, La Conner, Lyman, Hamilton, Mount Vernon, Sedro-Woolley, and most areas along the Skagit River were told to evacuate as rivers in the county reached record levels.
The Skagit River near Concrete is expected to crest at 43 feet around 10 a.m. Thursday, the Nooksack River at Ferndale is expected to crest at 22 feet by 4 a.m., Friday, and the Skagit River near Mount Vernon is expected to crest at 39 feet around 10 a.m., Friday.
#Skagit River expected to crest at 42 feet – this is the levy holding it back in the flood plain… @KIRONewsradio pic.twitter.com/1KgHnHgCtD
— Luke Duecy (@LukeKIRO) December 11, 2025
The Nooksack River at North Cedarville already crested at a record-breaking 150 feet Thursday morning at 3:30 a.m. The Skagit River near Mount Vernon is forecast to break any previous water-level records.
Western Skagit County and northwestern Snohomish County are under a Flash Flood Watch through late Friday night as the National Weather Service warns of the potential failure of levees and dikes along the Skagit River.
Three emergency shelters have been established in Skagit County — Concrete High School, located at 7830 S. Superior Ave. in Concrete; the Family Promise at Central United Methodist Church, located at 1013 Polte Rd. in Sedro-Woolley, and the Bethany Covenant Church, located at 1318 S. 18th St. in Mount Vernon.
Snohomish County evacuations
Just south of Monroe, residents in Tualco Valley were ordered to evacuate by the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office Wednesday evening due to significant flooding expected within all county rivers.
Residents in Sultan did not receive Level 3 “Go Now” evacuation orders, but officials recommend those living south of Date Avenue and west of Fourth Street to seriously consider evacuating.
Follow Frank Sumrall on X. Send news tips here.
