Flooding Response
Flooding is an overflowing of water onto land that is normally dry. It can be caused by wet weather, rivers, human activities and/or coastal events. SPU responds to urban flooding (stormwater flooding), sewer backups, and high tide inundation in South Park.
For all emergencies, always call 911. For urgent flooding, sewer backups or overflows, or high tide inundation call the SPU 24/7 Operations Response Center at (206) 386-1800.
Report concerns rather than trying to remove debris yourself. During heavy storms, you may not be contacted directly by or see the crew working on the problem. The City will activate the Emergency Operation Center during severe storms or other disasters to help coordinate the response efforts. Safety and emergency information will be shared with residents via AM/FM radio, TV broadcast, AlertSeattle, and social media.
Please visit the City’s webpage about Flood Safety and sign up for Alert Seattle-- the City of Seattle’s official emergency alert system. It will help you protect your home, family or business during emergencies, including severe flooding. Sign-up to receive text, email, and phone alerts: https://alert.seattle.gov/
Additional Resources
- Citywide Flooding Safety and Response
- Frozen drinking water pipes
- Landslides - Get information on how to reduce landslides and damage from stormwater erosion.
- Snow and Ice Storms - Links to bus reroutes, school closure announcements, and checklists to get prepared.
- When the Power Goes Out
- Clean Up the Backup (pdf) - Consult SPU's guide to helping you safely clean up sewage spills.
- Adopt a Drain