RENOVA Contractors LLC – About the Flooding in Seattle and the Green River Levee Breach
This is not a normal blog post for us.
This is more of a “hey, this is messed up and we see you” kind of post.
If you’re in Seattle, Kent, Renton, Auburn, Tukwila, or anywhere close to the Green River, you already know what the last few days have been like. Rain that wouldn’t stop. Alerts going off on phones. Streets you’ve driven a hundred times suddenly underwater. Basements filling. Crawl spaces turning into swamps.
At RENOVA Contractors LLC, we just want to say it plainly – we’re really sorry this is happening. Not in a polished PR way. Just honestly. Flooding isn’t “inconvenient.” It’s disruptive, stressful, and for some people right now, genuinely scary.
What Actually Happened – Straight Timeline
After several days of heavy rain across Western Washington, rivers were already high and the ground was completely saturated. Storm drains were overwhelmed. Sump pumps were running nonstop. Everything was on edge.
Then early Monday morning, December 16, Seattle time, the Green River levee near Tukwila breached.
Not a warning-level issue. Not a slow overflow. A real breach.
Water pushed through the levee and spread into surrounding low-lying areas along the Green River floodplain. That’s when evacuation notices went out fast. That’s when parts of Tukwila, Kent, Renton, and nearby areas were told to get out. Roads closed. Businesses shut their doors. People scrambled to move cars, equipment, whatever they could.
That breach changed everything for South King County.
What It Looks Like Right Now
As of now, some water levels have started to drop, but the situation is still unstable. The soil is fully saturated, which means even more rain can cause problems again quickly. Flooding isn’t always dramatic river water either. A lot of damage we’re seeing comes from groundwater pressure and drainage systems that just couldn’t keep up.
Especially in:
- South Seattle
- Kent valley areas
- Older parts of Renton
- Auburn flood-adjacent neighborhoods
- Industrial and warehouse zones near Tukwila
Basements that never flooded before suddenly did. Crawl spaces filled slowly and quietly. Floor drains backed up. Water came in through foundation walls. The kind of damage that sneaks up on you.
If You’re Dealing With This Right Now
If you’re tired, overwhelmed, or just pissed off, that’s normal.
Flood damage messes with your head. You’re trying to make decisions while stressed, wet, cold, and worried about money. Insurance calls feel endless. Everyone has an opinion. And somehow, people still expect you to function like normal.
A few things that matter right now:
- Follow evacuation orders if you’re in one. No job or house is worth your safety.
- Document damage when it’s safe. Photos, videos, water lines, soaked materials.
- Be cautious of contractors who show up uninvited and push hard.
- Don’t rush permanent repairs before things are fully dried and assessed.
We’re contractors saying that. Rushing is how problems get buried, not solved.
About the Green River Levee Breach – Why It’s a Big Deal
Levee breaches don’t behave like normal flooding. When water breaks through, it spreads out and settles into places it’s not supposed to be. Even after visible water recedes, moisture stays behind in soil, crawl spaces, wall cavities, insulation, and subfloors.
That’s why flood damage often shows up later.
We’ve seen plenty of cases where someone thought they were “mostly okay” and then weeks later dealt with mold smells, soft flooring, warped framing, or insulation that never dried properly.
This is especially true for older homes across Kent, Renton, and South Seattle, where crawl spaces and foundations were never designed for this kind of water pressure.
What RENOVA Contractors LLC Can Actually Help With
We’re not here to scare anyone. We’re here to help where it makes sense.
Once it’s safe to start recovery work, we can help with:
- Flood damage restoration for homes and small businesses
- Basement water cleanup
- Crawl space drying, cleanup, and sanitation
- Removal of damaged drywall, insulation, flooring, and trim
- Structural repairs where water compromised framing or subfloors
- Mold prevention and remediation planning
- Clear, usable repair estimates for insurance
And just as important – we’ll tell you when something does not need to be replaced. Not everything soaked automatically becomes trash. Anyone who says that without checking is guessing or upselling.
Pricing – No Disaster Profiteering
This matters enough to be very clear.
We do not raise prices because of floods. We do not add emergency markups because people are stressed. We do not believe in profiting off someone else’s disaster.
Our pricing is based on:
- Real labor
- Real materials
- Real scope of damage
We explain numbers. We break things down. If something feels expensive, we tell you why. If there’s a cheaper option that still makes sense, we’ll say that too.
If you want to get multiple quotes, do it. You should.
We’re Local – This Is Our Community Too
We’re not a storm-chasing company from out of state. We work here. We live here. We drive the same flooded roads. Our crews and suppliers are dealing with this too.
Seeing evacuations in Tukwila, businesses underwater in Kent, and homes dealing with groundwater in Renton hits close to home. This isn’t abstract for us.
If You Need Help – Reach Out When You’re Ready
If you’re still evacuating or waiting for water to fully drop, focus on that first.
When you’re ready for:
- An honest inspection
- A realistic repair estimate
- Or just someone to explain what actually needs to be done
You can reach out to RENOVA Contractors LLC. No pressure. No obligation. Even if all you need right now is advice.
Floods leave more than damage behind. They leave people exhausted and overwhelmed.
We get that.
Stay safe. Take care of yourself and your people. And when the water finally backs off, RENOVA Contractors LLC is here.