Homes flooded, Front Street closed as Issaquah reaches Stage 2 flood levels

ISSAQUAH, Wash. — On Friday, Issaquah officials said the city reached Stage 2 flood levels, out of four.

Homes along the East Fork of Issaquah were flooded, with water seeping through front doors and into crawl spaces, according to Issaquah Mayor Mary Lou Pauly.

KIRO 7 crews saw many cars submerged in waters that overflowed from the Issaquah Creek.

Officials said the creek crested around 4 a.m.

“That is our number one concern. The houses adjacent to the creek, some have had water in the houses, or through crawl spaces, or just became an island on a pond of water,” said Mayor Pauly, in an interview with KIRO 7.

Pauly said while they opened up a shelter space at a community center on Thursday evening, nobody sought refuge there overnight.

KIRO 7 crews talked with some people who were forced to evacuate their homes early Friday morning due to the raising waters.

Staff from the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery said the fish within the Hatchery made it through the flood events okay.

Some salmon eggs along the Issaquah Creek may have washed away from the strong currents.

Fire and city officials said they were not aware of anyone needing evacuation during the overnight flooding.

In 2020, more than 200 residents were evacuated from the Creekside Apartments during a February flood event.

This year, some water overflowed into the Creekside Apartments parking lot, but the complex largely stayed dry.

While the water significantly receded by Friday afternoon, Mayor Pauly said it will take days, if not weeks, for many to completely dry out from this flood event.

“There will be a big cleanup to do, and also will also as a City look at the structures and the road and everywhere that was in the path of this fast-moving water and make our assessments about what’s next,” Mayor Pauly said.

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