Seattle is used to rain. Gray skies are part of our rhythm here.

But what’s happening right now across Western Washington goes beyond “just another rainy week.”

Communities north and south of Seattle are facing serious flooding, and today the situation has grown more urgent.

What’s Happening Right Now

State Route 167 is shut down in areas between Auburn and Kent due to flooding, disrupting a major corridor many families rely on daily.

The Puyallup River has reached flood stage, spilling into surrounding areas and putting communities like Orting and parts of Puyallup on high alert.

Emergency officials have issued evacuation notices in low-lying areas and continue to monitor levees, roadways, and neighborhoods closely.

This flooding is part of a broader atmospheric river event, where intense rain over a short period overwhelms rivers and drainage systems across the region.

This isn’t isolated.

From the Skagit Valley to Pierce County, people are packing bags, leaving homes, checking on neighbors, and watching water creep closer to places that once felt safe.

Why This Matters

These are not distant headlines.

These are our roads, our rivers, our communities.

Families are being displaced.

Commutes are disrupted.

Farmers are protecting livestock.

First responders are working long hours to keep people safe.

And many are holding their breath, waiting for the water to recede.

A Prayer for Our Community

God of mercy and steady ground,

We lift up every soul touched by these rising waters.

For families forced to leave their homes, for elders and children seeking safety, for first responders, public works crews, and volunteers—grant strength, clarity, and protection.

Calm the waters.

Protect the vulnerable.

Restore what has been damaged.

May neighbors continue to help neighbors, and may hope rise even where the water has climbed.

Amen.

A Gentle Reminder

If you live in or travel through affected areas, please stay informed through local emergency updates and avoid flooded roads.

And if you’re safe today, check on someone who may not be.

This is our home.

And when our home is hurting, we pause, we care, and we pray.