Rain pushes levees near breaking point: Record high river levels cause concern for flood officials

Weakened by age, and never designed to last for this many decades, the levees that keep King County's rivers from flooding are being worn away by record high river levels, according to the county's flood manager.

"We don't come out of events like this without seeing problems or new damage," said Steve Bleifuhs, manager of the county's flood hazard reduction section.

Bleifuhs is concerned. A strong weather system is expected to hit Western Washington Sunday night.

"I am nervous, yes," he said.

The flooding that turned Carnation into an island and caused millions of dollars in damage throughout the county has added urgency to quick approval of a multimillion-dollar plan to repair levees and build new ones.

from the King County (WA) Journal