Looking back: December 2025, the Puyallup’s second-highest crest
Last December the Puyallup River at Orting came within inches of its all-time record.
The storm
The first round of an atmospheric river reached Western Washington on December 8, 2025, bringing heavy rain and strong winds. The Carbon River near Fairfax crested first, reaching 16.15 feet (13,100 cfs) at about 1:45 a.m. on December 9. That is the second-highest stage on record at the gauge, behind November 2006. The Puyallup near Orting crested at 12.35 feet (20,800 cfs) at about 7:15 a.m. on December 10, 0.05 feet under the 2006 record and second only to it.
Evacuations and rescues
On the morning of December 10, Central Pierce Fire & Rescue gave a Level 3 "GO NOW" order for homes near Williams Blvd NW, Mellinger Ave NW and Stone St NW. It gave a Level 2 "BE SET" notice for the High Cedars Golf Course area and for neighborhoods south of the river near 150th Ave E, Pioneer Way E and Patterson Rd E. A shelter opened at the Orting Multi-Purpose Center, 202 Washington Ave S. That same day, the Pierce County Sheriff's swiftwater team used boats to reach people trapped at Bill and Dan's RV park, where RVs were underwater. Over three days, deputies across the county made more than 100 rescues.
The levees
Central Pierce Fire & Rescue said Orting's levee improvements were "working as designed". Its worry was the older levees upstream on the Puyallup at the south end of town. The mayor credited about 15 years of flood-control work with likely preventing extreme flooding in town. On December 11 the Carbon rose again and spilled over the levee on the north side of Daffodil Avenue NE. The city issued new orders for homes there and in part of Village Green, then lifted all evacuation orders inside city limits at 4:35 p.m. that afternoon.
Federal help
On December 12, 2025, the President approved an emergency declaration for Washington, EM-3629, that included Pierce County. In April 2026 a major disaster declaration followed: DR-4906, covering December 5 to 19, 2025. Pierce County was eligible for both individual and public assistance.
Sources
- USGS Water Data API: Puyallup River near Orting (12093500), continuous gage height/discharge Dec 8-12, 2025 (approved)
- USGS Water Data API: Carbon River near Fairfax (12094000), continuous gage height/discharge Dec 8-12, 2025 (approved)
- USGS annual peak streamflow, Puyallup River near Orting (record comparison)
- USGS annual peak streamflow, Carbon River near Fairfax (record comparison)
- KIRO 7 (Dec. 10, 2025): Evacuation orders issued for parts of Orting due to flooding
- KOMO (Dec. 10, 2025): 'GO NOW' evacuation ordered for Orting as floodwaters surge
- Newsweek (Dec. 10, 2025): Parts of Washington issue evacuations following record flooding
- KIRO 7 (Dec. 10, 2025): Water rescues underway after flooding hits RV park in Orting
- KOMO (Dec. 12, 2025): Flooding eases in Pierce County, evacuations lifted
- City of Orting: Flood Event Updates 12/11/2025 (read via search snippet; site blocks automated access)
- City of Orting council agendas listing 'Orting Multi-Purpose Center, 202 Washington Ave. S' (2018-2019)
- FEMA (Dec. 12, 2025): Emergency declaration for Washington (EM-3629)
- FEMA (Apr. 11, 2026): Major disaster declaration for Washington (DR-4906)
- WA Military Dept / EMD: Disaster Assistance (DR-4906-WA)
