Updated: 12/10/2025 at 1:40 pm
Updated Traffic Alert
WSDOT was able to reopen SR 410 through Sumner. We appreciate their work on this.
Stewart Road Bridge remains closed until further notice.
Rivers are predicted to rise on both the Puyallup and White Rivers to levels that could mean flooding in areas of Sumner. The City of Sumner continues to monitor and respond as necessary. Steps we have taken in anticipation:
- Houston Road is closed at Valley Avenue/Cannery Way due to water over the roadway.
- We know there’s water on Alder Avenue near Maybell/Adele and are working to see if we can help with that.
- We ran the street sweeper through as much of the city as possible to clear storm drains of debris. If you see a clogged drain, please help by removing the debris to reduce localized flooding.
- The full length of the Sumner Link Trail is closed.
- State Street is closed where it crosses under SR 410.
- We are assessing/assisting with patching and reinforcing the Hesco sandbags along the White River. Thank you to Bonney Lake and Pierce County for helping us fill and set sandbags.
- The flood wall is up that protects our regional treatment facility.
White River Impacts
With recent storms, the Army Corps of Engineers is alerting us that they must release water into the White River to alleviate pressure on Mud Mountain Dam. Through Sumner, that will bring the river between 12,000 and 13,500 cfs. The map below is recent work determining our best estimate of what flows that like will do to flooding adjacent areas at a flow of 13,500 cfs. Whether this happens or not remains to be seen. We hope the levels do not affect residences and businesses along the White but cannot predict for sure what will happen. Today, the Corps told us they would do their best to hold back water while the Puyallup River crests. After that, they do have to release higher levels than we’ve ever seen before in Sumner.
Puyallup River Impacts
The Puyallup River is rising again and expected to crest at 4 pm at levels similar to yesterday with another crest at 10 am tomorrow, Dec 11, at about 3 feet higher than yesterday’s levels. If that level holds, water will be at the top of the levee, and we don’t know if it will go over or not. Structures immediately adjacent to the river may be impacted in Rainier Manor, The Retreat Apartments and Riverwalk condos. We will try to add more sandbags at the end of Rivergrove Drive if possible. No ETA yet on having more available. Residents in those structures next to the river are in Level 1 Evacuation, which means you should prepare to evacuate in case. You can always evacuate before we recommend it. Collect medication, essential needs and pets.
River Level Predictions
We will continue to monitor the situation. You can watch the predictions at the following links:
White River at the R Street Gauge
Puyallup River at the Puyallup Gauge
Emergency Alerts
We will continue to update this website as needed. If we need to send any notices of evacuations or impacts, we are using the Pierce County Alert system. To sign up your business or residence, go to PC Alert. It helps to sign up your full address. If you sign up just with your zip code, you’ll get all alerts for 98390 and not know if flooding is impacting your specific area or not.
Further Questions
Our emergency operations phone number is (253) 299-5556.
