KCIT’s Geographic Information Systems (GIS) team played a critical role in recent flood relief efforts, working onsite at the King County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in 24/7 rotating shifts. Their work provided essential mapping and data services to aid emergency management and response coordination. The GIS Center delivered high-impact resources, including: Emergency notification zone maps to guide public alerts. Identification of flood-impacted facilities and assets for rapid response. On-demand mapping and data requests to support decision-making. In addition, the team partnered with aerial imagery providers to capture high-resolution images of flood-affected areas near the Snoqualmie,… Read More

Crossposted from DNRP Field Notes On Dec. 8, the first of two atmospheric rivers slammed into King County and brought historic river flooding, setting all-time records for portions of the Snoqualmie and Cedar rivers. Five of the six major rivers in King County (Cedar River, Green River, Issaquah Creek, South Fork Skykomish River, White River, Tolt River, and Snoqualmie Basin) reached a flood Phase 4 during the storm, the Tolt River was the one that only reached a flood Phase 3. Read more.

By MyNorthwest News Crime scene DNA test results in minutes rather than weeks or months. It’s a new technology now in the hands of investigators at the King County Sheriff’s Office. It’s called the Rapid DNA machine. “It allows officers to place DNA into a machine and instead of waiting weeks or months, you get results on whether that DNA is a single source of human DNA in 90 minutes,” King County Sheriff’s Captain Chris Leyba said. “Right now, every sample we collect at a scene, let’s say we collect 14 blood… Read More

Crossposted from Tails from RASKC Progress continues on a new site for Regional Animal Services. King County is renovating a former warehouse in the Kent Valley into a new, modern animal shelter that will replace RASKC’s current facility. The new center is expected to open in early 2027. 2025 highlights Purchasing the property at 5920 S. 194th St. in Kent Onboarding an architectural firm to develop design and construction plans Establishing a Project Delivery Team in partnership with the county’s Facilities Management Division Developing initial design plans Read more.

Crossposted from Cultivating Connections As 2025 comes to a close, the King County Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) reflects on a year marked by challenges and meaningful progress. Amid federal funding uncertainty, rising housing instability, and growing behavioral health needs, on top of an audit that underscores the need for more policies, procedures and infrastructure, DCHS focused on what matters most: helping people live connected, supported, and stably housed. Across King County, DCHS’s work shared a common purpose: building communities where everyone can thrive. That meant expanding access to stable housing, strengthening… Read More

City Grind Espresso is now open on the ground floor of the King County Courthouse serving coffee, tea, Italian sodas, energy drinks, food from local vendors, and more. Located just past the security check point near the Third Avenue entrance, the City Grind Espresso café is a great place to grab a drink and snack to go or take a break at one of the tables and chairs. “It’s really nice to have a spot that isn’t a bench outside a courtroom where employees and Courthouse customers can meet up, sit down,… Read More

Get ready for the next stage of construction on Seattle’s busiest corridor. As early as Jan. 9, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) will resume its Revive I-5 preservation work on the northbound Ship Canal Bridge. The Revive I-5 project is designed to extend the life of the aging Ship Canal Bridge and improve safety and ride quality for years to come. While the short-term traffic impacts will be challenging, the long-term payoff will be smoother, safer travel through this critical stretch of I-5. As part of the project, two northbound… Read More

Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs) are trained volunteers who advocate for the best interests of children involved in the dependency court system. Whether or not serving as a CASA is the right fit for you, we encourage you to share this information session with family members, friends, colleagues, or recently retired coworkers who may be interested. Increasing awareness of the CASA program helps ensure more children have a consistent, caring advocate by their side. CASA information sessions are held via Zoom on the second Monday of each month from noon to 1… Read More

Community members and King County employees are invited to join in honoring our nation’s foremost human rights leader and King County’s namesake, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The theme for the 2026 Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration is “mentorship”, and the accompanying quote by Dr. King Jr. is “We must walk on in the days ahead with an audacious faith in the future.” The event will feature remarks from Executive Girmay Zahilay, an MLK Proclamation by Council Chair Sarah Perry, the honoring of Larry Gossett Service Award Recipient, Blackpast.org, and refreshments. Thursday, Jan…. Read More

Crossposted from King County Local When record rain and flooding hit our region, the Department of Local Services worked around the clock to keep our communities safe—monitoring conditions in real-time; responding quickly to hazards to our roads and bridges like flooding, slides, and debris; reinforcing and fixing levees; sharing critical health and safety information; and providing uninterrupted support to the countywide Emergency Operations Center. The department’s Road Services Division is responsible for more than 1,500 miles of roads and 192 bridges in unincorporated King County. These roads are lifelines for residents, businesses,… Read More

King County Executive Girmay Zahilay announced that King County has begun shifting from 24/7 emergency response to monitoring and recovery, following weeks of flooding and hazardous weather conditions. “Our region has experienced a significant natural disaster that has upended many people’s lives and greatly strained our infrastructure, such as roads and levees,” said Executive Zahilay. “We know that the damage caused by this flooding can feel overwhelming and stressful, which is why we want to make sure our residents have the resources and support they need as we begin to recover.” Read more.