Published December 6 2023
With high water from heavy rains receding, Bellevue streets flooded on Tuesday were reopened Wednesday morning. Transportation crews were pulling up the barricades from Southeast Seventh Place, Southeast 26th Street, Northeast 21st Street and a lane on 148th Avenue Southeast.
Sections of these streets were flooded Tuesday after heavy rains Monday dumped close to two inches of water, swelling local streams. As always, drivers were warned to turn around and use a different route if they encountered water over the street.
Rain was steady through Tuesday, adding up to another inch of precipitation, before tapering off Tuesday night. Utilities crews patroled the city, clearing blocked drains and responding to calls.
Illustrations provide tips on how to prepare for and respond to flooding.
To reduce the risk of neighborhood flooding, residents are asked to check storm drains near their homes and clear away leaves and debris if it is safe to do so. City employees clear city storm drains, but it is difficult to get to all 20,000 of them.
More than half of flooding deaths in the U.S. are caused when people try to drive on flooded roadways according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As of Tuesday morning, the following road closures were in place due to water over the roadway:
- Southeast Seventh Place between Lake Hills Connector and the 12500 block
- Southeast 26th Street (Kamber Road) between Richards Road and the138000 block.
- Northeast 21st Street at 140th Avenue Northeast
- The outer southbound lane of 148th Avenue Southeast from Main Street to the Larsen Lake Blueberry Farm (700 148th Avenue Southeast)
More information about what to do before and during heavy rains is available at the city’s Flooding page and at the National Weather Service’s “Turn Around, Don’t Drown” page.