King County seeks federal grant to buy flood-prone homes along Raging River

Homeowners living along a flood-prone portion of the Raging River may be able to voluntarily sell their homes to King County for the fair market value if federal funding is received.

King County is seeking federal Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funds to purchase homes from willing sellers in the vicinity of the Upper Preston Road Southeast, south of Interstate 90.

King County has also scheduled a public meeting for May 14 in Preston to discuss alternatives to mitigate the effects of flooding and channel migration on residential homes located on the Raging River. The meeting is set for 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Preston Community Center, 8625 310th Ave. SE.

King County's recently updated Flood Hazard Management Plan identified the Preston reach of the Raging River as an area of high risk from deep, fast flows, as well as channel migration during flood events.

The federal grant is designed to provide state and local government agencies the financial assistance to implement long-term hazard mitigation measures after a major disaster declaration. 

King County will only consider purchasing properties from willing property owners at fair market value, as determined by an independent appraisal. Interested property owners can contact program manager Priscilla Kaufmann at Priscilla.kaufmann@kingcounty.gov, or by writing to: Priscilla Kaufmann, King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks, 201 S. Jackson St., Suite 600, Seattle, WA 98104.