Bothell spreads across the King and Snohomish county line near the northeast tip of Lake Washington. The Sammamish River runs through the valley floor, the high point on Nike Hill climbs to about 510 feet, and several historic houses from the late 1800s and early 1900s now stand together at the Park at Bothell Landing.
We are a referral service and do not send out our own workers. Phone (866) 937-3230 and we'll try to link you with an independent restoration contractor serving Bothell, Kenmore, Woodinville and nearby communities; whether anyone is free depends on local providers at the time. The how it works page walks through a call, and our referral disclosure covers the business side.
Hills, creeks and a two-county storm record
Glaciers cut the north-south channels that give the city its seven hills, and North Creek and Swamp Creek carry most of its runoff to the river. According to Wikipedia, ground south of the Sammamish River is prone to landslides, a real concern when winter rain saturates slopes.
King County has been named in twelve FEMA major disaster declarations since 2000, many of them winter events combining storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides. Examples include DR-1963 in 2011, DR-4309 in 2017, DR-4539 in 2020, DR-4775 in 2024 and DR-4906 in 2026, plus the 2009 winter storm with record and near-record snow (DR-1825). Homes north of the county line fall under Snohomish County's own emergency programs.
Plumbing failures and rain intrusion in Bothell houses
With roughly 20,000 housing units and much of the land zoned for single-family homes, the most frequent calls involve ordinary failures: a cracked supply line, a leaking water heater, an overflowing washer or a roof valley that gives way during a long rainy stretch. Homes on slopes can also see groundwater seep into basements or crawlspaces, and a snowy cold snap like 2009's can freeze pipes in exterior walls.
A typical approach to water damage restoration in Bothell starts with shutting off the source and extracting water, then measuring moisture and drying with dehumidifiers and air movers before any water damage repair. More on emergency water removal and basement flood cleanup.
Federal disaster declarations that included King County
FEMA records show King County was included in 12 major disaster declarations for weather or fire events from 2000 through 2026 (8 severe storm, 4 flood, by FEMA incident type). Declarations are made at the county level, so they do not mean every neighborhood in Bothell was affected. The most recent:
- 2026 – Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (DR-4906)
- 2024 – Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (DR-4775)
- 2020 – Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (DR-4539)
- 2017 – Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, Mudslides (DR-4309)
- 2012 – Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (DR-4056)
- 2011 – Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (DR-1963)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, retrieved 2026-10-10. Counts include major disaster (DR) declarations with hurricane, flood, severe storm, tropical storm, fire, tornado, coastal storm, winter or ice storm, mudslide and dam/levee incident types.
Water, fire or storm damage in Bothell?
Call (866) 937-3230 and tell us what happened at your Bothell property.
A downtown that knows fire firsthand
Fire is part of local history. Mills burned in 1893 and 1894, a 1911 blaze damaged or destroyed about a dozen Main Street buildings, and in July 2016 the Mercantile Building fire downtown damaged or closed more than 20 businesses. Commercial or residential, the cleanup challenge is similar: soot spreads well past the burned area, and firefighting water soaks what the flames missed.
Restoration firms commonly secure the structure, remove debris, clean surfaces with methods suited to each material and treat lingering odor. Both fire damage cleanup and soot removal are explained in more depth on their own pages.
When the Sammamish Valley floods or slopes slide
King County runs a flood warning system and lists flood, landslide, winter storm and dam failure among the hazards it plans for. In Bothell, low parcels along the river and creeks and properties beneath steep hillsides are the ones to watch during prolonged heavy rain.
Water that rose from the river, a creek or the street carries contamination, so it is never treated like a clean pipe leak. Expect wet carpet, pad and lower drywall to be cut out, followed by cleaning, disinfection and drying. If mud or debris came in from a slope failure, have the structure checked before anyone works inside. Read about flood damage restoration.
Mold in crawlspaces, attics and bathrooms
Long damp seasons give mold every advantage once materials stay wet for more than a day or two. Watch for musty smells in crawlspaces, staining on attic sheathing and discoloration near tubs and windows.
Federal EPA guidance says a homeowner can usually tackle growth smaller than about 10 square feet after fixing the moisture problem. Larger patches, mold hidden inside walls or ducts, or growth after sewage or floodwater should go to a professional who sets up containment and HEPA air filtration. See mold removal.
Practical first steps on either side of the county line
- Call 911 for fire, injuries, gas odors or downed lines, and leave the building if it seems unstable or a slope above it is moving.
- Shut off the water main for plumbing leaks and the breaker for wet circuits only if you can do so safely.
- Check King County Emergency Management for hazard guidance and the county flood warning system.
- Take pictures and video of each damaged room before tear-out starts, and keep every receipt; what gets paid depends on the wording of your own policy, which your agent can walk through.
Neighborhoods and nearby communities
Areas in and around Bothell that callers often mention include:
- Downtown Bothell
- Canyon Park
- Bloomberg Hill
- Westhill
- Red Barn
- Maywood/Beckstrom Hill
- Thrasher's Corner/Red Hawk
- Waynita/Simonds/Norway Hill
- Queensborough/Brentwood/Crystal Springs
- North Creek/NE 195th Street
- Brickyard Road/Queensgate
- Shelton View/Meridian/3rd Avenue SE
Nearby communities with their own pages (straight-line distance from Bothell):
- Kenmore · 2 mi
- Woodinville · 2 mi
- Bothell West · 3 mi
- Lake Forest Park · 4 mi
- Mountlake Terrace · 5 mi
- Mill Creek East · 5 mi
Bothell restoration FAQs
Which county's alerts should a Bothell resident follow?
It depends on your address. About 60% of residents live in King County and about 40% in Snohomish County, with the line near NE 205th Street. Follow the emergency management office for the county your home is in, and consider signing up with both if you commute across the line.
Are hillside homes here at risk of landslides?
Wikipedia notes that areas south of the Sammamish River are prone to landslides, and King County lists landslides as a planning hazard. Saturated soil after weeks of rain is the usual trigger. If you see new cracks, leaning trees or water seeping from a slope, contact local officials.
What should owners of older Bothell homes know about water damage?
Houses from the early 20th century may have plaster, old-growth wood and aging pipes that respond differently to water than modern materials. Ask any contractor how they plan to dry and protect those materials before demolition starts.
Does the county warn about river flooding?
Yes, King County runs a flood warning system, and its emergency preparedness pages explain flood risks. Check those pages during heavy rain, and look up your property on FEMA flood maps if you live near the river or a creek.
Can you help in Kenmore, Woodinville or Mill Creek?
We try to connect callers across the area, including Kenmore, Woodinville, Lake Forest Park and the Mill Creek area, with independent restoration contractors. Availability depends on who is working nearby, so call (866) 937-3230 to check.
Restoration guides
- Water Damage Restoration
- Emergency Water Removal
- Basement Flood Cleanup
- Flood Damage Restoration
- Fire Damage Cleanup
- Mold Removal