Tolt River Dam false alarm evacuates Carnation

Carnation leaders call for Tolt River Dam to be decommissioned

People living in Carnation were once again startled by a false alarm from the Tolt River Dam.

CARNATION, Wash. - People living in Carnation were once again startled by a false alarm from the Tolt River Dam.

King County says the Tolt Dam early warning alarm sounds every Wednesday at 12 p.m. Wednesday morning, the county reported that alarm falsely sounded two hours early at 10 a.m.

The alarm prompted an immediate evacuation of everyone living in Carnation to move to high ground.

It is just the latest in a slew of ongoing issues with the dam’s alarm system.

FOX 13 News previously reported that the old alarm system sounded six false alarms over the course of six years. The new system has been equally controversial, now having two false alarms in less than a year.

Despite living in the shadow of the Tolt River Dam — which supplies 30–40% of Seattle’s drinking water — residents in Carnation say they have seen none of the benefits these last 60 years.

People living in the area say these repeated failures by the alarm system are a big deal. It's happened eight times over the past four years, with some no longer taking it seriously.

"My first thought was this isn’t real. "I didn’t go into panic mode, I didn’t go into go mode," said Carnation resident Morgan Henley. "Then, another alarm went off 20 or so minutes later and that just solidified in my mind … this is not real."

City leaders in Carnation say enough is enough. Locals are even calling to drain the dam, saying the city of Seattle is to blame.

Seattle Public Utility customers use the water from the dam. However, Carnation doesn't get a drop, but bears the risk if it were to break.

The city is calling on Executive Dow Constantine to investigate this faulty system. Carnation leaders are also trying to put a stop to the dam’s relicensing.

Seattle Public Utilities canceled the regular 12 p.m. siren test Wednesday, and confirmed the dam is safe, while officials continued to investigate what sounded the alarm.