Wastewater Operator Tyler Stiltner stands near floodwaters outside the Carnation Treatment Plant, where he remained onsite to keep the facility running during the storm.
When a powerful atmospheric river settled over King County this week, the Snoqualmie Valley experienced some of the most significant impacts. Floodwaters quickly covered rural roads around Carnation, cutting off access to neighborhoods, farms, and the Carnation Treatment Plant.
Inside the plant, Wastewater Operator Tyler Stiltner suddenly found himself on an island. Surrounded by rising water and unable to leave, he became the only person able to keep the facility running while the storm intensified. His experience offers a firsthand look at what it means to protect public health and the environment when access disappears and the region faces the kind of flooding that only an atmospheric river can deliver.
On being stranded at the plant
What has it been like to be stuck on an island in Carnation?
“It has definitely been interesting. You come to appreciate some of the hardships a small community may face during a natural disaster. With all means of entry and exit cut off by rising floodwaters, there are very few available resources to the public. The most significant is the lack of a local medical clinic or hospital.”
What have you been subsisting off of? I wish our drones could deliver you take-out.
“Thanks for the thought. Sounds like we should budget for bigger drones. Carnation has a full kitchen with a stovetop, oven, refrigerator and microwave, and I usually keep food on hand for my normal shifts. There is a local grocery roughly 200 yards from the plant, so I have made a few trips to replenish as needed. It has been interesting watching in-demand items (like toilet paper) disappear from shelves as the week has progressed, and suppliers have been unable to restock because of road closures.”
Floodwaters surround the Carnation Treatment Plant as the Snoqualmie River spreads across nearby fields during an atmospheric river event.
On keeping the plant running through the storm
How busy are you, and how have you been passing the time?
“I would not say the workload has changed drastically, but the response time certainly has. Without reliable power because of the wind and weather, we have seen numerous power bumps and the effects on our equipment. Being onsite allowed me to address issues as they arose and keep the plant operational. Operations would not have been able to reach the plant in its current state. Some of the equipment failures this week would likely have caused a complete treatment system shutdown and a high potential for overflow.
Remaining onsite allowed me to protect our permit and avoid negative environmental impacts on top of the flooding. And since the plant is not typically staffed around the clock, being here in the evenings let me monitor conditions in person and reduce workload for South Treatment Plant in Renton as they responded to impacts across a larger portion of the county.”
Rising water completely covered this rural road near Carnation, cutting off access to nearby neighborhoods and facilities.
On preparation, perspective, and appreciation
What else do you want people to know about the situation and the emergency response?
“The biggest takeaway is the value of being proactive instead of reactive. Flooding comes with the territory here, and I have learned to watch weather forecasts and river projections closely. When in doubt, it is safer to hunker down and be prepared than to be stuck on the other side of the water and unable to respond.
As the atmospheric river shifts east and the Snoqualmie River slowly returns to its banks, Stiltner’s experience at the Carnation Treatment Plant stands out as a powerful example of preparation and dedication. His decision to stay onsite turned a potentially serious emergency into a steady, controlled response. The plant remained stable, equipment stayed online, and the environment was protected despite complete isolation caused by flooding.
Events like this remind us that behind every successful storm response are people who plan ahead, make difficult choices, and remain committed to the communities they serve. Carnation may have flooded, but thanks to Stiltner’s vigilance and the support of staff across WTD, the plant stayed resilient when it mattered most.
A road closed sign marks just how far floodwaters spread across the Snoqualmie Valley near Carnation.
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