Post-Remediation Clearance Testing in Pacific, WA

Pacific and the White River

Pacific lies between Auburn and Sumner, with the lower White River, also called the Stuck River, running along its east side. In November 2006, record rain pushed the river over its banks at Pacific City Park and formed a temporary 25-acre lake. On January 8, 2009, water releases from Mud Mountain Dam caused rapid flooding with virtually no notice. In the early hours of December 16, 2025, a White River levee breached and flooded a large part of the city; a Level 3 Go Now evacuation was ordered, more than 200 homes were affected, and over 600 people were displaced. The city is mostly in King County with a small part in Pierce County.

What to do now

1. Confirm the house has been dried. EPA says to assume mold where a flooded home could not be dried within 24-48 hours.
2. Ask the remediation company for its scope, photos and moisture logs, including how high water reached in each room.
3. Leave containment and drying equipment running until clearance is done.
4. Hire an assessor who is independent of the removal crew.
5. Agree on what passes: no visible growth or silt, no settled dust, and dry readings in framing and subfloor.
6. After a pass, contact City of Pacific Community Development. The city says repairs to flood-damaged property need building permits and/or floodplain development approvals.

Signs and likely causes

Cost factors

HomeGuide's 2026 national ranges put air samples at $100-$300 and surface samples at $50-$200, with a mold inspection at $300-$650. Whole-floor flood jobs cost more to clear than a single room because of the area involved and the number of samples, and slow-drying framing can mean a second visit. Pacific is about 25 miles from Seattle. Keep the clearance report with your flood records; the city notes that homeowners insurance does not cover floods, and FEMA flood insurance and map resources are linked from its flood page.