When it comes to the daunting task of choosing the best water damage firms in Kent for 2025, its not just about picking a name out of a hat. Water Damage Checklist for Kent Residents . Its about finding a company that understands the urgency and intricacies involved in water damage restoration. Now, you might think that all companies are the same, but let me assure you-theyre not.
First off, lets talk about experience. You cant just wake up one day and decide to be a water damage expert! Firms like AquaRestore (which has been around for over two decades) have a reputation built on years of hard work and dedication. They know the ins and outs of the business, which means they can navigate even the trickiest of situations. You wouldn't want someone who's never handled a major flood in your home, would you?
But experience isn't everything (surprisingly). Its also about the technology and methods used. Many firms still rely on outdated techniques which, honestly, can do more harm than good. In contrast, companies like TechDry Solutions use state-of-the-art equipment and environmentally friendly products to ensure that not only is the water damage addressed, but your home is safe from further harm. It's not just about drying a space; it's about restoring it to its former glory.
Customer service is another crucial factor. The last thing anyone needs during a water damage crisis is a company that doesn't pick up the phone or takes forever to respond. Quick Response Team, as their name suggests, prides themselves on their rapid response time. It's not uncommon to hear clients rave about how they felt like family was helping them through the ordeal. On the other hand, firms that neglect this aspect often find themselves losing customers faster than, well, water floods a basement.
And lets not forget about transparency. Too many companies hide behind complex jargon and surprise fees. Not cool, right? Reliable Restoration is known for their straightforward pricing and clear communication. They ensure that clients understand exactly what they're paying for and why. This level of honesty is refreshing and, quite frankly, necessary.
However, no business is perfect. Even the best firms might have a hiccup or two along the way. Its important to remember that reviews and testimonials can provide insight into potential issues and how the company handles them. A firm that owns up to its mistakes and corrects them shows character and integrity.
In conclusion, when searching for the best water damage firms in Kent for 2025, look beyond just flashy advertisements. Consider experience, technology, customer service, and transparency. Remember, not all companies are created equal, and choosing wisely can mean the difference between a stressful ordeal and a smooth recovery. So, do your homework, and dont settle for anything less than the best. After all, your home deserves nothing but the finest care!
About Green River (Duwamish River tributary)
Tributary of the Duwamish River in Washington, United States
Green River (Duwamish River tributary) (the United States)
Show map of the United States
Green River
Looking upriver from suspension bridge in Isaac Evans Park, Auburn, Washington
Map of the Duwamish/Green River watershed with the Green River highlighted
Location of the mouth of the Duwamish River in Washington
57 ft (17 m)[3]Length65 mi (105 km)[1]Basin size440 sq mi (1,100 km2)[4]
Discharge • locationAuburn, Washington[4] • average1,316 cu ft/s (37.3 m3/s)[4] • minimum81 cu ft/s (2.3 m3/s) • maximum28,100 cu ft/s (800 m3/s)
The Green River is a 65-mile (105 km) long river in the state of Washington in the United States, arising on the western slopes of the Cascade Range south of Interstate 90.
The upper Green River valley forms the western approach to Stampede Pass, and was once home to many small railroad and logging towns such as Weston, Lester, Green River Hot Springs, Nagrom, Maywood, Humphreys, Eagle Gorge, Lemolo, and Kanaskat. Shortly before World War I, the City of Tacoma, Washington, filed for water rights on the Green River. Today, much of the upper valley has become a gated water supply watershed for Tacoma and access is heavily restricted, creating controversy among recreation enthusiasts.
Between 1880 and 1888, the Northern Pacific Railway explored and surveyed the Green River. The railway constructed the first direct rail link across Washington's Cascade Range with the opening of their Stampede Tunnel in 1888.
Maps showing the changes of course and nomenclature of rivers in the Duwamish Valley, 1899-1959.
Until 1906, the Green River flowed into the White in downtown Auburn. In 1906, however, the White River changed course above Auburn following a major flood and emptied into the Puyallup River as it does today. The lower portion of the historic White River—from historic confluence of the White and Green Rivers to the historic confluence with the Black River at Tukwila that forms the Duwamish—is now considered part of the Green River. Then, with the opening of the Lake Washington Ship Canal in 1916, the lake's level dropped nearly nine feet and the Black River dried up. From that time forward, the point of the name change from Green to Duwamish is no longer a confluence of rivers, though it has not changed location. Thus, the Green River now becomes the Duwamish River, flowing into the industrialized estuary known as the Duwamish Waterway and thence Elliott Bay in Seattle. By contrast, the White turns south at Auburn, and flows into the Puyallup River and later Commencement Bay in Tacoma.[5]
In October 2009, giant sandbags were placed along the levee from Fort Dent through Kent and the Green River Trail was closed to cyclists.[6] The sandbags mitigated the flood potential due to a weakness discovered in the Howard A. Hanson Dam following a January 2009 storm. Repairs strengthening the partially earthen dam by the Army Corps of Engineers have reduced this flood threat significantly. In September 2012, the Green River Trail was reopened following the removal of all giant sandbags.[7]
Most of the river above and including Eagle Gorge Reservoir are part of the Green River Watershed, which is closed to public access, creating controversy among recreation proponents for some time. West of the Green River Watershed at Kanaskat, the river passes through the Green River Gorge with cliffs rising sharply as much as 300 feet (91 m) from the riverbed. Flaming Geyser State Park, Nolte State Park, and Kanaskat-Palmer State Park are located in this area. The river is a popular tubing spot in the Summer.
Downstream from the Green River Gorge is the half-mile wide Green River Valley, where farmland has been protected from development. An attempt to locate a bike trail along the valley walls has encountered fierce resistance from farmers.[citation needed] As a result, bikes must share the road with autos as it winds through the pastoral landscape.
At Auburn, the Green River emerges from the Green River Valley and enters the much larger Auburn/Kent Valley, which was created by glacial action during the Pleistocene ice ages, then filled in by river sediments and lahars from Mount Rainier. After flowing generally west from its source, at Auburn the river turns north, entering a zone of light-industrial and retail development. A public multiuse trail runs along the river through most of this valley.[8]
The Green River is infamous as the location where the first victims of serial killerGary Ridgway were found in the early 1980s.[9] Most of these victims were sex workers that worked an active "stroll" along Pacific Highway South.[10] Although only a few bodies were found in the river, the unidentified killer was known as the "Green River Killer". These murders went unsolved for over 20 years. For many years, Dave Reichert led the investigation as a detective of the King County Sheriff's Office. Ridgway made a plea agreement with King County Prosecuting Attorney Norm Maleng to cooperate with police in order to escape execution. In November 2003, Gary Ridgway pleaded guilty to 48 counts of Aggravated First Degree Murder.[11][12] King County Superior Court Judge Richard A. Jones sentenced Ridgway to 48 consecutive life sentences. Ridgway will never be eligible for parole.[13]
^"The Green-Duwamish: A River System Re-Plumbed", The Green-Duwamish River: Connecting people with a diverse environment. Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition/TAG. No date, appears to be 2008 or 2009.
Incorporated in 1890, Kent is the second-oldest incorporated city in the county, after the county seat of Seattle.[7] It is generally divided into three areas: West Hill (mixed residential and commercial along Interstate 5), Valley (primarily industrial and commercial with some medium-density residential; significant parkland along Green River), and East Hill (primarily residential with retail).
The Kent area was first permanently settled by European Americans in the 1850s along the banks of what was then the White River. The first settler was Samuel Russell, who sailed the White and Duwamish rivers until he claimed a plot of land southeast of modern-day downtown Kent in the spring of 1853. Russell was followed by several other settlers who quickly staked claims around the area.[8] The settlements were originally known as "White River" and later the town was called "Titusville" after an early settler by the name of James Henry Titus.[9] (There is still a "Titusville Station" sign on Gowe Street near First Avenue). In 1861 a post office was established under the name White River and was located at the farm of David and Irena Neely who settled in modern-day Kent in 1854. In 1855 their farm was attacked by Native Americans when David Neely served as a lieutenant in the Territorial Army. Another settler was Henry L. Yesler, who was the first sawmill operator in Seattle.[10] By 1870 the population was 277 and all of the quality bottom-land had been claimed.[11]
Throughout the 1860s and 70's, grain and forage crops such as wheat, barley, oats, hay, and timothy accounted for much of the annual return of farmers in the valley. During the late 1870s the town discovered hops production as a major source of income.[12] Due to an aphid invasion which affected hops crops in Europe,[13] hops from the Puget Sound area began to command high prices. Hops were shipped from Titusville either by the river or via rail. In 1889 the town was renamed for the County of Kent, the major hops-producing region in England. Ezra Meeker was asked by the Northern Pacific Railroad to name its station. Meeker suggested that it be known as Kent as it was "Hop Capitol of the West".[10] Hops production in the White River valley came to an end soon after its own invasion of aphids in 1891.[14]
Kent was officially incorporated on May 28, 1890, with a population of 793, the second city incorporated in King County (after Seattle).[15]
After the turn of the 20th century the area turned to dairy farming and was home to a Carnation condensed milk plant.[16][17] Flooding from both the Green and the White Rivers was a constant problem. In 1906, flooding changed the course of the White River, which reduced the flood hazard by half. The Green River continued to present problems until the creation of the Howard A. Hanson Dam at Eagle Gorge in 1962.[18][19]
During and after the Great Depression, Kent was known as the "Lettuce Capital of the World".[20] After WWII, Kent began to grow more rapidly. From 1953 to 1960 the city's size grew twelve-fold. In 1965 Boeing began building in Kent, followed a few years later by other aerospace and high-tech companies.[21]
In 1992, the Greater Kent Historical Society was formed to promote the discovery, preservation and dissemination of knowledge about the history of the greater Kent area.[22] In 1996, the City of Kent purchased the historic Bereiter house, the home of one of Kent's early mayors, for use as the Kent Historical Museum. The museum is operated by the Greater Kent Historical Society.[23]
Aerial view of Kent, looking west to east. All three main sections of the city are visible (West Hill, Valley and East Hill) with downtown near the center of the image.
Kent is located in southern King County and is part of Seattle's metropolitan area. The city is divided into three geographic sections: West Hill, the Kent Valley, and East Hill. Downtown Kent is located on the east side of the valley, about 16 miles from downtown Seattle and downtown Bellevue.[citation needed] Adjoining cities are Renton to the north, Covington to the east, Auburn to the south, Federal Way to the southwest, Des Moines to the west, SeaTac to the northwest, and Tukwila to the north.[24]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 34.41 square miles (89.12 km2), of which 33.83 square miles (87.62 km2) is land and 0.58 square miles (1.50 km2) is water.[3]
There are several major freeways and highways in or near Kent, including Interstate 5, State Route 167, and State Route 516. Kent is also served by King County Metro transit, with the Kent Station providing service to many destinations, including downtown Seattle by multiple commuter buses, the Sounder commuter rail system, and local buses. Heavy rail service includes two major north–south lines through the Kent Valley, with freight traffic operations by the BNSF and Union Pacific railroads.[25] The Link light rail system is scheduled to be extended to Federal Way in 2026,[26] with intermediate stops at Kent Des Moines station near Highline College and Star Lake station at South 272nd Street.[27]
Kent's park system includes 55 parks, miniparks, playfields, skateparks, greenbelts, and other related facilities. These parks range in size from as little as 4,300 square feet (400 m2) to over 310 acres (1.3 km2).[28]
Kent City Hall (right) and the Centennial Center (left), 2008Maleng Regional Justice Center Kent, Washington
The city is governed by a mayor–council government, with a directly elected mayor and a seven-member city council. Each is elected at-large (that is, by the entire voting population, rather than by districts) to four-year terms. The current mayor is Dana Ralph.[35] The city maintains its own municipal police department, unlike some neighboring municipalities who contract police service out to King County.
Public primary and secondary education in the vast majority of Kent and a number of neighboring cities and unincorporated areas is governed by the Kent School District.[36] The district includes four high schools, seven middle schools, twenty-eight elementary schools and two academies.[citation needed] The Kent School District also has an individualized graduation and degree program named iGrad that is aimed at dropouts aged 16–21 who are willing to get back to school.[37]
Federal Way Public Schools, which includes a portion of Kent,[36] also has several schools within the city limits. Residents of far east Kent are zoned in the Tahoma School district. A branch of Green River Community College opened in Kent Station in 2007.[38]
In keeping with the King County Annexation Initiative, which seeks to annex large urban unincorporated areas into city limits or incorporate new cities out of those areas,[40] the Panther Lake area (known officially as the Kent Northeast Potential Annexation Area)[41] was proposed for annexation to the city of Kent. The annexation was voted on by residents of the potential annexation area on November 3, 2009; the area was officially annexed July 1, 2010.[42] The city grew in area by approximately 5 square miles (13 km2) and 24,000 residents.[42]
The economy of Kent consists of commuters traveling to the main urban centers of the Seattle metropolitan area (particularly downtown Seattle), extensive manufacturing and warehousing within the city, and retail/personal services catering to residents.[43] The manufacturing and distribution industry in Kent and the surrounding area ranks 4th among markets in the United States.[44]
Corporate headquarters in Kent include Oberto Sausage Company, Seattle Bicycle Supply, Omax Corporation and aerospace manufacturer Blue Origin. Amazon, Boeing, Whirlpool and General Electric operate sizable facilities in the city. Due to its central location within the metropolitan area, Kent is home to a large and growing warehouse district. To honor the 100th anniversary of Oberto Sausage Company's presence in the city, the city designated a section of South 238th Street as Oberto Drive in May 2018.[45]
Boeing Kent Space Center was opened with a public dedication ceremony on October 24, 1964. Keynote speakers at the event were William "Bill" Allen, Chairman and CEO of The Boeing Company; future Washington Governor Dan Evans; and Alex Thorton, Mayor of the City of Kent. The event featured public tours of the labs and facilities that were used to build the Lunar Roving Vehicles used in the Apollo program.[46]
Kent is home to a large steel industry dating back to the early 20th century.[47][48] Steel and metal manufacturers include:
Salmon Bay Steel Company: Operated in Kent for 50 years before closing down. Birmingham Steel purchased Salmon bay in 1991. Salmon bay went on to buy Bethlehem Steel (Seattle Steel) in West Seattle. Years after the purchase, complaints were made of pollution in the Green River valley about pollution from the Salmon Bay melting facility, and the facility was shut down.[49]
Puget Sound Steel: Puget Sound Steel is an independently owned and operated-unique specialty fabricator of reinforcing steel and a supplier of related reinforcement products, since 1961. Puget Sound Steel has been the Northwest's select supplier of fabricated rebar and steel reinforcement to commercial, highway, industrial, and residential building contractors. Works include large scale projects including bridges and skyscrapers.[50][51]
Pacific Metal Company: In 1947, started in Seattle and opened a 19,000 square foot plant. The business and facilities continued to grow for 30 years to meet local needs as well as the emerging markets of Alaska. Even the expanded 40,000 square foot warehouse and sales office was deemed insufficient, and in 1979, an 80,000 square foot facility was built south of the city of Seattle in the Kent Valley at Tukwila. In September 2010 PMC moved to a new location just 3 miles SE in the city of Kent, Washington. Pacific Metal Company is a stocking distributor of non-ferrous metals specializing in stainless steel, copper, aluminum, and brass products as well as ferrous products specializing in Cold Rolled, Coated (Zinc and Aluminum) and pre-painted coils and sheets.[52]
TMX Aerospace: TMX Aerospace, a division of ThyssenKrupp Steel North America; provides materials including steel, brass, and copper as well as exclusive supply chain management support for the Boeing Commercial Airplanes group.[53][54]
Door to Door Storage - self-storage company; introduced portable, containerized storage to the industry
Fenwick - Pioneers in fiberglass and graphite fishing rods. Founded in 1952 and named after Fenwick Lake in Kent Washington. They have since been bought and moved to Columbia, South Carolina.
Novara - REI's brand of bicycles and cycling clothing
Oberto Sausage Company - family-owned; makes beef jerky, pepperoni and other snack sausages
Powerlight Technologies (formerly LaserMotive) - engineering firm developing technologies for efficiently transmitting power via lasers, a form of wireless energy transfer commonly called "laser power beaming"
Puget Systems - custom computer business operating primarily through their website; sells a mixture of custom and preconfigured computers including laptops, desktops, and servers
Kent, Washington – Racial and ethnic composition Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
As of the 2020 census, there were 136,588 people, 47,058 households, and 31,887 families residing in the county.[60] The population density was 4,047.1 inhabitants per square mile (1,562.6/km2). There were 49,157 housing units. The racial makeup of the county was 39.7% White, 12.8% African American, 1.0% Native American, 23.6% Asian, 2.6% Pacific Islander, 9.7% from some other races and 10.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 16.4% of the population.[61] 24.6% of residents were under the age of 18, 6.4% were under 5 years of age, and 10.8% were 65 and older.
As of the 2010 census, there were 92,411 people, 34,044 households, and 21,816 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,228.3 inhabitants per square mile (1,246.5/km2). There were 36,424 housing units at an average density of 1,272.2 per square mile (491.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 55.5% White (49.7% Non-Hispanic White), 11.3% African American, 1.0% Native American, 15.2% Asian, 1.9% Pacific Islander, 8.5% from other races, and 6.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 16.6% of the population.
There were 34,044 households, of which 37.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.6% were married couples living together, 14.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 35.9% were non-families. 28.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.31.
The median age in the city was 33 years. 26.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 10.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 30.6% were from 25 to 44; 24.3% were from 45 to 64; and 8.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.9% male and 50.1% female.
As of the 2000 census, there were 79,524 people, 31,113 households, and 19,601 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,836.7 people per square mile (1,095.4/km2). There were 32,488 housing units at an average density of 1,158.9 per square mile (447.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 70.81% White, 8.23% African American, 0.98% Native American, 9.42% Asian, 0.76% Pacific Islander, 4.7% from other races, and 5.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.13% of the population.
There were 32,998 households, out of which 35.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.1% were married couples living together, 12.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.0% were non-families. 28.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.15.
In the city the population was spread out, with 27.7% under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 35.0% from 25 to 44, 19.6% from 45 to 64, and 7.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $50,053, and the median income for a family was $61,016. Males had a median income of $43,136 versus $36,995 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,390. About 8.7% of families and 11.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.7% of those under the age of 18 and 9.3% of those 65 and older.
In 2003, Kent was named Sports Illustrated's Sportstown of the year for Washington. In January 2006, an entertainment center, known as Kent Station, opened in downtown Kent adjacent to the transit station of the same name.
In July 2015, Kent hosted the inaugural Junior Roller Derby World Cup.[65]
ShoWare Center, home of the Seattle Thunderbirds
Riverbend Golf Complex, featuring an 18-hole course which is one of the busiest in Washington state, is located in Kent. An adjacent par 3 course was actively used by locals for years before being shut down in 2017 to make room for a mixed used development.[66]
A sister city relationship with Kherson, Ukraine, was formed in the 1990s and later dissolved. As of 2022[update], Kent is exploring a sister city relationship with Lutsk, Ukraine.[75]
^Johnson, Florence K. Lentz; pictorial research by Linda Van Nest; "Partners in progress" by Lynn (1990). Kent—valley of opportunity : an illustrated history (1st ed.). Chatsworth, Calif.: Windsor Publications. p. 14. ISBN0-89781-356-1.cite book: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^Johnson, Florence K. Lentz; pictorial research by Linda Van Nest; "Partners in progress" by Lynn (1990). Kent—valley of opportunity : an illustrated history (1st ed.). Chatsworth, California: Windsor Publications. pp. 12, 17. ISBN0-89781-356-1.cite book: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^Johnson, Florence K. Lentz; pictorial research by Linda Van Nest; "Partners in progress" by Lynn (1990). Kent—valley of opportunity : an illustrated history (1st ed.). Chatsworth, California: Windsor Publications. p. 20. ISBN0-89781-356-1.cite book: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^"Parks, Trails & Open Space". Kent Washington Official Website. City of Kent, Washington. Retrieved April 20, 2013.
^Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the highest and lowest temperature readings during an entire month or year) calculated based on data at said location from 1991 to 2020.
^King County and Local Landmarks List, King County Preservation Program, Department of Natural Resources and Parks, August 2012, archived from the original on January 27, 2013, retrieved October 9, 2012
