Expect traffic delays in Pierce Co. during world’s largest lahar emergency drill
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- The 2026 Regional Lahar Evacuation Drill will run from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on April 23.
- Schools will evacuate students along lahar routes; Puyallup will see increased pedestrians
- Sumner will guide rolling shutdowns, Orting will reduce traffic on Calistoga Street West.
Several towns in East Pierce County will have backed-up roads during a lahar drill on April 23.
The 2026 Regional Lahar Evacuation Drill is the largest lahar evacuation drill in the world, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. It will take place from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. The East Pierce Interlocal Coalition Emergency Management team runs it, and consists of the Puyallup, Sumner-Bonney Lake, Orting, White River and Carbonado school districts.
For three hours, school districts will evacuate students along lahar evacuation routes in preparation for an eruption of Mount Rainier, which would plug the roads.
For a map of the lahar evacuation routes, visit epiceoc.com/pages/lahar.
Puyallup and South Hill
According to the drill’s website, most of the pedestrian traffic will be in downtown Puyallup.
“You may notice a large number of pedestrians, specifically school children, walking on the sidewalks through downtown. If you are driving downtown, please drive slowly and watch for people crossing the street,” the website said. “Increased pedestrian traffic will mean longer commute times in and out of downtown.”
In South Hill, students will practice sheltering in place, since South Hill is out of the evacuation zone. The website said there will still be some students walking from downtown to South Hill to get to their pre-determined evacuation routes, so South Hill drivers should still proceed with caution.
Sumner
According to the website, drivers in Sumner will experience the most delays on Valley Avenue, Main Street and 160th Street. Sumner Police and Public Works will “guide a rolling shutdown of roads,” and reopen the roads as soon as students clear the area.
“Student safety remains the priority,” the website said.
Bonney Lake
Students in Bonney Lake will practice sheltering in place by staying inside of their schools, according to a Facebook post from the city and a post on the Sumner-Bonney Lake School District’s website.
Orting
According to a Facebook post from the Orting Police Department, Calistoga Street West will be reduced to one-way traffic between Eldredge Avenue and 188th Street East.
“During this time, only westbound and southbound traffic traveling toward and across the Puyallup River Bridge will be permitted,” the post said. “Vehicles attempting to enter the City from the Orting-Kapowsin Highway will be stopped and turned around at 188th Street East. Please note that traffic will not alternate on Calistoga Street West during this closure.”
OPD also said that “a limited number of residents” who live on Kansas Street Southwest and Coe Lane won’t be able to access their homes by vehicle during drill hours.
“Motorists are strongly encouraged to avoid Calistoga Street West between 9:30 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. and to plan for alternate routes,” the post said.
Buckley
Students in the White River School District will shelter in place, according to a post on the district’s website, and won’t leave their schools.
