State of Emergency in Washington Due to Severe Flooding

MOUNT VERNON, Wash. – Washington state declared a state of emergency on Thursday after intense rainfall led to overflowing rivers, landslides blocking roads, and residents stranded by rising waters. Officials warned that evacuation orders may be needed for tens of thousands of residents.

As heavy rains persisted into Thursday morning, many areas faced swollen rivers, closed roads, and water rescues. Amtrak routes between Seattle and Vancouver were canceled as some counties in the Cascade Mountains received as much as 6 inches of rain overnight. In Snoqualmie Pass, an additional 1.7 inches fell within just six hours, according to the national weather bureau.

Emergency management officials cautioned people against driving through flooded areas. Those living close to rivers were urged to pay attention to evacuation advisories.

“Please be prepared. Get ready now. Pack your bags,” urged Arel Solly from Pierce County Emergency Management on Thursday morning.

After several days of continuous rain, Governor Bob Ferguson announced a statewide emergency late Wednesday, warning that “lives will be at risk in the coming days.” Some residents have already been directed to seek higher ground, particularly in Skagit County, a significant agricultural area just north of Seattle, where evacuation orders were issued for those in the Skagit River floodplain.

Ferguson indicated that certain regions might face “catastrophic flooding” and requested assistance in deploying water rescue teams and boats.

The Washington National Guard plans to send hundreds of troops to aid local communities during the crisis.

On Wednesday, Pierce County sheriff’s deputies rescued individuals in an RV park in Orting, even helping a man wearing a Santa hat navigate through waist-deep water near Mount Rainier. Parts of the town have seen evacuation orders due to rapidly rising water levels in the Puyallup River.

A landslide has shut down a section of Interstate 90 east of Seattle. Reports from Eastside Fire & Rescue show vehicles trapped in a mix of mud, trees, and standing water. Additionally, a mountain segment of U.S. 2 was closed because of the debris.

As of Thursday, over 17,000 residents were without power throughout Washington State.

Potential Record River Flooding

The Skagit River is projected to reach about 47 feet early Thursday, with predictions of 41 feet in Mount Vernon by early Friday.

“We handle ‘normal flooding’ fairly well, but no one really knows what a 41- or 42-foot river looks like south of Mount Vernon,” commented Darin Morrison, a Skagit County levee district commissioner, during a meeting on Wednesday.

Non-essential government services in the county were suspended, including all district and superior court operations.

Mount Vernon, the largest city in Skagit County with around 35,000 residents, has a history of flooding. Previous floods, particularly in 2003, caused significant displacement.

The city completed a seawall in 2018, which successfully protected downtown in a near-record flood in 2021. Yet, with predicted historic river levels approaching, there are concerns that existing levees may fail.

“It could be catastrophic,” warned Ellen Gamson, executive director of the Mount Vernon Downtown Association.

Meanwhile, Jake Lumbly was seen adding sandbags and relocating valuables to higher ground in his home. “This is my only possession,” he shared from his front door, visibly concerned.

Municipal Response to the Flooding Crisis

Harrison Rademacher, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Seattle, characterized the ongoing storm as an “atmospheric river” with moisture streaming across the Pacific and impacting the coasts of Oregon and Washington.

In Sumas, a small city bordering Canada, flood sirens sounded, prompting evacuation orders, while the border crossing was temporarily closed to facilitate the evacuation efforts.

While scientists are cautious about directly linking any specific weather event to climate change, they do note that it generally contributes to increasingly frequent and severe storms, droughts, floods, and wildfires.

Yet, another storm is anticipated to bring more rain starting Sunday.

“The weather pattern appears to be quite unstable as the holiday season approaches,” Rademacher added.