When Eddie Wicks and his wife tucked in for the night by the Snoqualmie River in Washington, they weren’t overly concerned about flooding. Having lived in Duval for three decades, they’re familiar with the threats and usually manage to stay safe.
However, things took a turn when they moved their two donkeys to higher ground and housed their eight goats in the outdoor kitchen. Suddenly, the water began rising more quickly than they had ever anticipated.
“It wasn’t days, it was hours,” he recalled. “We had to climb four feet for four hours.”
As water surged into their home Thursday afternoon, deputies from the King County Sheriff’s Office Marine Rescue Dive Unit came to their aid, transporting them and their dog via boat across what had become a vast field.
They were just a few of the thousands forced to evacuate in the wake of an unusually strong atmospheric river that dropped over a foot of rain across parts of western and central Washington. This led to swollen rivers, flooding, and dramatic rescues from rooftops and vehicles.
While the record floodwaters were expected to slowly recede by Saturday, authorities cautioned that high water levels would persist for several days, with concerns about possible levee failures and landslides. More rain could be on the way as soon as Sunday.
Fortunately, there haven’t been any reported casualties.
Damage assessments are still pending, but images and videos reveal widespread devastation, with numerous communities inundated.
Rescue teams conducted countless water rescues, as blocked highways from debris and landslides led to rapid waters washing away roads and bridges.
Governor Bob Ferguson announced that President Trump has approved the state’s request for a state of emergency.
On Wednesday, officials issued an urgent “leave now” directive to tens of thousands in the Skagit River floodplain, affecting cities like Burlington, which has around 10,000 residents.
By Friday morning, emergency alerts were renewed in Burlington as floodwaters breached swamps and inundated homes.
According to Robert Ezell, who oversees emergency management for the Washington Military Department, additional rain on Sunday is likely to elevate the river levels once again.
National Guard Troops Mobilized for Evacuations
On Friday morning, National Guard troops went door-to-door in Burlington to inform residents of evacuation orders and assist with transportation to shelters.
By late morning, some evacuation orders were rescinded as the waters began to recede.
The Skagit River flows through the Cascade Mountains before winding through farmland and tulip fields, heading toward Puget Sound. Burlington’s delta location makes it particularly susceptible to flooding.
The river peaked at 37 feet in Mount Vernon, the largest city in the valley, surpassing previous records.
Fortunately, the sea wall held, protecting the downtown area.
Around 1,000 residents in Burlington were evacuated under the cover of night, according to Ferguson.
Police spokesman Michael Lumpkin noted that the floodwaters reached 2 to 3 feet deep in various neighborhoods.
Mario Rincon, staying at a hotel with his family and their newborn, found their home flooded halfway to the first floor upon their return, making it impossible to enter.
“It will take several days for the water to recede,” he noted.
Nearby Sumas, Nooksack, and Everson, housing about 6,500 residents, faced flooding as well. The Sumas border crossing was closed due to the conditions.
Sumas Mayor Bruce Bosch posted a message on social media, acknowledging the residents’ eagerness to return home. “Good luck,” he added.
In King County, crews worked through the night to seal a sinkhole in a levee near the Green River in Tukwila, according to County Executive Gharmay Zahirai.
Rescue Efforts by Boat and Helicopter
Rescue operations have been ongoing across Washington, with agencies saving people from cars and homes in recent days. Battalion Chief Frank Cain Jr. of Whatcom County Fire District 14 noted that a helicopter successfully airlifted two families from a flooded home in Sumas.
Nearby, erosion led to two homes collapsing into the Nooksack River, though thankfully, no one was inside.
There’s ongoing discussion about climate change potentially influencing the heavier rainfall patterns. While scientists caution that it’s difficult to link specific weather events directly to climate change, the trend certainly points toward increased intensity and frequency of severe weather conditions.
