Worsening Floods Force Mass Evacuations Across Western Washington
Right now, western Washington is dealing with some of the most intense flooding and dangerous weather conditions the region has seen in years. An atmospheric river, which began pushing into the state earlier this week, has continued to dump heavy rain over mountains, rivers and lowland communities. Because of this, people are being told to evacuate, major roads are shutting down and emergency crews are stretched thin as they work to keep residents safe.
Much of the region has been placed under a Flood Watch, with a Flash Flood Watch specifically issued for parts of Skagit and Snohomish counties. Officials have warned that levees and dikes along the Skagit River are under immense pressure. With water levels rising toward potential record crests, the risk of sudden flooding is extremely high. Residents in Mount Vernon, Sedro-Woolley and other nearby towns have been moved into Level 2 and Level 3 evacuation zones, and anyone ordered to leave has been urged to go immediately.
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In Skagit County, people living within the 100-year floodplain have been told to get to higher ground without delay. Non-essential government services in the county have been shut down as well, simply because conditions have become too hazardous for normal operations. Meanwhile, swift-water rescue teams are already out in Fall City, where several people were stranded after attempting to navigate flooded roads. Fire crews have been using boats to reach those caught in rising water.
Road closures are happening across the region. Blewett Pass is closed in both directions with no estimated reopening time, and Stevens Pass has also been shut down due to multiple debris slides. Portions of Highway 2 are impassable. Trees have been falling as well—one incident near Leavenworth left a driver injured when a tree was swept up by a river and thrown into a truck windshield. In Bremerton, another tree collapsed onto a home, though the homeowner and his dogs were unharmed.
The situation has grown serious enough that Washington Governor Bob Ferguson has declared a statewide emergency. He says as many as 100,000 residents could be affected by evacuation orders. The National Guard has been activated to help respond, with hundreds of service members preparing to deploy. FEMA is monitoring the storm closely, as this atmospheric river is one of the strongest the region has seen in decades.
Meteorologists are warning that rivers—including the Snohomish, Carbon, Cedar and Elwha—are rising fast and may reach near-historic levels. Communities that deal with flooding regularly are describing this event as unusually severe. And with more rain expected, residents are being urged to stay alert, follow evacuation instructions and never attempt to drive through standing or flowing water.
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