In December, record floodwaters began slowly receding in Washington state after triggering evacuations, inundating communities, and prompting dramatic rescues from rooftops and vehicles.
But authorities warned that waters would still be high for days and that danger from potential levee failures remained.
“This is not just a one- or two-day crisis,” Gov. Bob Ferguson said at a news briefing. “These water levels have been historic, and they’re going to remain very high for an extended period of time.”
President Donald Trump has signed the state’s request for an emergency declaration, Ferguson said.
An unusually strong atmospheric river dumped a foot (30 cm) or more of rain in parts of western Washington over several days and swelled rivers. No deaths have been reported, Ferguson said.
Authorities have yet to estimate the total costs, but photos and videos show widespread damage, with entire communities or neighborhoods flooded around western and central Washington. Officials have conducted dozens of water rescues, debris and mudslides have closed highways, and raging torrents have washed out roads or bridges.
Officials issued “go now” orders last December 10 to tens of thousands of residents in the Skagit River flood plain north of Seattle, including the farming city of Burlington, home to nearly 10,000 people. By December 12, muddy water overflowed a slough and rushed into homes, prompting more urgent warnings for Burlington.
National Guard members knocked on hundreds of doors in Burlington early morning to tell residents about the evacuation notice and help transport them to a shelter if needed. By late morning, the evacuation order was lifted for part of the city, and the waters were slowly receding. But the river remained high, and flash flooding remained a risk due to prolonged pressure on the levees.
The Skagit River drains a wide swath of the rugged Cascade Range before winding west across broad, low-lying farmlands and tulip fields on its way to Puget Sound. Cities like Burlington sit on that delta, leaving them especially vulnerable to floods.
This article and video were provided by The Associated Press.