Flooding caused by the intensity of the atmospheric river slamming the Pacific Northwest this week has prompted evacuations and predictions of record river crests in Washington state.
On December 10, Governor Bob Ferguson declared a statewide emergency following the downpour of rain and flooding his state has experienced in recent days. In his statement, the leader urged citizens to prioritize safety. He said in part, “The next few days are critical. I want to encourage all Washingtonians to listen carefully to alerts from your county and emergency management departments. If you receive an evacuation order, please follow that order. It’s critical to your safety.”
According to the Washington State Standard, local officials have placed different types of evacuation orders for areas of Pierce County, Skagit County, and Ebey Island. On Wednesday, Skagit County issued an emergency “GO” evacuation order for anyone in its 100-year-old floodplain.
“The Skagit River is predicted to crest at record-setting levels over the next two days,” noted the county. “The city of Concrete is expected to see a crest at 46.13 feet, and Mount Vernon is predicted to crest at 42.13 feet.”
Atmospheric rivers are like “rivers in the sky,” per the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The powerful weather phenomenon disperses intense levels of water vapor. Often, they carry “roughly equivalent to the average flow of water at the mouth of the Mississippi River.”
Ferguson’s emergency proclamation noted that the severe inclement weather has included brutal rains, winds, flooding, snow, and ice accumulation. In addition to evacuations, the natural disaster has caused landslides, mudslides, power outages, and widespread closures (roads, businesses, etc.).
What Should I Know About Staying Safe During The Flooding In Washington State?
Flooding can be life-threatening and cause large-scale, harrowing damage to communities.
Evacuation shelters in Skagit County are operating on a first-come, first-served basis. Those locations are Concrete High School, Family Promise at Central United Methodist Church, and the Red Cross Shelter at Bethany Covenant Church. The county reminds its locals and visitors, “Water can be deeper and faster-moving than it looks, making driving through any moving water very dangerous.”
Drivers should utilize the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT)’s real-time travel map. It’s a resource for lane and road closures.
“We anticipate potentially 100,000 Washingtonians facing evacuation orders,” tweeted Ferguson on December 10. “The situation is fluid and changing all the time. We expect rivers to hit historic levels as early as 4 a.m. tomorrow, lasting into Friday morning.”
