Record flooding in Washington state forced tens of thousands of people to evacuate after days of torrential rain from back-to-back atmospheric rivers that brought heavy rain, strong winds and catastrophic flooding to parts of Northwest Oregon and Western Washington. Flood watches and warnings remained in effect across Western Washington.
Authorities and local media reported large-scale evacuations and ongoing threats from swollen rivers. KUOW said “tens of thousands of Washingtonians remain under evacuation advisories, including about 78,000 people in Skagit County’s flood plain.” Local outlets maintained live blogs and updates as rivers crested and communities responded.
Scenes from affected areas:
– Neighbors watch as Gages Slough overflows and floods a street in Burlington, Wash. (Photo: Megan Farmer/KUOW)
– National Guard members gather at the Burlington Parks and Recreation Department before assisting in evacuations as floodwaters rise in Burlington. (Photo: Megan Farmer/KUOW)
– A resident paddles to dry land after rescuing chickens from a flooded coop in Burlington. (Photo: Stephen Brashear/AP)
– Water from the Skagit River floods farms and homes near Lyman, Wash. (Photo: Stephen Brashear/AP)
– A golden retriever is brought to safety on a kayak by residents at a flooded apartment complex near the Skykomish River in Monroe, Wash. (Photo: Megan Farmer/KUOW)
– A park in Mount Vernon, Wash., floods as the Skagit River rises. (Photo: Mitch Borden/KNKX)
– A Mount Vernon resident loads filled sandbags into his vehicle as communities fortify homes and property. (Photo: Megan Farmer/KUOW)
– Dennis Reasbeck, a longtime Skagit County resident who had never before evacuated for flooding, fortifies his house before leaving town. (Photo: Mitch Borden/KNKX)
– A person drives through floodwaters from the Snohomish River in Snohomish, Wash.; tens of thousands were under evacuation orders after rivers burst their banks. (Photo: Jason Redmond/AFP via Getty Images)
– An 11-year-old evacuee is helped out of a rescue boat by Chehalis Fire Department personnel after evacuating with her family. (Photo: Lindsey Wasson/AP)
Local officials, emergency responders and the National Guard assisted with evacuations and rescues, while residents moved sandbags, secured pets and animals, and left homes in flood-prone areas. The flooding affected farms, homes, parks and infrastructure across multiple counties, with many communities experiencing historic high water levels.
This story was updated to reflect conditions in Northwest Oregon at the time of publication.