There's been some SERIOUS flooding here in the PNW... we've had a record amount of rain for the month - almost 12 inches of rain in only one month!  Several areas have really felt the problems that come with high rain... here's some images from the various news stories in the area...

This sort of thing happens nearly every year, but its still an eye-opener when it happens!

Recent floods:
2005.12.24 - Christmas Flood Watch
October 24, 2003 - A look at the rain!
 

 

Nov 9 - SEATTLE  — Rainstorms eased Tuesday, but record flooding continued in Western Washington, changing the course of the Cowlitz River at Packwood, south of Mount Rainier, and forcing rescues in Skagit and Lewis counties.

RIGHT: The Cowlitz River claims another victim

Flood warnings were posted Tuesday on 19 Western Washington rivers, with six rivers already reaching record crests - the Skykomish River near Gold Bar, the Carbon River near Fairfax, the Snoqualmie River near Carnation, the South Fork of the Stillaguamish River near Arlington, the Cowlitz River at Randle and Packwood, and the Nisqually River near National - the Weather Service reported Tuesday.

Below: A Skykomish park

 

In Lewis County, flooding changed the course of the Cowlitz River at Packwood. Deputy Stacy Brown said 300 homes are threatened with flooding and residents of the High Valley area have been ordered to evacuate.

All roads into Packwood were closed by mudslides and flooding, which made rescues more difficult, Brown said.

BELOW: Mt Si High school

North Bend neighborhoods are flooded


Forget the roadway... its almost over the sign!

About 19 households had called for rescue in the Randle area, where the Cowlitz River was rising past 24.45 feet, well above the 18-foot flood level, she said.

"The people that we told to evacuate yesterday are staying and now we are risking our rescue personnel," said Brown, who was expecting assistance Tuesday from a helicopter and National Guard troops.

Mount Rainier National Park has been closed to the public after receiving more than 17 inches of rain in the past two days. Most major roads in the park have been affected and the Sunshine Point campground has been wiped out. Employees are expected to begin with cleanup operations Wednesday.

State of emergency

Gov. Chris Gregoire, who declared a state of emergency for 18 counties, flew over affected areas in a helicopter Tuesday.

RIGHT: Raging floodwaters eventually took out this bridge in the Cascade Mountains near Stevens Pass.

"I feel very, very positive about what's going on here in Skagit County," the governor said during a stop in Mount Vernon. "People here know when to call for help and when not to... it's worked exactly as it should - federal, state and local."



She said she'd heard from both the state's U.S. senators and other members of the congressional delegation. "Everybody's standing ready to help us," she said.

Cresting at 39.77 feet at Concrete early Tuesday, the Skagit River did not go as high as it did during the last big flood, in 2003, officials said. But the total impact, which won't be known for days, could be comparable to that year, when flooding caused $17 million in property damage in Concrete and 3,4000 households were evacuated, said county spokesman Don McKeehen. Flood stage on the Skagit River at Concrete and Mount Vernon is 28 feet.

BELOW: The waters flow through Sultan...

Meanwhile, the Puyallup River is expected to be impacted by the release of water from Mud Mountain Dam within the next 12 hours. Effects may occur at any time. The city strongly urges residents along the Puyallup River to voluntarily evacuate and secure their properties.

BELOW: the Puyallup takes out an access road on High Cedars Golf Course, in Orting

In Mount Vernon, after hundred of volunteers worked through the night, the 1,400-foot sandbag wall was finally completed. The Skagit River crested Tuesday afternoon.

Roads in and out of Carnation have been closed due to the flooding situation. Some of the residents in Gold Bar and Sultan were forced to leave their homes and high flood waters washed out roads, cutting off all access to Carnation. With the exception of four people who refuse to leave, the town of Hamilton is nearly completely evacuated.

BELOW: Snoqualmie Valley, just south of Duval

At Preston, the Raging River caused a shutdown of the Upper Preston Road Bridge, just off I-90. The abutment at one end was washed out by the river. One nearby resident described the slide as a big "explosion." No one is allowed to drive, or walk across the bridge. It's not known when it will reopen.

BELOW: Using a canoe to shuttle people and supplies through the flooding in North Bend

The National Weather Service added a flood warning for the Nisqually River in central Thurston County and west central Pierce County. Additional rainfall and water coming down the river will drive the Lower Nisqually River above bankfull and flood areas below La Grande Dam and McKenna down to the mouth.

It reduced flood forecasts along at least one major river, the Skagit, after rapidly rising rivers caught hundreds of residents by surprise in low-lying areas. Mud and rock slides blocked a number of highways and delayed an Amtrak passenger train.

Tens of thousands of schoolchildren got the day off from classes or faces loss of bus service.

BELOW: Randle Fire Department and Sheriff's Office

Stampede Pass in the Cascades east of Seattle had more than 8 inches of rain in a 24-hour period ending Monday afternoon, and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport recorded nearly 4 inches.

Rainstorms propelled by air currents from Hawaii, a pattern known as the Pineapple Express, also caused severe flooding in southwest British Columbia, forcing the evacuation of about 200 people in the Fraser River valley near Chilliwack, about 60 miles east of Vancouver.

BELOW: Gold Bar, Washington...

The water got deep there...


WA 12, leaving Randle

The weather service said the steady drenching should change to rain showers by Tuesday afternoon, with Wednesday and Thursday dry before another Pacific weather system brings more rain and wind on Friday.

Rainfall records were set Monday across Western Washington, including 8.22 inches at Stampede Pass, which broke an all-time rain record of 7.29 inches set on Nov. 19, 1962.

A river jumps its banks in Oslo, Washington

Emergency shelters & hotline

King County has the following emergency shelters open: The Renton shelter is operating at the Highlands Neighborhoods Center, Tel. 425-766-6159, the Bellevue shelter is at the South Bellevue Community Center, Tel. 425-452-4412, the Kent shelter is at St. James Episcopal Church, Tel. 253-852-4450, the Issaquah shelter is at the Issaquah Community Center, Tel. 425-837-3180, and the Duvall shelter is at Cedarcrest High School in Duvall.

King County Office of Emergency Management has established a damage hotline for all residents of geographic King County to report their losses. Residents should report disaster damage to the King County Emergency Coordination Center at 1-800-523-5044 from 8a.m. - 5 p.m., beginning Wednesday, November 8.

Four emergency Red Cross shelter are open in Snohomish County for anyone seeking refuge from flooded areas in Western Washington. Locations are: Granite Falls Middle School in Granite Falls, Monroe First Congregational Church in Monroe, Stanwood High School gymnasium in Stanwood, and Trinity Episcopal Church in Everett.

In Skagit County, the American Red Cross has opened shelters at the Hamilton Baptist Church, the Concrete Catholic Church, and the Sedro Woolley High School.

Twin Falls...

Rescues and close calls

Amid earlier warnings of record flooding, more than a dozen National Guard personnel were sent late Monday to rescue an unknown number of people in Skagit County, and another 150 troops were expected Tuesday, county spokesman Don McKeehen said.

Those being had disregarded a recommendation to leave before waters blocked their escape route from small towns near Concrete, just west of the Cascade foothills in the central part of the county, McKeehen said.

In North Bend, about 30 miles east of Seattle, the Snoqualmie River slopped over a levee, prompting an urgent call for residents of two neighborhoods to evacuate, King County spokesman David Tushin said Monday night. He could not estimate how many people were affected.

About 200 to 225 elk hunters were evacuated Monday from camps near the Cowlitz River in southwest Washington, Lewis County Sheriff Steven B. Mansfield said. One hunter, Andy McDonald, 20, of Seattle, died when his pickup truck was swept into the Cowlitz. His body was recovered late Monday.

More than 100 students at an environmental camp in southwest Washington were evacuated for fear that the would be cut off by high water.

More than 80 people were rescued from flooding in Snohomish County, north of Seattle, including several transients were taken to safety by a sheriff's helicopter after they were stranded on a sandbar where they had been camping.

The Herald of Everett reported that Chris Johnson, 37, tried to rescue two neighbors, Pauline Lindsey, 59, and Carl Gott, 65, floodwaters from the South Fork Stillaguamish River surrounded their home, but his dinghy was hit by a log in the swift current and began sinking.

Johnson wound up stranded in a nearby vacant home, also surrounded by water, and all three — as well as the older couple's two dogs and two cats — were rescued Monday afternoon by county crews using a hovercraft after efforts with a boat and kayak failed.

RIGHT: A telephone employee took this shot while working to restore service in the Snoqualmie valley

Upstream along the Stillaguamish, whole trees swirled in the turbulent current.

"I've never seen this much debris come down," state fish and wildlife Officer Richard Oosterwyk said. "It looks like a doggone forest."

Livestock were being evacuated as well, in many cases to the Evergreen State Fairgrounds in Monroe. Manager Mark Campbell said the fairgrounds had more than 400 stalls, as well as outdoor pens and a fenced-in auto racetrack that also could be pressed into service for animals.

Boats also were enlisted to search for and rescue stranded people in eastern Lewis County, Deputy Sheriff Stacy Brown told The Seattle Times.

"It can be pretty hairy, especially in the dark," Brown said. "We're not sure how many people are still out there."

Evacuations also were reported in Puyallup, Orting and other areas east of Tacoma.

A large mudslide near Skykomish, northeast of Seattle, blocked eastbound lanes of U.S. Highway 2, the state's second most heavily traveled east-west artery, and a mudslide earlier Monday near Tacoma delayed an Amtrak passenger train.

Tuesday evening, Highway 9 near the Snohomish airport was shut down due to flooding. Several cars were stranded.

RIGHT: A dog is rescued from flooding waters.

Officials at Mount Rainier National Park, which had more than 10 inches of rain in the 24 hours ending Monday afternoon, closed the main park road, turned away visitors and sent employees home early via the only road open.

"We want to prevent visitors getting trapped inside the park," Superintendent David V. Uberuaga said. "The road is vulnerable to washouts in several key places, and there is only one way out."

Ensure safety and use caution

Keep a battery-powered radio tuned to a local station.

Follow all emergency instructions.

Do not walk or wade in flooded areas.

Be prepared to evacuate.

If advised to evacuate, do so immediately. Evacuation is much simpler and safer before flood waters become too deep for ordinary vehicles to drive through.

Be aware that pets are not allowed in shelters; make other arrangements for your pets.

Do not drive where water is over the road or past barricaded road signs.

If your car stalls in a flooded area, abandon it as soon as possible and walk to safety in the direction you came from.

Follow recommended evacuation routes, as shortcuts may be blocked.

If you are caught in your building by rapidly rising waters, call 911 for help, then move to a higher floor or to the roof. Take warm, weatherproof clothing, a flashlight, a cellular phone and a portable radio.

 

Nov 9 - The Pacific Northwest has been clobbered by a tremendous amount of rain recently; some areas have received more than seven times the normal amount of rain so far this November. Seattle has received 750% of normal rainfall this month, which translates to nearly five inches. Some locations in the mountains have received 20 to 30 inches of rain. A relatively weak storm system will bring only scattered showers through Thursday, but another round of heavy storms is likely from Friday through early next week.

At least two more strong storm systems will move through the Pacific Northwest from the latter part of the week through early next week. The first storm system will bring a round of heavy rain and strong winds on Friday, and the second storm system, which will affect the region from Sunday night through Monday, has the potential to produce very strong winds, along with another round of heavy rain. Snow levels with these storms will be a little lower, so the higher mountains will receive more snow and less rain, which means that less of the rain will be immediately added to the overtaxed river system; however, flooding will remain a very serious threat through early next week. In addition, winds might be strong enough to down trees and power lines.

 

PACKWOOD, Wash. - As occasional sunshine helped dry out saturated soils Wednesday, the focus was shifting to recovery and damage assessment in Western Washington after a three-day drenching that submerged roads, homes and businesses, and caused two deaths.

BELOW: A break in the weather allowed for this picture... the beauty of the floods in Fall City


Gary Neff grinned wryly while surveying the damage at his three-room cabin 300 yards from the Cowlitz River, where 2 inches of thick mud covered the floor.

"I didn't know my place was the low spot," Neff said, raindrops fogging his glasses while his wife traipsed through the muck to find a heavier coat untouched by floodwaters.

BELOW: Flooding in Grays Harbor: Humptulips River Bridge area, State Route 109


On a breezy day, with occasional raindrops sprinkled through sunshine, it was hard to imagine the dark skies, high winds and pounding rain that the so-called Pineapple Express delivered to Western Washington earlier this week. The system blew in Sunday and headed east Tuesday.

BELOW: Sultan is still under water


So is Sumner

In Lewis County, where Packwood and the nearby valley town of Randle were especially hard hit, at least three homes were swept away in the Cowlitz River, with dozens more severely damaged and some still in feet of water. But the focus Wednesday was on retrieving hunters who'd been staked out on higher ground. Some were unaware that their escape routes - many dozens of roads across the county - had been blocked by washouts or mudslides.

Chief Deputy Gene Seiber estimated as many as 1,000 hunters could be tucked away on the hillsides between Mount Rainier and Mount St. Helens. Hunting season opened last week.

"Many up there are just waiting it out," Seiber said. "The rescue guys in the air said the guys are just sittin' around campfires, waving at the plane. They're fine now, but eventually they're going to come down and realize they can't get out."

BELOW: Another artsy photo, this time from a parking lot in North Bend


The two deaths so far attributed to the storm both occurred in the Cowlitz River in Lewis County. A 20-year-old elk hunter from Seattle died Monday and another man on Tuesday. Both had driven their trucks into standing water. The body of the second man - identified as Richard J. Greetan, 63, of Mossyrock - was recovered Wednesday morning. His hometown was not disclosed.

BELOW: Near Carbonando, Washington, the water flowing over this roadway eroded the hillside


More rain was expected Friday, but "just a rainstorm, not a flooding rain," said forecaster Chris Burke at the National Weather Service. After a "showery" weekend, more rain was expected Monday. "Just our regular winter weather," Burke said. The storm that generated the flooding was "the fifth 10-year event in the last 16 years," he noted - citing storms in 1990, '95, '96, 2003 and this week.

BELOW: Honey Buckets floating in the flood waters...


While river levels were dropping, some were still at flood stage, with recovery and damage assessment still hours or even days away.

In Skagit County, the Skagit River was still above flood stage of 28 feet, said spokesman Jim Martin in the county's emergency-management agency. "The water's receding," he said at mid-day, but was over 32 feet in Mount Vernon and 30 feet at Concrete. "We still have some people in shelters," Martin said, and water on many smaller roads.

RIGHT: The roadway on Upper Preston Road across the Raging River Creek in Preston, Wash., washed out by flooding caused by several days of rain.

The low-lying town of Hamilton - population about 330 - was probably the hardest hit, he said. "Anytime we have one of these events it's hit hard. They got about 5 feet of water," affecting homes, outbuildings and businesses.

BELOW: Snoqualmie residents trek out to see the damage


An effort to move the town is under way, kicked into gear by the more damaging flood of 2003, Martin said.

In Snohomish County, the Snohomish River was topping dikes Wednesday near the town of Snohomish, said John Engel, an engineer with the Public Works Department's surface-water management division. Most homes in the area are built on elevated lots, he said, though a few in the flood plain may be damaged. County officials were checking out infrastructure damage, he said, noting the approach washed out on the bridge that provides primary access to the town of Index off US 2.

BELOW: the Shohomish River near Monroe

BELOW: This log jam formed on the Snohomish under the US 2 bridge near Monroe


"Actually we're really pretty pleased overall," Engel said. "We've got damage here and there but I haven't heard of any major damage. And as far as I know there was no loss of life. ... We put together some early damage assessments and sent them off to the state."

BELOW: The scene in Carnation


In Pierce County, south of Seattle, receding rivers gave crews a chance to repair damage to a levee south of Orting over the Carbon River. "It's kind of like where the water punched holes in the levees," said spokeswoman Barbara Nelson with the county's emergency-management office.

BELOW: Debris floating down the Skykomish River


Water was being released from area dams to reduce reservoir levels before the next rain. Mud Mountain Dam on the White River and Alder Dam on the Nisqually were opened, said Nelson. The White River is mostly in King County, but it empties into the Puyallup River near Tacoma. The Nisqually forms the border between Pierce and Lewis counties.

BELOW: This Preston house has seen better days

Residents were alerted that rising water levels would be related to the dam releases. "We don't anticipate it being a problem but some residents may be worried, seeing the water levels go up again," Nelson said.

RIGHT: Issaquah Creek

Officials will begin damage assessment soon, Nelson said. "It gets to be a lot of paperwork and driving around and looking at damage." She advised flood victims to take photos to document damage and to keep receipts related to cleanup costs for insurance purposes.



BELOW: Snoqualmie Falls


In King County, which includes Seattle, the Snoqualmie River Valley was hardest hit by floodwaters after the river crested near Carnation at 61.17 feet - 7 feet above flood level. There were no major evacuations.

BELOW: Traffic signs Near Sumner


On Wednesday, crews surveyed roads and levee systems. "The damage is unknown at this point to bridges and roads," said Jaime Quick, spokesman for King County Emergency Management.

BELOW: In Skykomish, this mexican restaurant is flooded, but not the worst ever...

Here's another place where it's happened before, this time in Snohomish


Flood victims were being asked to report losses to county officials, who will assess public works damage - road washouts, weakened bridge, damaged dikes - and funnel all the figures to the state to aid its request for federal aid.

BELOW: Highway 9 is still closed


The state Office of Emergency Management and the Federal Emergency Management Agency will have crews on the ground next week, said state spokesman Rob Harper. They can't go earlier because "we still need to get water out of places," he said. County data will lay the groundwork for on-site surveys.

BELOW: A flooded Christmas Tree farm


Rainfall for the five days ending Tuesday set records of 9.79 inches at the Olympia airport, eclipsing the 8.3-inch mark set in 1990, and 7.57 inches at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, where the 1979 record was 5.59 inches.

BELOW: An interesting boat floating down the river in Orting


Parks hit hard

Officials at Mount Rainier National Park say it will probably be at least several weeks before the park can reopen to visitors, because of damage from this week's storms and flooding.

A survey Wednesday by park workers found extensive damage. One-quarter mile of the main road from the Nisqually park entrance to Longmire was washed out and a river is flowing where the Sunshine Point Campground used to be.

Power and sewer lines on the park's west side are out, and the Stevens Canyon Road and Highway 123 are impassable because of washouts.

BELOW: This was a roadway


A debris flow demolished part of the Ohanapecosh Campground.

The Ipsut Creek Campground was destroyed, and the Ipsut Creek Cabin now straddles a stream channel.

And that's just the front-country.

Officials say backcountry trails and bridges also were likely damaged.

Meanwhile, at Olympic National Park, road and bridge damage and downed trees have closed a number of roads, including the road into the Hoh Rain Forest area, the road to Mora Beach and the Lake Quinault North Shore Road.

The Elwha, Lake Crescent, Sol Duc and Kalaloch areas remain open.

BELOW: I guess all's you can do is wait for the water to decide to leave

 

Nov 13 - PRESTON, Wash. - A night of rain, wind and more mountain snow in Western Washington was the straw that broke the camel's back in the community of Preston, where a hill slide finally shut down the only lane of the only road to town. 

Construction crews working on the Upper Preston Bridge are now dealing with another mess after the Upper Preston Road collapsed.  Last week's rains washed away half the road, and the latest rainfall was more than the mountain could handle. 

"We don't know - it could take 6-8 weeks, it could take 8-12 weeks depending on how much it continues to slide," said Steve Chamber with Wilder Construction.

The mudslide took out what was left of the shaky foundation.  All that's left is a narrow exit for residents to walk across. 

"If you want to bring groceries or anything, you have to haul it.  There's no garbage, no mail," said Laurie Scott, Preston resident. 

King County officials are trying to minimize the inconvenience by offering residents a ride to Preston Fall City Road once they make it to the Upper Preston Bridge.  

"We were really concerned about the power last night, which it didn't happen, so we all have our power," said resident Marcene McGowan.  "But the people who are on propane, once it's gone, they're going to be pretty cold." 

Most of the 150 residents in Preston use propane to power their homes.  Many are now running low.  Construction crews are hoping to have an access road in place for Suburban Fuel to get propane to its customers. 

Crews are also working feverishly to build a road to eastbound I-90.  Some residents are even considering using an old logging road, which connects to Highway 18.  It was used in the early 1990's when a similar storm happened. But for now, the narrow exit is the only way in and out of Preston. 

 Construction crews hope to have the road to I-90 ready for drivers in the next couple of days.  For those who are not driving, they're hoping to make a makeshift bus stop where Metro buses will pick up residents who are crossing over the walkway.

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