In soggy Snohomish, crowds gawk, record, reflect

SNOHOMISH -- Spectators flooded downtown streets on Friday as a steady stream of gawkers and looky-loos came to see the overflowing river.

The water was much too high for cleanup efforts to begin.

So the flooded Snohomish River served as a grand Rorschach test, with the muddy streak of water standing in for an ink blot, inspiring different ideas to different minds.

To one Snohomish resident, it looked like a sign of environmental collapse. To another, it was something to shoot a gun at.

For hundreds more, it was a photo opportunity, their chance to hold onto this bit of local history.

Mark Horner, 45, was among the hundreds to bring out his camera. He shot video of the flood for his blog, beyond90seconds.com. The clip he made shows trees floating down the river, old-timers remembering back when, and a child, camera in hand, also taking pictures.

"There's the sense of a common bond," Horner, of Snohomish, said Friday. "We're all presented, right in front of our face, with this event, which certainly feels important, and we're all sharing in the wonderment of what's happening."

Wonder wasn't the first word to spring to Craig Zachor's mind.

He, his wife Stacy, 48, and son Carson, 10, agreed: This was a sign of bad things. Al Gore bad.

"I don't think we've been very good stewards of the Earth, to tell you the truth," Zachor, 51, said. "I think we've taken a lot for granted. I think we've been selfish, taking too much land."

The site of the river inspired a concrete image in the mind of Mark Gore -- no relation -- a Snohomish resident pausing for a smoke on First Avenue.

To him, it looked like Alaska.

"It's like this all the time up there, except there's ice with it," he said. "Pretty amazing."

Maggie Imholte, a server at the River's Edge, was amazed by the crowds that swelled with the river. She sounded a bit frazzled by the endless flow of patrons at the Snohomish restaurant.

"When people are out of power, and out of school, and out of places to go, it's crazy," Imholte said.

Among the cafe's customers were the Teske family. With school closed and work inaccessible, they decided to have a late breakfast.

"It'd be great to see some bonfires, get some hot dogs," Mike Teske said, smiling.

"Yeah," his wife Tosha agreed. "Where's the vendors?"

They were around.

Starbucks sent barista Richard Pomerinke to First Street with a five-gallon tank of coffee strapped to his back, serving 8-ounce cups of Pike's Place Blend to anyone.

"We just figured there's a lot of people down here and it's cold," Pomerinke, 24, said. "Why not come down and caffeinate America for free?"

Others saw money to be made.

Riley Schmit, 15, and Wil Watters, 18, students at Snohomish High School, were playing acoustic guitar and bongos, respectively, for gas money. They raised $15 in 30 minutes.

"Today was just the day to come out here," Watters said. "There's so many people out."

Sherri Williams, a Marysville resident, was one of the many on the Avenue D Bridge. She came to Snohomish to take pictures, describing the spectacle as sad and exciting. "Glad I don't live here," she said, taking in the damage.

Debbie Greenlund, bartender at the American Legion Post 96, understood what was bringing all the looky-loos to town.

"It's the water," she said. "People are amazed at how deep that water gets. And it's something to look at."

Reporter Andy Rathbun: 425-339-3455 or arathbun@heraldnet.com.