Local rivers not rising, county says

Published 9:00 pm Wednesday, November 8, 2006

Overnight and morning rains have not forced rivers to rise again, Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management officials said Thursday.

The Snohomish River is still above flood stage in Snohomish and Monroe, but is expected to fall below flood levels late Thursday night, said Christine Badger, the county’s deputy emegency management director.

Crews Thursday were assessing damage in the county, examining bridges and roads and trying to determine if displaced families could return home, Badger said.

About 157 families remain in shelters, she said.

Water still was “ponding” in low-lying areas on pastures and roads, she said.

Crews were able to open Highway 9 early Thursday helping to clear traffic congestion that caused major back ups Wednesday.

Officials Wednesday estimated damage throughout the county in the millions of dollars.