Ferguson declares state of emergency; National Guard to be deployed

Published 4:46 pm Tuesday, December 9, 2025

EVERETT — Snohomish County awoke to more rain on Wednesday morning after the second surge of a large atmospheric river hit Tuesday night. County Executive Dave Somers declared a countywide emergency proclamation Tuesday evening, following flood warnings the National Weather Service has issued through the week to areas surrounding the Stillaguamish, Snohomish and Skykomish rivers.

The county is allowed to spend public funds to take “reasonable and prudent” measures to ensure resident safety, the release said. It also waives some administrative requirements to expedite response efforts and directs county departments to mitigate impacts on private and public property.

On Wednesday afternoon, Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson announced a state of emergency and ordered National Guard troops to help in flood-affected areas.

The Snohomish and Stillaguamish rivers dropped below flood levels Wednesday morning but are expected to surge again throughout Wednesday night and into Thursday. The Skykomish River was at major flood stage as of 9 a.m. Wednesday, and continued to rise through the day, the weather service said.

Flooding could impact North Everett’s Riverfront neighborhood

The Everett Public Works Department announced it may need to close Riverfront Boulevard on Wednesday evening due to floodwaters, the city posted on Facebook on Wednesday afternoon. The possible closure would limit access to nearby homes.

Public works crews have prepped facilities, including sandbagging around the Water Pollution Control Facility, the post said.

— Jenna Peterson

Floodwaters cover much of downtown Sultan

Janet Peterson stood on the stoop of her house, which she’s lived in since 1971, looking out on the street that was quickly disappearing under floodwater from the Skykomish River.

“We’re just staying right here,” she said, patting her dog Lucky’s head. “My son came over last night and took the washer and dryer out of the basement.”

The main floor of her house is elevated above ground level, but her basement has flooded often over her decades in the house.

“The concrete floor has lots of cracks in it. When the water comes, it just spoots out,” she said, gesturing with her hands.

As residents milled around downtown, moving sandbags and taking photos of water lapping at storefronts, Peterson shooed away her grandson, who had come by to check on her.

“We’ve got all the stuff done that we can do,” she said.

— Eliza Aronson

Record-breaking river forecasts for Thursday

The National Weather Service predicted the Stillaguamish River near Arlington would break its record height by almost 3 feet Thursday morning. With the major flood mark at 19 feet, the river’s current record height is 21.3 feet, but water could potentially reach 24.05 feet at 4 a.m. Thursday, according to the weather service.

The Snohomish River near Snohomish was expected to crest at 33.42 feet by 4 p.m. Thursday and will possibly stay at around that height until 4 p.m. Friday, according to the weather service. If reached, the peak will just barely fall below the record flow of 33.5 feet.

The Skykomish River was expected to peak at 4 p.m. Wednesday, cresting at just under the record at 23.55 feet. The National Weather Service predicts the water will fall below major flooding at 4 p.m. Thursday.

“Even 6 inches of fast-moving flood water can knock you off your feet and a depth of 2 feet will float your car. Never try to walk, swim, or drive through such swift water. If you come upon flood waters, stop, turn around and go another way,” the weather service report stated.

Flooding causes school closures

Index schools will be closed Thursday due to flooding.

Sultan School District will operate on a two-hour delay schedule Thursday as buses will have to navigate restricted roads. The Sultan School District will provide an update Thursday morning.

— Jenna Peterson

FEMA deploys response teams to Washington

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is coordinating with Washington emergency management officials and monitoring the atmospheric river.

The agency has activated its Regional Response Coordination Center in Bothell and deployed response teams to Washington. More teams are on standby.

— Jenna Peterson

Gov. Bob Ferguson declares state of emergency, state to deploy National Guard

Gov. Bob Ferguson declared a state of emergency Wednesday afternoon, he announced at a press conference. The declaration allows the state to seek federal funds to cover the cost of flood response.

“This, of course, allows us to seek federal funds to cover the cost of this response, which we anticipate will be significant,” Ferguson said. “It also gives us the flexibility we need to respond quickly to keep Washington safe in a fast-moving situation.”

The state will deploy more than 100 National Guard members by the end of Wednesday, Major General Gent Welsh said at the conference. More than 300 will be ready to go by the end of the day Thursday, he said.

“There are going to be some serious impacts to communities around this state in the next 24 to 48 hours,” Welsh said.

— Jenna Peterson

Ebey Island residents prepare to evacuate

Residents on both the north and south sides of the trestle were preparing to evacuate early Wednesday afternoon.

Jesus Luna, with help from his sons Diego Luna and Saul Luna, was loading horses into trailers around noon on his property as heavy mist continued to fall.

Jesus Luna has owned the property for seven years, and said it was the first time he’s had to evacuate his animals during flooding.

The Lunas will take eight horses as well as some goats up to a family member’s property in Arlington, where they’ll stay for the next 4-5 days, Jesus Luna said.

“I don’t think there’s been a flood like this in a long time,” Saul Luna said.

— Eliza Aronson

Everett Animal Shelter shut down until further notice

People huddled outside in the rain as the Everett Animal Shelter finalized fosters for their last few dogs on Wednesday morning. All cats had been set up with fosters earlier Wednesday morning.

The nonprofit planned to shut down all operations until further notice by Wednesday afternoon, Animal Services Manager Glynis Frederiksen said. Some food and supplies were to be moved off premises, and more food was packed onto pallets to keep safe in case floodwaters reach the building, located on Smith Island.

Thanks to a large community response, the shelter safely placed all animals in need of emergency fostering, the organization posted on Facebook on Wednesday morning.

On Tuesday night, the shelter had asked the community to help temporarily foster animals due to the rising waters of the nearby Snohomish River.

Shannon Vogler, who lives in the city of Snohomish, came Wednesday morning to pick up Holly and Jolly, sibling black lab mixes. She had been a foster before for the Everett shelter, and said she immediately volunteered to help out when she saw the nonprofit’s Facebook post Tuesday night.

“The community has been beyond amazing,” Frederiksen said. “We are overwhelmed with gratitude at the response for this.”

— Eliza Aronson and Jenna Peterson

Free storage available for those affected by flooding

U-Haul is offering 30 days of free self-storage and container usage at its western Washington facilities for people affected by the Snohomish River flooding.

Nine facilities are part of the program, including in Everett and Lynnwood.

The Everett facility is located at 6443 Evergreen Way, and the Lynnwood facility is located at 14429 Highway 99.

— Jenna Peterson

Everett closes parks near Snohomish River

Everett has closed Rotary Park and Langus Riverfront Park due to flooding in several areas, Everett Parks and Facilities posted on Facebook on Tuesday afternoon.

The city advises residents to use caution near rivers and trails, follow all posted signage and stay alert to changing weather conditions as the winter season begins.

— Jenna Peterson