Flood damage estimates for county top $20 million

Damage from widespread flooding in Snohomish County is expected to exceed $20 million, county officials said this afternoon.

That comes on top of an estimated $7 million in damage caused by the record snow storm that crippled the county just weeks earlier.

“I think the numbers are going to blow us away,” said John Pennington, director of emergency management for the county. “I believe the damage from this storm will quite easily exceed the 2006 event.”

At least 500 homes have been flooded. Most are near the Pilchuck River in Snohomish, in Stanwood and Arlington, county officials said. Businesses, roads, water and power lines also have been damaged by fast-moving, lingering floodwaters. Highway 9 remains closed at Snohomish for the evening commute.

Pennington said his staff will begin the process of applying for federal relief for damage from last month’s snow storm and this week’s flooding.

Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., toured flood-ravaged Snohomish this morning and said she’ll seek federal funding to help clean up.

Murray said the devastation caused by the flooding is a visual reminder that federal money for improving the economy and enhancing the nation’s infrastructure also must be directed toward shoring up the levees that protect people and businesses in communities along rivers.

“The human impact is the first thing I think of when I look out at the families watching from their (flooded) homes,” Murray said.

Despite the mounting damage, Pennington said county crews and residents have done an excellent job responding to the disaster. There were fewer rescues and emergency evacuations than officials saw during flooding in 2006. People were alerted early to rising waters and seemed to heed the warning.

“The people in this county clearly respect rising water,” Pennington said. “That is a success. They have been amazingly patient between the snow and this. People deserve our gratitude.”

Pennington said he toured flood-stricken areas last night and was amazed by the sheer volume of water in the river valleys. The vista from Arlington to Stanwood on Thursday afternoon was like viewing the ocean, he said. The Snohomish River Valley today looks like a bathtub.

“In all my years of doing this, I’ve never seen anything like it,” he said.

Pennington pointed to the rainfall that pounded the county. Since Sunday, more than 15 inches of rain has fallen in most parts of the county and the Cascade foothills, he said. The rivers filled up and spilled their banks at record levels. On top of the sheer quantity of water, parts of the county still had snow on the ground.

The ground was partially frozen and there was nowhere for the water to go.

The Snohomish River in Snohomish isn’t expected to recede any time soon. It hit flood stage early Wednesday, crested at 33.47 feet at 10:30 p.m. Thursday and is expected to remain in flood stage until Sunday morning. That’s more than 50 hours when floodwaters are expected to be soaking the levees.

Pennington said emergency crews will continue to watch the Snohomish River, concerned that the levees will be overworked beyond their capacities.

“That’s the remaining concern for us,” he said.

The Snohomish River is fed by the Snoqualmie River, which reached 62.31 feet at Carnation – a foot above the record.

“Once we saw what was going on with Tolt and Snoqualmie (rivers), we knew we were in for a ride,” Pennington said.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers continued Friday to work on repairing a whole the size of a small house in the Ebey Island dike. Workers trucked in rock and built a ring around the area to contain the water.

“We’re winning the battle slowly,” said Noel Gilbrough, assistant flood engineer for the Snohomish basin of the Army Corps of Engineers.

Ebey Island resident Bruce King spent Friday loading 60 pigs, five cows, 300 turkeys and 150 chickens onto trailers. He hasn’t moved them off the island yet, but if things get worse, he’s ready.

“The workers on the dike think they might have the water shut off in a few hours,” King said. “Maybe it’ll work; maybe not. I have to do what I need to do to make sure all my animals are safe and ready to go if need be.”

The rest of the network of dikes and levees are holding strong. The system is expected to get a breather tonight when the tide along the lower Snohomish hits a low.

“The bad news is the high tide tomorrow is 13 feet,” Gilbrough said.

Flooding closed 60 county roads. Today, public works crews were scrambling to evaluate streets and bridges for damage and get them open.

Highway 9 remained closed at Snohomish, and traffic was tangled along the U.S. 2 trestle and in Marysville as people sought alternate routes. Washington State Patrol Trooper Keith Leary said there is no telling when the highway will reopen.

Leary is advised motorists to plan an alternate route for the evening commute. A clip of the Marysville-based trooper showed up on national news coverage of the flooding this morning, along with the Snohomish County sheriff’s office rescue efforts.

Traffic also was slower than normal on eastbound U.S. 2 with a steady stream of semi-trucks. The highway has been the only east-west route open across the state. Eastbound I-90 opened this morning and the westbound lanes are expected to open by noon. A 20-mile stretch of I-5 closed down in Lewis County by floodwaters also reopened at noon.

People began returning to their homes today to assess the mess and sleep in their own beds.

More than 200 residents from Josephine Sunset Home in Stanwood who were forced to evacuate because of flooding were being returned to the retirement home this morning after spending two nights at shelter set up at Stanwood High School.

Stanwood city officials also canceled a voluntary evacuation advisory and began encouraging residents to return to their homes.

“We’ve held the water and the high-water threat has passed. People can return to their homes and get on with their lives,” said Mike Simmons, the emergency manager for Stanwood-Camano Island Fire Department.

The water remains high but officials are seeing it recede a bit. They plan to continue to keep barriers up that were erected to protect Highway 532 and a residential area in town. The water is expected to stick around.

“There’s so much water in the Stillaguamish Valley and were at the bottom end. The water is going to be here awhile,” Simmons said.

Though flood waters crept into the Stanwood sewer plant offices, the water supply was never compromised and the plant has been running without problems, Ganz said.

“We’re breathing a lot easier,” Ganz said. “Everybody’s a little tired, but we think we’re out of the woods. People can come back home.”

A break in the rain today should slow flooding, McFarland said. One to two inches of rain is expected in the mountains on Saturday and on Sunday the Snohomish River should drop below flood level, he said. Even with a reprieve in the rain, standing water will take a while to slowly drain.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Olivia Vanni / The Herald 
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County.
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mukilteo mayor vetoes council-approved sales tax

The tax would have helped pay for transportation infrastructure, but was also set to give Mukilteo the highest sales tax rate in the state.

Marysville Mayor Jon Nehring gives the state of the city address at the Marysville Civic Center on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, in Marysville, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Marysville council approves interim middle housing law

The council passed the regulations to prevent a state model code from taking effect by default. It expects to approve final rules by October.

x
State audit takes issue with Edmonds COVID grant monitoring

The audit report covered 2023 and is the third since 2020 that found similar issues with COVID-19 recovery grant documentation.

Bothell
Bothell man pleads guilty to sexual abuse of Marysville middle schoolers

The man allegedly sexually assaulted three students in exchange for vapes and edibles in 2022. His sentencing is set for Aug. 29.

Larsen talks proposed Medicaid cuts during Compass Health stop in Everett

Compass Health plans to open its new behavioral health center in August. Nearly all of the nonprofit’s patients rely on Medicaid.

District 2 candidates differ in public safety approach

Incumbent Paula Rhyne is facing challenger Ryan Crowther. The third candidate, Jonathan Shapiro, is no longer seeking the seat.

From left to right, Edmonds City Council Position 3 candidates Joseph Ademofe, Alex Newman and Erika Barnett.
Amid budget crisis, Edmonds City Council candidates talk revenue, affordability

Three newcomers are facing off for Position 3 on the council, currently held by council President Neil Tibbott.

Community members gather for the dedication of the Oso Landslide Memorial following the ten-year remembrance of the slide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
The Daily Herald garners 6 awards from regional journalism competition

The awards recognize the best in journalism from media outlets across Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.

Everett
Everett approves new fines for non-emergency lifts

The fire department will only issue fines for non-emergency lift assists at licensed care facilities, not for individuals at home calling 911.

Guns for sale at Caso’s Gun-A-Rama in Jersey City, New Jersey, which has been open since 1967. (Photo by Aristide Economopoulos/New Jersey Monitor)
After suing, WA gets carveout from Trump administration plan to return gun conversion devices

The Trump administration has agreed to not distribute devices that turn semi-automatic… Continue reading

The Wild Horse Wind and Solar Facility about 16 miles east of Ellensburg in central Washington is part of Puget Sound Energy’s clean energy portfolio. (Courtesy of Puget Sound Energy)
Megabill’s elimination of tax credits for clean energy projects could cost WA $8.7 billion

Washington households could see electricity costs increase $115 per year by 2029; 21,800 workers could lose their jobs by 2030, analysts say.

Everett mayor candidates focus on affordability, city budget in costly race

As incumbent Cassie Franklin seeks a third term in office, three candidates are looking to unseat her.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.