EVERETT — Snohomish County is preparing for the second wave of a strong atmospheric river poised to hit Tuesday night, according to the National Weather Service. The system has triggered the weather service to issue flood warnings throughout much of the county, with substantial flooding already occurring along the Stillaguamish, Snohomish and Skykomish rivers.
4:50 p.m. Tuesday
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.
4:30 p.m. Tuesday
Snohomish County issues emergency proclamation
Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers issued an emergency proclamation Tuesday afternoon, as flooding along multiple rivers has created a state of emergency in the county.
The flooding has caused ongoing impacts to roads and transportation, emergency services and property, county spokesperson Kari Bray said in a press release Tuesday. The Snohomish, Skykomish and Stillaguamish rivers could exceed historic flood levels.
“Flooding events like this have serious impacts on our communities, particularly our rural areas, and the safety of residents is our highest priority as we proactively declare a state of emergency and put our planning and preparation to work,” Somers said in the release.
Starting Monday, significant rainfall drove up water levels in local rivers. By Tuesday morning, water had spilled onto roads near Stanwood, Snohomish, Monroe, Gold Bar, Sultan and Index, the release said. The county expects another surge later in the week to raise river levels again around Thursday, the release said.
Several vehicles became stuck Tuesday as drivers tried to navigate through water on roadways, according to the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office. The county advises drivers to not drive past “Road Closed” signs, no matter the size of their vehicle or familiarity with the road. Six inches of moving water can reach the bottom of most passenger cars. One foot will cause many vehicles to float, and two feet could sweep away even larger vehicles, the release said.
First responders helped individuals Tuesday who had become stranded in flooded areas. Responders evacuated a mobile home park near Monroe on Tuesday morning due to flood concerns.
Over the next few days, Bray said the county will work with cities, schools and emergency services to monitor the flood event and provide resources.
“We’ve made it through the first part of this weather challenge, but the forecasts tell us we need to prepare for another, bigger surge of rain and high water later this week,” Snohomish County Emergency Management Director Lucia Schmit said in the release. “We need everyone to stay vigilant and informed and to look out for each other.”
The heavy rainfall has increased the risk of landslides on steep, soggy slopes, the release read. It has also saturated soil, which increases the risk of falling trees and power outages, especially if there are high winds in the coming days. The county advises against sheltering in heavily wooded areas.
Cold weather shelters throughout the county have opened for unsheltered people impacted by the weather emergency. The county has also opened emergency stabling at the Evergreen State Fair Park in Monroe for livestock evacuated from flood areas.
People living in flood-prone areas should remain ready to evacuate their homes immediately if advised to leave, the release said. It’s safer to evacuate before flood waters cover roads and limit travel options.
The flooding has caused dangerous road conditions that could impact emergency response due to impassible roads and additional resources needed for water rescue.
With the emergency proclamation, 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.
— Jenna Peterson
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