ARLINGTON — Flood waters have been lapping at the windows of the O’Brien Turkey House at Island Crossing and Washington State Patrol troopers are keeping a close eye on I-5 as the water continues to rise.
A breach at the Johnson Dike on the Stillaguamish River, west of Arlington, sent flood waters gushing into farmland along Highway 530. The highway is shut down, including access from I-5.
Washington State Patrol trooper Keith Leary was monitoring the water there. He saw the water creep up to gas pumps handles and the window sills of the O’Brien Turkey House restaurant, Leary said.
The water also has reached the fog line of northbound I-5. At this point there are no plans to shut down the highway but one lane near the overpass may need to be closed, Leary said.
“We’ve got someone watching the water,” he said.
All the workers at the gas stations, restaurants and espresso stands have been evacuated, he said.
The water was overtopping the levee, relieving pressure on the river yesterday, said Christine Badger, the emergency management coordinator for Arlington.
“The water was just a little too much,” she said.
The area is relatively unpopulated and no injuries were reported with the breach.
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