Homeowner James Edmondson (left) and his friend, Ryan Sund, carry out wet carpeting and padding from his flooded basement on Sexton Road on Monday in Snohomish. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)

Homeowner James Edmondson (left) and his friend, Ryan Sund, carry out wet carpeting and padding from his flooded basement on Sexton Road on Monday in Snohomish. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)

This homeowner embraces the cycle of life in a flood zone

James Edmondson bought a house near the Pilchuck River 14 months ago. This was his first flood.

SNOHOMISH — Flood waters that hit parts of Snohomish County were more nuisance than disaster Sunday and Monday. That doesn’t mean it wasn’t a hassle for some folks in the lowlands.

James Edmondson, 33, was somewhat aware that the Pilchuck River had a reputation for spilling over its banks, when he moved to Sexton Road about 14 months ago. He bought the riverfront property at an almost suspiciously low price, he said.

Neighbors woke him around dawn Sunday to warn of the forecast. Hours later, murky brown water seeped into his garage, shin-deep. It was the first time he’d seen how the river floods.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

Edmondson and a longtime friend, Ryan Sund, 32, pulled sopping carpet from a basement game room Monday. He’d had the foresight to put his washer and dryer on cinder blocks. The game room was furnished with a cheap couch. A wall-mounted TV, and anything else of value, sat well above the water line.

Edmondson suspected the home had been flipped before on the real estate market. He recalled opening a kitchen drawer a year ago, when he moved in.

“I couldn’t even count the number of realtor cards in there,” he said.

As he and Sund toiled with the carpet, his next-door neighbor bailed out water from his garage by the barrel full.

Edmondson felt lucky that he still had electricity and running taps. A half-inch of river water still covered the floor when he started making repairs to the drywall. He took out a knife and started carving. Now, he said, he knows how to prepare for next time.

Often it has felt worth the risk, to have a home on the river.

“Come out here in the summer,” Edmondson said.

David Bauermeister, 60, walked two dogs up and down Sexton Road. He has seen many neighbors come and go from those homes, when they realized they didn’t want to live at the mercy of a fickle river.

Three driveways to the south, Bauermeister’s lot had turned into a shallow pond. If the water grew any deeper, a dinghy sitting in the grass might have needed an anchor. He’d moved the living quarters, an RV, down the street to slightly higher ground.

“Wait a day and we’ll be back on,” he said.

Hillsides around Snohomish County were saturated with water Monday, after a soaking weekend brought about 1.75 inches of rain. Mudslides blocked Highway 9 in the north part of the county.

Meanwhile, traffic snarled on the U.S. 2 trestle east of Everett, when the peak-use shoulder lane was closed so a crane could pick debris from the water below. The eastbound lane was expected to stay blocked through Tuesday morning.

High, swift rivers carried stumps and whole trees downstream.

For some, it was a time to watch nature carve its own path.

People drove to Cady Landing along the Snohomish River to snap iPhone photos of the muddy water flowing across the parking lot. The river climbed about a foot above flood stage Sunday night, hovering there into the afternoon Monday, in its namesake city.

Shawn Sedivic, 35, a lifelong resident of Snohomish, watched logs roll on the swollen river. He had parked his faded red Ford Ranger to have breakfast, a chicken bacon sandwich from Jack in the Box.

“I like to come check it out, just to watch the force of the river and see the trees go,” he said.

Eric Stevick contributed to this report.

Caleb Hutton: 425-339-3454; chutton@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @snocaleb.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Aaron Weinstock uses an x-ray machine toy inside the Imagine Children Museum on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Imagine Children’s Museum $250k grant reinstated following federal court order

The federal grant supports a program that brings free science lessons to children throughout rural Snohomish County.

Snohomish County 911 Executive Director Kurt Mills talks about the improvements made in the new call center space during a tour of the building on Tuesday, May 20, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
New 911 center in Everett built to survive disaster

The $67.5 million facility brings all emergency staff under one roof with seismic upgrades, wellness features and space to expand.

Everett
Five arrested in connection with Everett toddler’s 2024 overdose death

More than a year after 13-month-old died, Everett police make arrests in overdose case.

Madison Family Shelter Family Support Specialist Dan Blizard talks about one of the pallet homes on Monday, May 19, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Madison Family Shelter reopens after hiatus

The Pallet shelter village, formerly Faith Family Village, provides housing for up to eight families for 90 days.

Helion's 6th fusion prototype, Trenta, on display on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Helion celebrates smoother path to fusion energy site approval

Helion CEO applauds legislation signed by Gov. Bob Ferguson expected to streamline site selection process.

Everett Historic Theater owner Curtis Shriner inside the theater on Tuesday, May 13, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Historic Everett Theatre sale on horizon, future uncertain

With expected new ownership, events for July and August will be canceled. The schedule for the fall and beyond is unclear.

The Mukilteo Boulevard Homer on Monday, May 12, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘Homer Hedge’: A Simpsons meme takes root in Everett — D’oh!

Homer has been lurking in the bushes on West Mukilteo Boulevard since 2023. Stop by for a selfie.

Pat Cronin and Jamie Lyon look over a zoning district map draft of Everett on display during an Everett Planning Department open house at Everett Station on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett to release final draft of comp plan

The city will release the draft of the planning document on May 30, staff said. It will likely go to a vote before the council in June.

Traffic moves across the US 2 trestle between Everett and Lake Stevens on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Washington climate goals jeopardized by U.S. Senate vote

The U.S. Senate revoked waivers allowing Washington to mandate strict vehicle emission standards

The Everett City Council on Wednesday, April 16, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett City Council approves apprenticeship ordinance

The new ordinance builds upon state law, requiring many city public works contracts to use at least 15% apprentice labor.

Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Stanwood in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Stanwood nears completion of deployable floodwall

The new floodwall will provide quick protection to the downtown area during flood conditions.

Cars drive along Cathcart Way next to the site of the proposed Eastview Village development that borders Little Cedars Elementary on Wednesday, May 7, 2025 in unincorporated Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Former engineer: Snohomish County rushed plans for Eastview development

David Irwin cited red flags from the developers. After he resigned, the county approved the development that’s now stalled with an appeal

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.