EVERETT — Wednesday evening updates of the flooding from the atmospheric river sweeping through Snohomish County and Western Washington.
3:40 p.m.
Snohomish Public Utility District plans to open Spada Lake spillway, power outage repairs delayed
Snohomish Public Utility District said that water is approaching its spillway at Culmback Dam as water levels have risen on Spada Lake, PUD spokesperson Erica Keene said in an email.
Spada Lake empties into the Sultan River, which then flows into the Skykomish River near Sultan.
“We are operating the Jackson Hydroelectric Project at full capacity to minimize spill and help with flood control efforts,” she said. “The spillway allows excess water to safely exit the reservoir before it reaches the top of the dam. Culmback Dam is safe and is being monitored 24 hours a day by PUD staff.”
A press release will be sent out when the utility begins spilling.
Power outage repairs will be delayed due to floods, making some roads inaccessible, Keene said in a follow-up email. An outage in Index is currently unreachable.
“We anticipate this could take days to get in and be able to make repairs,” she said.
Correction: The utility district does not open the spillway. Water will begin flowing through the spillway once it reaches a certain height.
– Eliza Aronson
3:30 p.m. Wednesday
State fire response authorized
Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste authorized the mobilization of state resources Wednesday afternoon to assist with flooding in Snohomish and Skagit counties, the agency announced in a press release.
The request came from fire officials for Snohomish County Fire District No. 5, Snohomish County Fire District No. 26, Snohomish Regional Fire and Rescue and Skagit County Fire District No. 14.
The state has fully activated its emergency operations center at Camp Murray to help coordinate state assistance. Fire Protection Bureau mobilization specialists ordered four swift water rescue teams to help with response efforts.
— Jenna Peterson
12:14 p.m. Wednesday
Snohomish Regional Fire and Rescue responds to vehicle stuck in floodwaters
Snohomish Regional Fire and Rescue crews alongside the Monroe Police Department responded to reports of passengers trapped in a vehicle after getting stuck in flood waters in the 2400 block of Ben Howard Road in Monroe, according to a Snohomish Regional Fire and Rescue social media post.
Upon arrival, first responders noticed two additional vehicles in the water that had already been vacated, the post said. The water rescue team used inflatable kayaks to take three passengers to dry ground.
The wheels of one of the vehicles were visible when the crew arrived, but due to quickly rising water, when the scene was being cleared, only the top of the vehicle could be seen, the post said.
Snohomish Regional Fire and Rescue has six swift water-trained personnel, three boat operators, three extra water team members and an extra battalion chief on duty Wednesday, the post said.
— Jenna Millikan
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