SEATTLE – Mopping up was the order of the day in most of flood-soaked Western Washington, but a handful of rivers still had not settled back within their channels Thursday, and the deluge earlier this week was blamed for closure of the North Cascades Highway.
Meanwhile, six counties were added to the list covered by a state emergency declaration: Island, Skamania and San Juan on the west side of the state and Kittitas, Klickitat and Yakima to the east.
“There were some flood impacts in those counties – we’ve just got to see how much,” said spokesman Rob Harper with the state Emergency Operations Office at Camp Murray.
The state is gathering data from all 24 listed counties, including Snohomish County – damage assessments for private losses and infrastructure damage – in preparation for seeking millions of dollars in federal aid. The counties rely on home and business owners for some of that information. Federal Emergency Management Agency crews will be visiting flooded areas next week.
The storm, which began last weekend and ended Tuesday, caused flooding on many of Western Washington’s rivers. The high water was blamed for at least two deaths – both men who drove pickup trucks into floodwaters from the Cowlitz River in Lewis County.
Most rivers were expected to drop below flood stage by late Friday, said forecaster Dennis D’Amico.
“Things are really starting to break up and clear out,” D’Amico said. Rain was forecast for Friday and Monday, but just the usual Northwest winter drizzle – nothing like the deluge delivered earlier this week by the Pineapple Express from the South Pacific.
“These storms will be light precipitation in the lowlands, a little heavier in the mountains – but not the Pineapple Express,” D’Amico said. “Right now we don’t expect any additional flooding.”
In the North Cascades, Highway 20 – the northernmost east-west route across the Cascade Range – was closed Thursday at milepost 112. The state Transportation Department wants to prevent crossings until repairs have been made to deluge-related damage on the west side of the pass, spokesman Dave Chesson said.
Water and debris rushing off the slopes undermined the roadway there, causing pavement to shift and break a culvert. Department hydrologists and geotechnical experts were onsite Thursday and emergency contractors were expected to start work early next week, Chesson said. It’s not clear yet how much time will be needed to repair the road. The pass usually closes for the season after the first heavy snow.
In other developments:
* The Army Corps of Engineers was called to inspect dikes along the Cowlitz River in Lewis County, where heavy rains sent the river over its banks, flooding homes in Packwood and the nearby valley town of Randle.
* Search-and-rescue teams were still rounding up elk hunters in southwest Washington between Mount Rainier and Mount St. Helens. Lewis County authorities say dozens of hunters could still be in the woods, unaware that many area roads have been washed out or blocked by mudslides. Many have called to advise authorities they are well-equipped with food and shelter. Hunting season opened Nov. 3.
The National Guard had three helicopters in eastern Lewis County on Thursday to help with rescue operations and flood damage assessment. “One of the people we lifted out yesterday was a National Guard helicopter pilot,” said Lewis County sheriff’s Deputy Stacy Brown. On Thursday, that man was flying rescue missions.
* At Hoquiam, a pipe that carries wastewater to the treatment plant broke and spilled 8 million gallons into Grays Harbor. With all the storm run-off, it took officials several days to discover the problem and notify the state Health and Ecology departments. Hoquiam’s sewer system dates back to the 1950s.
The 18 counties on Gov. Chris Gregoire’s original emergency declaration are: Chelan, Clallam, Clark, Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, King, Kitsap, Lewis, Mason, Okanogan, Pacific, Pierce, Skagit, Snohomish, Thurston, Whatcom and Wahkiakum.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
