Washington State Declares Emergency Amid Severe Flooding

Residents in western Washington faced severe flooding due to heavy rainfall, prompting Governor Bob Ferguson to declare a statewide emergency. According to CBS News, he warned that lives would be at stake, with as many as 100,000 residents potentially facing evacuation orders.

The National Weather Service predicted catastrophic flooding along the Skagit and Snohomish rivers, with record levels expected as early as Thursday. In Mount Vernon, officials ordered evacuations for those within the Skagit River floodplain, where areas have historically struggled with flooding.

As reported by Bangor Daily News, the Skagit River is anticipated to crest at approximately 47 feet in Concrete and 41 feet in Mount Vernon, raising concerns about the structural integrity of levees. Communities are mobilizing, with hundreds of National Guard members deployed to assist, while local authorities set up evacuation procedures and flood control measures.

The atmospheric river affecting the region is linked to more intense weather patterns, raising discussions about the implications of climate change on future flooding events.