Severe Flooding in Washington: Communities Underwater

National Guard troops went door-to-door early Friday to evacuate Mount Vernon, Washington, as severe flooding throughout Western Washington stranded families on rooftops and washed over bridges. Torrential rain has swelled rivers to record levels, with Governor Bob Ferguson warning that as many as 100,000 people may need to evacuate statewide.

Officials had issued urgent evacuation orders for residents in the flood plain of the Skagit River, particularly in Burlington, home to nearly 10,000 residents. By Friday morning, waters began overflowing and rushing into homes, prompting Skagit County to urge all residents in Burlington to evacuate immediately.

Multiple rivers, including the Skagit and Snohomish, surpassed their flood stages, with the Skagit River cresting at over 37 feet in Mount Vernon. Roads were rendered impassable, and a landslide blocked part of Interstate 90 east of Seattle.

Evacuations also occurred in Sumas, Nooksack, and Everson after they were inundated. The border crossing at Sumas was closed, and Amtrak suspended services between Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia.

Mayor Bruce Bosch reported significant devastation in Sumas, which experienced a similar flood just four years prior. Helicopters rescued families from flooded roofs, while two houses in Welcome collapsed into the Nooksack River due to erosion.

Scientists link climate change to the occurrence of intense rainfall, although direct attribution to specific weather events requires further study. Another storm system is expected to bring additional rain starting Sunday, according to the Associated Press report.