Emergency officials in Whatcom County, which sits along the Canadian border, were conducting search and rescue missions Monday night as more than 500 people were displaced from their homes due to flooding in the north and northeast areas of the county, a news release from the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) said.
“WCSO’s rescue vehicle was able to reach many residents, and boats were used in places where the water was too deep. These efforts will continue throughout the night,” the release said. Hundreds of residents were moved to three “quickly established” shelters in the county, officials said.
The soggy conditions triggered mudslides in the region, prompting the closure of both directions of I-5 in Bellingham, according to the
Washington State Department of Transportation. The highway is a major thoroughfare that stretches along the West Coast from Mexico to Canada.
In Skagit County, residents of Mount Vernon were advised Monday to evacuate ahead of an expected record flooding event on the Skagit River on Tuesday.
The river topped its major flood stage of 32 feet Monday, reaching 35.35 feet and is expected to top its record of 37.37 feet Tuesday, according to the National River Forecast Center. The record was set on November 25, 1990.
Parts of the city, about 60 miles north of Seattle, are protected by levees and residents in those neighborhoods are advised to keep an eye on emergency notifications.
“Evacuation is the best option for people to protect themselves in a severe flood event,” a news release from the city said.
Mount Vernon Mayor Jill Boudreau declared a state of emergency Monday, warning the city’s 35,000 residents to “take action over the next 24-48 hours to protect their homes, families, and property from floodwaters.”
Mount Vernon is under a flood warning until late Wednesday, CNN weather producer Robert Shackelford said. The area has received 2-4 inches of rain in the past 48 hours and could get another 4 inches over the next five days,…
Source : cnn
