MOUNT VERNON—Governor Bob Ferguson on Thursday urged Washington residents facing flooding to immediately evacuate if ordered, stressing the “very, very serious situation” posed by what he described as potentially historic and unpredictable waters across the state as a result of the atmospheric river that slammed the Pacific Northwest.
“This is obviously a statewide emergency impacting communities from Lewis County to Yakima to right here,” Gov. Ferguson said during a press conference at Skagit Valley College, flanked by emergency officials and local Representatives.
The National Weather Service’s is a warning of “potentially catastrophic” conditions with “significant loss of life” that is still in place because of the atmospheric river.
Approximately half of Skagit County’s entire 150,000 population are bracing for evacuation orders as the Skagit River is above flood stage of 28 ft with a current level of 32.91 ft which is expected to crest at 39.10 ft by 10 a.m., Friday, December 12—approximately 2 ft over existing records.
“If you have instructions to evacuate from your local authorities, please, please, please evacuate,” Ferguson said. “Your life is extremely important to us.”
Yesterday, we had an emergency call with FEMA to request an expedited emergency declaration from the federal government.
I made it clear that the situation is dire. It’s our hope that the federal government act right away to get lifesaving resources to Washingtonians. pic.twitter.com/F5jVeV2Pgr
Fergusons spoke with FEMA officials the previous day and another meeting planned soon he said. All 11 congressional members for Washington state signed a letter to President Donald J Trump requesting for an expedited Emergency Declaration.
“We tried to be as persuasive as we could to our partners in the federal government that they need to approve that emergency right away,” he said.
A federal Emergency Declaration approved by President Trump, would provide Washington state with FEMA-coordinated aid and enable direct federal resources, personnel, and equipment deployment, along with potential regulatory waivers (e.g., trucking rules).
Ferguson pointed to escalating impacts, with major highway closures doubling overnight to 30 or 31, including State Routes 20 and 530 in Skagit County.
Washington Emergency Management Division Director Dr. Robert Ezelle called the situation “extremely unpredictable” and “dangerous,” driven by back-to-back atmospheric rivers.
In the Skagit River, waters near Concrete hit about record levels earlier Thursday, but downstream in Burlington-Mount Vernon, “we’re still expecting to see about two feet higher than record flood level,” Ezelle said. “It’s going to be most likely worse than you experienced back in 2021.”
Ezell warned that strengthened levees face an untested challenge as waters rise to their tops. Flooding affects areas statewide, from closed Highway 12 in Lewis County and isolated Randall to burn scar damage in Stehekin and impacts in Yakima.
“Please follow the instructions of local first responders. Stay out of high waters, especially stay out of moving water,” he advised.
Skagit County Emergency Management Chief Julie DeLosada thanked tribal, state, local, and federal partners, including the Army Corps of Engineers.
“We cannot get through things like this without a partnership,” she said then directing Skagit County residents to SkagitCounty.net or a help line at 360-416-2090 for resources.
Skagit County Commissioner Lisa Janicki emphasized ongoing risks, saying even if the river falls short of worst projections in Mount Vernon, “it is still going to be at or the actual historic event.” She warned against risky behavior, including driving through water or walking on dikes amid seepage and reinforcement work.
“Get off those dikes, get home and take care of your loved ones,” she said, while praising proactive business and school closures.
Governor Ferguson signed an emergency proclamation on December 10 in anticipation of floods throughout the Puget Sound, North Cascade, and low-lying river basins in the eastern side of the state – including near Burlington, Mount Vernon, Sedro Wooley, Lyman, Concrete, and Hamilton.
A countywide state of emergency for Snohomish County has been declared, with the Washington State Emergency Operations Center at its highest activation level and National Guard resources deployed for support.
State assistance has been mobilized under the Washington State Fire Services Resource Mobilization Plan in support of local fire resources working to assist with flooding located in Snohomish and Skagit Counties. Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste authorized the mobilization of state resources on December 10, at the request of Fire Chiefs Seth Johnson, Snohomish County Fire District 5, Eric Andrews, Snohomish County Fire District 26, Brian Park, Snohomish Regional Fire and Rescue, and David Skrinde, Skagit County Fire District 14.
“I appreciate all the people who have followed the advice of emergency management personnel, those who evacuated, and our rescue crews,” Representative Sam Low (R-39) told the Lynnwood Times. “We will get through this together and appreciative of Governor Ferguson coming out and caring about the wellbeing and needs of my constituents.”
Governor Ferguson is expected to do an aerial assessment of the flooding Friday.
Author: Mario Lotmore
