Road damage from WA flooding to cost at least $40M
[Jake Goldstein-Street]—Last month’s heavy flooding inflicted at least $40 million to $50 million of damage on Washington’s highways, state transportation officials estimated to lawmakers Monday. The state Department of Transportation has responded to dozens of locations due to flooding, officials told lawmakers. The state has signed 16 contracts for emergency repairs. A few more are […]
HHS declares Public Health Emergency in Washington amid historic flooding
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. declared a public health emergency for Washington state on Christmas Eve, aiming to ease health care access amid devastating storms, high winds, flooding, landslides and mudslides that have battered the region. The move follows President Donald J Trump’s approval of an emergency declaration earlier this […]
Governor allocates $3.5 Million in emergency funds for flood relief
SEATTLE—Today, Governor Bob Ferguson amended his emergency proclamation to provide emergency support in response to historic flooding across Washington. Ferguson announced the amendment at a press conference today, December 16, alongside King County Executive Girmay Zahilay, Pierce County Executive Ryan Mello, Adjutant General Gent Welsh, Transportation Secretary Julie Meredith, Director of Emergency Management Robert Ezelle, Erin McCann with the […]
New flood wall saves Mount Vernon, Snohomish County roads face major repairs
MOUNT VERNON—On the Saturday following record-breaking Skagit River flooding, Mount Vernon Mayor Peter Donovan stood before the city’s 1.4-mile flood wall (a.k.a. The Wall) and declared it a game-changer, as U.S. Senator Patty Murray, Governor Bob Ferguson and local emergency officials gathered to assess response efforts and brace for more rain. “Downtown Mount Vernon stayed […]
Flooding update: rescues, federal emergency, and a second coming
WASHINGTON STATE—Dozens of people were rescued in Snohomish County, from Wednesday through Thursday, due to the state, and federally, declared “emergency” flooding that swept the region, with more storms and more flooding ahead. Meteorologists working with the National Weather Service (NWS) issued weather alerts for Washington residents on Wednesday, December 10, due to, what they […]
WA residents encouraged to support Western Washington flood relief
OLYMPIA—Secretary of State Steve Hobbs is encouraging Washington residents, public employees, and state retirees to help residents of Western Washington affected by flooding from this week’s atmospheric river. Secretary Hobbs authorized the activation of the Disaster Relief Center (DRC), a special function of the Office of the Secretary of State’s Combined Fund Drive (CFD), and […]
Skagit levees face critical test, Ferguson warns of ‘Very Serious’ flooding
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 […]
Atmospheric river to slam Pacific Northwest with days of heavy rain
LYNNWOOD—A potent atmospheric river will unload several days of heavy rain across the Pacific Northwest starting Monday, raising the risk of river flooding, urban flash flooding, and landslides across western Washington and Oregon, the National Weather Service reports. The onslaught begins Monday morning when a sub-tropical moisture begins to flow inland along a strong Pacific […]
