Statewide flooding emergency declared in Washington
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Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson declared a statewide emergency Wednesday over widespread flooding, and said he is seeking federal funds to help with the response.
The big picture: This week's atmospheric river drenched parts of western Washington with more than 10 inches of rain, leading to evacuations and widespread flooding. And officials warn that the downpour's not over.
State of play: Rivers from Southwest Washington to the Canadian border were "at moderate to major flood stage levels" as of Wednesday, Robert Ezelle, director of the Washington Military Department's emergency management division, said at a news conference.
- "We're just going to see those levels increase as we go into tomorrow and Friday," Ezelle told reporters Wednesday, citing an elevated risk of landslides as well.
What they're saying: Record flood levels are expected in several areas, including along the Skagit River, where county officials were preparing Wednesday to evacuate 75,000 people living in low-lying areas, Ezelle said.
- Ferguson urged Washington residents to follow warnings from local authorities and to obey any evacuation orders related to the "historic flooding."
- "This is critical for your safety," he said.
Zoom in: As of midday Wednesday, a "go now" evacuation order had been issued for parts of Orting as the Puyallup River surged.
- Near the Cowlitz River in Lewis County, Highway 12 was underwater in a number of areas, Ezelle said.
- A landslide also closed all lanes of eastbound I-90 on Wednesday, while stretches of State Route 2 were closed in all directions.
What's next: Flooding may continue through Sunday as more rain pelts the region, Kirby Cook of the National Weather Service Seattle station told Axios.