Washington state is experiencing profound but as yet unclear damage following over a week of heavy rains and record flooding. Storms have saturated the region, dumping nearly two feet of rain in some areas, causing rivers to overflow their banks and leading to over 600 rescues across ten counties. The widespread power outages affected more than 400,000 residents in southern and eastern Washington, and extended into neighboring Oregon.
The severe weather has caused significant infrastructure damage, with key highways buried or washed out and communities inundated. Saturated levees have failed, and it is anticipated that a critical route, State Route 2, may not reopen for months. Governor Bob Ferguson has warned that the state is facing a "long haul" and urged residents to heed evacuation orders. A full assessment of the damage will only be possible after floodwaters recede and landslide risks diminish.
In response to the crisis, the state and some counties are providing millions of dollars to assist affected individuals with essential needs like hotels and groceries, while awaiting further federal aid approval. First responders have performed at least 629 rescues and 572 assisted evacuations, with as many as 100,000 people having been under evacuation orders at various times, particularly in areas along the Skagit River.