Washington's Skagit Valley Faces Unprecedented Flooding Crisis

The Skagit Valley, a key farming area just north of Seattle, is in serious trouble. Heavy rain from an atmospheric river has forced 100, 000 people to leave their homes and move to safer places. The National Weather Service warns that the worst flooding might not hit until Thursday or Friday, which is concerning. This flood could be worse than the one in 1990. Back then, two people died, over 2, 000 people had to evacuate, and the damage cost more than $100 million. Governor Bob Ferguson has declared a statewide emergency, and many counties have ordered people to leave their homes. In Mount Vernon, an emergency shelter quickly filled up with people and their pets. Volunteers from the Red Cross helped them settle in, providing food, blankets, and a place to stay. One couple, Dennis and Leslie Schleusner, had a tough time getting their three cats to the shelter. They were worried about their pets and their belongings, especially since one of their cats was hiding under the bed during the evacuation. The volunteers also faced challenges, like getting pet food and dinner to the shelter. Many stores were closed due to the flooding, making it hard to find supplies. Carol Jenssens, a Red Cross volunteer, had to drive to a Haggen grocery store that was still open to get food for everyone. The first night in an emergency shelter is usually chaotic, but things usually calm down by the second day. The main message from Skagit County is clear: people in the floodplains need to leave now. The Skagit River is expected to rise higher than ever before, and there's a real danger of catastrophic flooding. The National Weather Service has also issued a flash flood watch for parts of western Skagit and northwestern Snohomish Counties. They're worried that some levees and dikes along the Skagit River might fail. This flooding is a big deal, and it's important for everyone to stay safe and follow the evacuation orders.