Through the Static

By Hannah Saunders

Last week’s pineapple express brought historically severe floods to parts of Western Washington, leaving neighborhoods submerged underwater and entire farms swept away. Although these atmospheric river events are common, the damage this year has been tremendous, and several recovery efforts are underway through the Red Cross and National Guard.

“More than 100,000 residents have been forced from their homes as entire neighborhoods are submerged. Thousands of homes are currently flooded or surrounded by water, and residents are being directed to emergency shelters,” disaster recovery nonprofit, United Cajun Navy, stated.

The Washington National Guard has been deployed to King County after the Desimone Levee broke on December 15 at about 11:30 a.m, causing flash flooding in Tukwila, Kent, and Renton. A “go now” evacuation order was issued, and the county completed a temporary repair on the levee that evening. The evacuation alert was also lifted.

Since the onset of the atmospheric river events, evacuation orders were issued in Skagit, Snohomish, King, Pierce, Lewis, and Whatcom Counties. The Washington State Department of Transportation has also worked to reopen over 50 highways, according to Gov. Bob Ferguson.

More rain and winds are expected to hit Western Washington this week, and the American Red Cross said there’s risk of further flooding, landslides, power outages, and fallen trees. The Red Cross is providing assistance in the region and has over 250 disaster volunteers.

“Where it is safe to do so, Red Cross volunteers are helping assess the residential damage in affected communities. This work will help us to better understand what support families may need in the coming days and weeks,” according to the Red Cross.

The Red Cross’s disaster mental health workers are offering emotional support for people impacted by the floods, and volunteers are also tending to minor injuries, and replacing necessities like medications and eyeglasses.

The group has opened 14 emergency shelters that have held over 800 overnight shelter stays, and are identifying more locations if needed. The Red Cross stated that more people are visiting the emergency shelters for food, to charge phones, and to gather more information about the emergency. Since, it’s provided communities with over 6,700 meals and snacks.

Video footage obtained by KOMO News shows a couple’s house in Whatcom County floating away with currents, and the Whatcom Long Term Recovery Group (WLTRG) has a help request form for those impacted by flooding.

WLTRG is in urgent need of financial donations for families, as well as supplies to assist with clean-up efforts, including:

• Buckets
• Scrub brushes
• Rubber gloves
• New space heaters and box fans

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