Dec. 5—Skagit County officials have warned residents in some flood-prone areas to prepare for evacuation as the Skagit River continues to rise, posing threats throughout Tuesday evening into Wednesday.
Skagit County commissioners declared a county emergency Tuesday due to flooding. Heavy rains swamped Western Washington due to an atmospheric river system, closing roads and causing landslides.
The communities in low-lying, flood-prone areas include:
- Marblemount
- Rockport
- Thunderbird Lane
- Concrete
- Cape Horn
- Birdsview
- Hamilton
- Cockerham
- Lyman
- Day Creek
This list is not exhaustive, according to Skagit County.
Anyone who has experienced flooding should monitor water levels in their neighborhood and be prepared to leave, according to the county. It’s best to leave sooner rather than later if you believe you or your home is at risk, county officials said in a news release.
The Skagit River is anticipated to reach its highest point at 10 p.m. Tuesday in Concrete. The release warned that rescues at night can be unreliable and unsafe, and residents should ensure all their devices are charged in case they need to call emergency services.
Residents are reminded to practice “turn around, don’t drown” by following road closure signs and not driving around barricades.
The Skagit County emergency information webpage is available at skagitcounty.net/emergencyinformation. Residents can call the river level hotline at 360-416-1404. Road closures can be monitored at skagitcounty.net/reporting/roadclose/.
Residents with questions or who are looking for where to pick up sandbags can call the Skagit County Department of Emergency Management at 360-416-1850.
The Red Cross has established a shelter at Hamilton First Baptist Church on 797 Hamilton Cemetery Road to assist anyone who has been displaced due to the flooding.
