Washington state faces historic floods that have washed away homes and
stranded families
[December 12, 2025]
By CEDAR ATTANASIO and CLAIRE RUSH
MOUNT VERNON, Wash. (AP) — Days of torrential rain in Washington state
has caused historic floods that have stranded families on rooftops,
washed over bridges and ripped at least two homes from their
foundations, and experts warned that even more flooding expected Friday
could be catastrophic.
Washington is under a state of emergency and evacuation orders are in
place for tens of thousands of residents. Gov. Bob Ferguson on Thursday
urged everyone to follow evacuation instructions as yet another river
neared record levels.
“I understand that many in our state have experienced significant floods
in the past," he said on the social platform X. "However, we’re looking
at a historic situation.”
About 78,000 residents of a major agricultural region north of Seattle
were ordered to evacuate the floodplain of the Skagit River, which was
expected to crest Friday morning.
The floods were impacting large parts of the state, with several bridges
flooded and some major roads inundated or washed out. Some roads had no
alternate routes and no estimated reopening time, including a large part
of state Route 410.
A landslide blocked part of Interstate 90 east of Seattle, with photos
showing vehicles trapped by tree trunks, branches, mud and standing
water.
In the north near the U.S.-Canada border, the cities of Sumas, Nooksack
and Everson were evacuated after being inundated. The border crossing at
Sumas was closed and Amtrak suspended trains between Seattle and
Vancouver, B.C.
Sumas Mayor Bruce Bosch said much of the city has been “devastated” by
the high waters just four years after a similar flood.
Flooding rivers break records
The Snohomish River surged nearly a foot (30 centimeters) higher than
its record Thursday in the picturesque city that shares its name, while
the Skagit River rose just above its record Thursday night in Mount
Vernon, according to the National Water Prediction Service.
Earlier Thursday, the Skagit just missed its previous record as flooding
surged through the mountain town of Concrete.
The waters stopped just short of getting inside Mariah Brosa's raised
riverfront home in Concrete, but the raging river still slapped debris
against her home and totaled her fiancé's work car, she said.
“I didn’t think it would come this high,” she said.
Flooding from the Skagit has long plagued Mount Vernon, the largest city
in Skagit County with some 35,000 residents. Flooding in 2003 displaced
hundreds of people.
[to top of second column]
|
A home is surrounded by floodwaters near Twin Rivers Snohomish
County Park in Arlington, Wash., Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025. (Erika
Schultz/The Seattle Times via AP)
A floodwall that protects downtown passed a major test in 2021, when
the river crested near record levels. Water was at the foot of the
floodwall as of late Thursday morning, Mayor Peter Donovan said.
In nearby Burlington, officials hoped dikes and other systems would
protect their community from catastrophe, said Michael Lumpkin, with
the police department.
Officials respond to flooding
Authorities across Washington state in recent days have rescued
people from cars and homes after an atmospheric river soaked the
region.
Helicopters rescued two families on Thursday from the roofs of homes
in Sumas that had been flooded by about 15 feet (4.6 meters) of
water, while the city's fire station had 3 feet (91 centimeters) of
water, according Frank Cain JR., battalion chief for Whatcom County
Fire District 14.
In nearby Welcome, erosion from the floodwaters caused at least two
houses to collapse into the Nooksack River, he said. No one was
inside at the time.
In a football field in Snoqualmie, a herd of elk swam and waded
through neck-high water.
East of Seattle, residents along Issaquah Creek used water pumps as
rushing floodwaters filled yards Thursday morning. Yellow tape
blocked off a hazardous area along the creek.
Climate change has been linked to some intense rainfall. Scientists
say that without specific study they cannot directly link a single
weather event to climate change, but in general it’s responsible for
more intense and more frequent extreme storms, droughts, floods and
wildfires.
Another storm system is expected to bring more rain starting Sunday.
___
Rush reported from Portland, Oregon. Associated Press writers Gene
Johnson and Hallie Golden in Seattle; Martha Bellisle in Issaquah,
Washington; Mark Thiessen in Anchorage, Alaska; and Mead Gruver in
Fort Collins, Colorado, contributed to this report.
All contents © copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved |
