Rich Stephens, left, a resident of the apartments on the corner of Iron and Magnolia Street in Centralia, carries sandbags to the back door of his house with apartment manager, Tom Dipola, on Monday afternoon. As of Monday at noon water levels along China Creek were nearing flood levels.
China Creek is seen near flood level on the corner of Magnolia and Iron in Centralia on Monday afternoon.
A flood warning has been issued for the Skookumchuck River near Bucoda until Tuesday morning while the Newaukum and Chehalis Rivers remain under flood watch until Wednesday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.
The Skookumchuck River near Bucoda approached moderate flood stage this morning at nearly 15 feet, a level that can cause several residential and business areas around Bucoda to flood along with roadways and low pasture lands, the NWS said.
The Chehalis River near Doty crested below flood stage this morning, but the river is expected to reach flood stage, above 14 feet, in Grand Mound by Tuesday morning.
The Newaukum River near Chehalis is approaching flood stage, above 10.5 feet, this afternoon.
Heavy rain — up to 4 inches over the weekend — caused the high water event. An additional 2 to 4 inches of rain is forecast through Tuesday night, the NWS said.
Impacts of the high water are being felt in downtown Centralia where China Creek is beginning to spill over its banks and into residential property.
Property manager Tom Dipola and resident Rich Stephens worked together this morning to haul sandbags around Magnolia Street apartments on the bank of China Creek.
Dipola said the last time he had to use sandbags to protect the property was during the 2007 flood. Stephens said he did not want to wait to protect his apartment.
“I’d rather do it now than wait until the water is lapping at the door frame,” Stephens said.
Vargina Sarrow, who lives a block from China Creek, said she hopes the rain does not make China Creek flooding worse in her neighborhood.
“I’ve never seen China Creek so high and I’ve been living in the Edison District for four years,” Sarrow said. “It’s not the end of it.”
Kim Ashmore, Centralia street and stormwater superintendent, said the city is monitoring China Creek and the NWS flooding forecast before taking action for residents around the urban waterway. China Creek historically rises and falls before the Chehalis or Newaukum Rivers crest, Ashmore said.
“China Creek comes up and starts going down. That has been the past history with China Creek. It will come up before the Chehalis River even crests,” Ashmore said. “What you are seeing is normal. It will level off and start receding.”
Ashmore said the only time the city offers residents sandbags is when an emergency is declared and an emergency operation center is set up downtown.
“The only thing we have right now is a flood watch,” Ashmore said.
