Firefighters have rescued five people from partially submerged vehicles, including a semi truck, on a flooded road in Napavine, the Lewis County Fire Protection District 5 said.
In photos shared by the fire district, several cars and a semi can be seen half swallowed by waters under an overpass on Interstate 5. Fire crews said those rescued attempted to drive through the water.
None of the occupants were injured. The occupants were rescued around 5 a.m. Tuesday.
“Please do not drive through flood water!” the fire district said in a social media post. “Please stay safe today and in the coming days!”
Exit 72 at Rush Road on I-5 northbound and southbound has been closed, along with Kirkland Road at its intersection with Bond Road.
Those weren't the only ones saved. A family of six, including four children, were rescued by fire crews when their home was overcome with water, Simper said.
None were injured, and they are now relocated, but their home on the 400 block of Hamilton Road south of Chehalis is inundated with a foot of water, Simper said.
The Newaukum River near Chehalis experienced moderate flooding Tuesday morning with water levels reaching just over 205 feet inches below the river’s record water level of 205.5 feet.
The river will reach the moderate flooding stage again Wednesday afternoon with a similar water level, just shy of the record.
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