At least 17 people were saved from floodwaters Monday and Tuesday while a powerful atmospheric river drenched Western Washington.
Those rescued were found trapped in their trailer homes and vehicles on watery roadways. Authorities are urging people to evacuate their homes if told by first responders, stay off watery roadways and respect road closures.
Twelve people and their dogs and cats were rescued from a trailer park off Highway 12 in Randle, next to the Cowlitz River, around 11:30 p.m. Monday, said Lewis County sheriff’s office chief Rick Van Wyck. Floodwaters were rising around the park and the residents, from six to eight different units, couldn’t get out.
The Cowlitz River at Randle began to flood Monday morning and crested into major flooding stage midday Tuesday with a water level of 23 feet, 5 feet above the flooding threshold.
First responders rescued a couple from another trailer park off Highway 131 near downtown Randle around 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, also from rising floodwaters around their home, Van Wyck said.
Residents in both trailer parks were advised to leave beforehand by first responders who knocked on doors and called park management, but they chose not to evacuate, Van Wyck said. None were injured in the flooding and they were taken to the Packwood Community Center or set up accommodations elsewhere.
“We’re expecting far worse tonight,” Van Wyck said. “That was just a taste of what’s to come.”
Floodwaters receded Tuesday, but the sheriff’s department is gearing up for more rescues, Van Wyck said, anticipating floodwaters to peak Wednesday night.
Fire crews saved a man and his cat from his car in Shelton along Skokomish Valley Road at 3:45 a.m. Tuesday on the Olympic Peninsula, the West Mason Fire department said. He was driven to a motel in town where he was able to dry off in the lobby.
The Fire Department said it’s “repeatedly had to rescue people from this stretch of road” and asked drivers to obey closure signs “to keep you and the firefighters safe.”
Minutes later, across Puget Sound, fire crews rescued a woman in Auburn whose car was swept into a ditch, said Mountain View Fire District Chief Dawn Judkins. She was driving on a stretch of Green Valley Road that hadn’t been closed yet.
The woman needed to be carried 50 yards from her car to safety, Judkins said. She had been trapped in her car but wasn’t injured.
Green Valley Road is now closed between Southeast Auburn Black Diamond Road and 212th Road near Flaming Geyser State Park, which is completely underwater, Judkins said. Green Valley Road flows right beside the Green River, which will continue to see minor flooding through Saturday.
Fire crews and police went home to home along the road Tuesday night, telling residents they should evacuate because floodwaters are expected to rise over the next couple of days, Judkins said. Most residents refused to leave and are still in their homes.
Anticipated rainfall mixed with increased releases from the Howard Hanson Dam on the Green River will raise river levels and could impact low-lying properties along the riverside through Friday, the city of Auburn advised.
Later Tuesday, a man was rescued from his car nearby on Southeast Black Diamond Road in Auburn after he drove past a road closed sign, FOX13 reported.
With the help of nearby residents, the FOX13 news crews saw the man waving for help with a high-powered lens and signaled over a King County Road Services crew who rescued him.
Portions of Southeast Auburn Black Diamond Road closed Tuesday, the city said.
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