Thousands Forced To Evacuate As Floodwaters Rise In Washington State

January 8, 2009 4:08 a.m. EST

Olympia, WA (AHN) - Unprecedented flooding in Washington state has forced thousands to flee their homes. Continued rain, which is forecast until Friday, has caused snow in the mountains to melt and rivers to rise.

In Puyallup, a few miles east of Tacoma, city officials are directing the evacuation of thousands away from the Puyallup River, which the National Weather Service (NWS) says will reach 31.53 feet mid-morning on Thursday.

Flood stage is 30 feet. Flooding is expected to last through Friday night.

The highest level the Puyallup River has reached is 34.2 feet, the NWS said.

The Puyallup Office of Emergency Management made a series of reverse 911 calls to alert residents and direct them to evacuation centers. "We encourage you to collect essential belongings and evacuate your premise as soon as possible. The river is expected to reach unprecedented levels... It is important for your safety and the safety of your family or employees to secure property and valuables and evacuate as soon as you can," the call said.

No Sounder commuter trains will operate between Seattle and Tacoma on Thursday due to the flooding.

In Cashmere near the Northern Cascades, county officials and residents have begun sandbagging along Mission and Peshastin Creeks. And in Fife, more than 20,000 people are being evacuated. In Spokane, up to 200 members of the Washington National Guard are being deployed to help clear roofloads caused by snow and rain.

Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire, who returns on Thursday from visiting U.S. troops in Germany, has activated the state Emergency Operations Center to help respond to the statewide flooding and significant landslide and avalanche hazards.