BRINNON, Wash. — Several homes along the Duckabush River in Jefferson County are surrounded by water after days of heavy rain. Eight people have been rescued in Brinnon after being trapped.
A swift water rescue team from Clallam County was called to the area and was preparing to do a door to door check to make sure people were safe, when they got the call.
“We actually had a family that was trying to leave to come to school and their vehicle got washed off the road,” said team member Benjamin Andrews. All three people in the pickup were rescued without injury. Five more were taken by boat from their homes after high water threatened to wash inside.
Many homes in a subdivision near the Duckabush are built up higher than normal because some flooding is common in the area. But residents say this time the river rose quickly.
“Oh it came up really fast,” said Steve Schlaefli. “It’s still a mess.”
“Been a lot of rain since yesterday,” added Brett Bowcutt.
The Jefferson County Emergency Management Office confirmed flooding to KIRO around 9:30 a.m. on Friday.
Officials reported a mudslide Duckabush and Kelly roads. The intersection is blocked.
One lane of Shorewood Road is closed, and there are no reports of injuries.
Three people had to be helped out of their pickup truck because of high water.
The flooded homes are not believed to be a total loss.
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National Weather Service issued a flood warning until 4:30 p.m. Saturday for parts of Mason, Clallam, and Jefferson counties for flooding in and near Brinnon.
Heavy rainfall has increased the threat of landslides in western Washington.
Rains that began midweek are forecast to continue through the weekend, putting extra pressure on steep hillsides and unstable bluffs for days — even after rainfall ends.
A record 1.03 inches of rain fell Thursday at Sea¬Tac Airport, breaking the record of .96 set in 1961. And a record 2.1 inches fell at Quillayute Airport on the coast, breaking the old record for the date of 1.35 inches set in 1999. An atmospheric river blowing into the Northwest also brings mild temperatures and a high snow level with heavy rain falling at both Stevens and Snoqualmie passes.
In the mountains, higher rainfall totals have occurred and more rain is in store. Nearly seven inches of rain fell in the 24 hour period ending mid-morning Friday at Lake Cushman, northwest of Hoodsport. This is along the Skokomish River, which is forecast to reach major flood stage on Friday
The weather will turn drier Tuesday in Washington, as meteorologists in the KIRO 7 PinPoint Weather center are tracking a building ridge of high pressure that will put an end to the storminess.
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