Historic flooding: Snohomish County - Need to know

SNOHOMISH COUNTY, Wash. — KIRO 7 is keeping a close eye on the communities impacted by record flooding as Washington is under a state of emergency.

As of 10 p.m. on December 15, here is a look at the evacuations, displacements, and cleanup efforts in Snohomish County, according to the Snohomish County Dept. of Emergency Management:

Evacuation Orders

Tualco remains closed as of Dec 15, 10 p.m.

Impacts and Information

Flooding has receded enough that the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office is comfortable with reopening the area to residents. People are encouraged to take photographs of damage to their property before attempting cleanup. If possible, the address of the property should be visible in one of the photos. Visit the Snohomish County Flood Guide for more resources and information.
Do not go around Road Closed signs. There are still some areas with water over the road that have been closed for safety. Floodwater is dangerous, dirty, and debris can be floating just below the surface, making it difficult to see and navigate. If roads are flooded around you, shelter in place or seek higher ground if you can. Do not drive through floodwaters. Call 911 if you need to be rescued.
The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch including Snohomish County from Monday, Dec. 15, at 10 a.m. to Thursday, Dec. 18, at 4 p.m. Rainfall amounts look to be in the order of an inch for the lowlands and 2-4 inches for the mountains through late Monday. Additional rain is expected through most of the week, bringing the potential for prolonged or renewed flooding on many area rivers. The landslide risk continues to be elevated due to saturated soils.
Headed out this weekend? Avoid flooded areas. If you were not directly impacted by this week’s flooding, avoid flooded or previously flooded areas, such as Silvana, Stanwood, Index, Gold Bar, Sultan, Monroe, and Snohomish. People will be working to clear debris and return to their homes. Now is not the time to venture out on a hike or to check out damaged roads.

Post-Flood Health and Food Safety Tips

For those whose property has been impacted by flooding:

Water supplies could be contaminated. If you have a well or are on a water system that was impacted by flooding, make sure to use bottled, treated or boiled water to avoid illness.
Make sure your building is safe to enter. Turn off gas and electricity or propane. If you smell gas or suspect a leak, notify the gas company, police or fire department.
When in doubt, throw it out. Get rid of foods, medicine or cosmetics if they were in a flooded area and were not in a watertight container or packaging. If your refrigeration has gone out for more than four hours, get rid of perishable items.

Sheltering and Services

Sheltering: free sheltering is available through the American Red Cross at the Evergreen State Fair Park in the 4H Building (pets accepted).
Animal Stabling: Free emergency stabling for livestock is available at:

Evergreen Fair State Park (no dogs). Contact Jeff Ritter: 425-309-2655.
Darrington Rodeo Grounds (no swine) at 42109 SR 530 NE, Darrington, WA 9824. Contact Gabby Wesson (425) 407-2899. Stables are uncovered.
Call ahead for either location.

Services: Were you impacted by recent flooding? Multiple resources are available. Learn more.

Prepare to report damage

There are potential funding opportunities available after a disaster, but these opportunities require timely and accurate damage assessments. A damage assessment should show what was damaged, as well as when, where, and how the damage occurred. These assessments start the process for disaster recovery programs, such as FEMA’s Public Assistance and Individual Assistance Programs, and other potential programs. The Snohomish Department of Emergency Management will collect this information in the coming weeks. Reporting damage could help us reach thresholds necessary for recovery funding. While there is no guarantee that the funding will become available, please consider recording damage by preparing the following:

Photographs: Take photographs of damage. Photos should clearly show damaged property. If possible, the address of the property should be visible in one of the photos.
Receipts: Save all receipts for repair and clean up.
Documentation: Prepare a list of all damaged and affected property.

Key Resources

Information available below provides helpful tips, context, and updates for staying safe during flood season:

Cleaning Up After a Flood – Health and safety information for returning to a home after a flood.
Annual Flood Safety Guide – Provides information to help research your property’s flood risk, to protect your home, to prepare for a flood, and to recover.
Flood Information Center webpage – A one-stop flood information source.
Snohomish County Hazard Viewer – Interactive maps showing flood zones and other natural hazards.
Snohomish River System Flood Information Line – Updated as conditions warrant, 425-388-3653.
Stillaguamish River System Flood Information Line – Updated as conditions warrant, 425-388-3702.

For road closures, flood maps, and more information, click here.