SNOHOMISH COUNTY, Wash. — Snohomish County is urging people to prepare for flooding as heavy rainfall and high temperatures are forecast for the winter. In some parts of the county, people are still recovering from the historic flooding that hit Washington last December.
Downtown Sultan was swamped last year. Harvest Kitchen was right in the middle of the flooding as the Skykomish River spilled over its banks. The owner credits preparedness with the survival of his business.
Lots of new businesses go under, but only a few go underwater. For Jeff Kyle, owner of Harvest Kitchen, it was the latter.
“It was our first year going into business, and the flood happened right as we were trying to get our doors open,” Kyle said.
Flooding is nothing new to Kyle, but what happened in December was more intense than he had ever seen.
“We actually got trapped in my house,” he said. “I live on the other side of the river.”
Kyle had just installed kitchen equipment at his new restaurant just across from Sultan City Hall when the river overflowed. He wasn’t about to let Mother Nature destroy his investment, so he and his neighbors got to work.
“Just beat the flooding,” he said. “Bagged everything up.”
His preparation saved his business, which finally opened in March.
Snohomish County is now calling on others to get prepared as well, stressing three key points:
- Know your area: Find out whether you live in a floodplain or regularly travel through one for work or school.
- Have a plan: Put together an emergency kit and identify alternate routes in case roads are flooded or closed.
- Stay informed: Sign up for emergency alerts so you can receive updates during severe weather.
Residents are also encouraged to check for potential drainage issues near their homes and report any problems they find before severe weather arrives.
“This is a great community,” Kyle said. “Everyone gets together and helps.”
Kyle is confident that if he could make it through the 2025 floods, he can make it through anything.
“Now, going forward, it’s like, you know you can beat it,” he said.
Snohomish County has compiled a list of resources to help people prepare.