SNOHOMISH COUNTY, Wash. — Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers issued an emergency proclamation related to record flooding earlier this week.
The Stillaguamish River reached record levels in Arlington, exceeding 21 feet. The river reaches major flood stage at 19 feet.
“Many families, businesses, and communities have been impacted by the floods this week and more rain continues to fall,” said Somers. “Therefore, I’ve declared an emergency to ensure we have every tool available to us. For cities and other agencies who have responded to the flooding, please know that we will be there to assist in any way we can. We’ll get through this together.”
On Tuesday, the community of Silvana was completely cut off in both directions due to submerged roadways. State Route 530 in Arlington was also closed for a period of time.
The widespread flooding has caused dangerous road conditions, according to the county, impacting emergency response and requiring additional resources for water rescues.
The county advised people living in flood-prone areas to be prepared to evacuate as the weekend approaches. More rainfall is expected into early next week.
The emergency proclamation allows the county to spend public funds to take measures to ensure the safety of residents and also waives some administrative requirements in order to expedite response efforts. County departments are directed to take actions to protect private property and publicly owned infrastructure from further flooding impacts.