Flooding in Washington State: Evacuation Orders and Road Closures
Approximately 2,100 residents of the city of Pacific, located 32 kilometers south of Seattle, received a level 3 "Go Now" evacuation order on Tuesday due to flooding caused by a levee breach along the White River in the US state of Washington, authorities reported.
The Snohomish County Sheriff's Office confirmed a storm-related death on Tuesday. A man was found in a submerged vehicle after ignoring warning signs and driving into floodwaters near Snohomish. He was declared dead at the scene.
Washington State Governor, Bob Ferguson, stated during a press conference on Tuesday that Highway 2 would remain closed for "months" as the state begins to repair damage caused by over a week of extreme weather conditions and flooding.
The Washington State Department of Transportation reported that several road segments in the western part of the state remained closed, resulting in significant traffic disruptions.
Several road segments were "damaged and washed away, leaving no roads," said Washington State Transportation Secretary, Julie Meredith.
The National Weather Service warned that a series of low-pressure systems is expected to bring heavy rain, mountain snow, and strong winds to northwest Washington State in the coming days.
