Snohomish County bracing for floods, landslides

With up to another 10 inches of rain expected to fall on most of Snohomish County between tonight and Thursday evening, emergency-management officials are keeping a close eye on rising rivers and warning of the potential for rain-induced landslides.

Though the flood level on the Snohomish River near Monroe was slightly downgraded today, the Stillaguamish River near Arlington is expected to crest above record levels tonight, according to Christopher Schwarzen, a spokesman for the Snohomish County Executive's Office.

Early today, localized flooding was already being reported throughout the county, including on the Sultan River in Sultan and lowland areas near the Stillaguamish and its forks, Schwarzen said.

The Skykomish River near Gold Bar and the Snohomish River near Monroe are both expected to reach major flood stage before receding late Thursday. River levels are expected to return to normal levels by Friday, Schwarzen said.

In the meantime, residents in low-lying areas — especially those in neighborhoods that were cut off by floodwaters in November 2006 and November 2008 — should brace for similar conditions, Schwarzen said. People need to prepare by stocking up on supplies or consider voluntarily evacuating their homes until the water recedes, he said.

Anyone needing sandbags should contact their local fire department.

On Highway 530 in Twin Rivers County Park (follow Highway 530 east of the city) traffic is down to one lane, and probably will close this afternoon.

Just off Interstate 5 on Highway 530, a few businesses adjacent to the river are probably already seeing some water. Sandbags have been dropped off there.

Farm animals that need to be moved to higher ground can be taken to The Evergreen State Fairgrounds in Monroe.

Officials asked people along Scholman Road to move their animals to safer locations. The Skykomish River near Gold Bar is expected to crest above flood stage at 4 p.m. today. The Snohomish River is expected to crest in Monroe at 10 a.m. Thursday and in Snohomish, by 2 p.m. Thursday, Schwarzen said.

Flood updates and a list of road closures can be viewed at www.snoco.org. Additional flooding issues can be reported to the county's Emergency Management Department at 425-388-5060.