Washington state contends with devastating flooding
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Portions of western Washington state have experienced a month’s worth of rain within the past few days, causing historic flooding, damaging mudslides and more than 100,00 people facing potential evacuations.
Six rivers around Western Washington could see record flooding this week, as a second round of an intense storm rolls in from the Pacific.
The urgency went up a notch in Mount Vernon Thursday night, amidst concerns about whether the levees and dikes will be able to hold a record crest.
Washington is prone to intense spells of fall rainfall, but these storms have been exceptional, and more rain is on the way this weekend.
National Guard troops went door-to-door early Friday to evacuate a farming city north of Seattle as severe flooding throughout Western Washington stranded families on rooftops, washed over bridges and ripped homes from their foundations.
Meteorologist Scott Sistek said some rivers are approaching their worst-ever levels, with 12 waterways reaching "major" flood stage across the region.
Authorities are going door-to-door in South Prairie, Washington, in Pierce County, urging residents to leave their homes immediately as water rises there. The Pierce County Sheriff’s Office previously said that at least 25 people have been rescued in the county since Wednesday, including in South Prairie.