Lewis County Sirens.com

State Route 131 south of Randle on Tuesday morning. / Courtesy photo by Chief Gene Seiber, Lewis County Sheriff's Office

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

Residents or business owners who sustained damage from flooding are urged to report a dollar estimate as soon as possible to the Lewis County Division of Emergency Management.

Call 360-740-1152, leave a message with name and phone number and staff will return the calls, a news release from Emergency Management yesterday states.

Those in Centralia need to call 360-623-1373.

The information will be used in an attempt to secure a presidential disaster declaration, which could then allow for FEMA recovery assistance and or low interest loans.

“We need the approximate dollar damage figures as soon as possible to help us determine the needs of our citizens,”
Emergency Management Deputy Director Sgt. Ross McDowell stated in the news release.

The sooner the totals are received, the sooner citizens may be able to receive FEMA funding, the news release states.

Homeowners and renters need to be prepared to share an estimated dollar loss, insurance information  and assessed value of the homes.

Businesses can report loses of inventory, economic losses and damages to their buildings.

Estimates don’t need to come from a contractor but can be rough estimates, the news release states.

The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office reported yesterday morning no obvious damage to public infrastructure during the weekend flooding and reminds citizens to continue to monitor river and weather conditions.

For further information, visit Lewis County Division of Emergency Management.

Slide on state Route 508 at Bear Canyon. / Courtesy photo by Washington State Department of Transportation

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

Landslides have closed sections of three Southwest Washington highways including state Route 508 at Bear Canyon, according to the state Department of Transportation.

Crews are on the scenes clearing mud, rocks, trees and power lines, according to a noontime news release from the DOT.

Drivers should take alternate routes.

One slide is on state Route 411 near Hazel Dell Road in Kelso and the third is on state Route 14 near Cape Horn, according to the news release.

A smaller slide is being cleared on U.S. Highway 12 near Davis Lake Road near Morton, DOT reported.

Update at 5:40 p.m.: Late this afternoon, DOT reported crews are continuing to work on clearing the slide at Bear Canyon, but noted it will be closed to all traffic overnight.

As heavy rain, slides and flooding are impacting multiple highways across the region, DOT advises motorists to check conditions on its web site before traveling.

After cleanup Sunday: the slide on U.S. Highway 12 near Morton. / Courtesy photo by Jennifer Mau

The Tilton River on Sunday in Morton at Main Avenue. / Courtesy photo by Jennifer Mau

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

A flood watch is in effect from tomorrow morning through Sunday afternoon in several Western Washington counties including Lewis County.

The National Weather Service issued the watch just before 7 p.m. tonight, noting a series of at least three warm and wet weather systems are expected to move through bringing heavy rains.

A flood watch means conditions are favorable for flooding but flooding is not imminent or occurring.

Around noontime, the weather service noted the rivers appearing most at risk included the Lower Chehalis, Newaukum, Upper Puyallup, Snoqualmie and Snohomish rivers.

It appears that most flooding, if it occurs, will be minor, the weather service forecast this evening.

The expected amount of rain will put extra pressure on soil instability leading to an increased risk of more landslides, the weather service reported. Two landslides occurred today in Western Washington – one in Everett and another in Sumner.

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

The governor proclaimed a state of emergency today due to severe winter storms that affected several western and south central Washington counties between Dec. 8 and 18, according to a news release.

Gov. Chris Gregoire’s proclamation covers Lewis, Thurston, Grays Harbor,  Cowlitz, Pacific, Skamania, Wahkiakum, Mason, Pierce, King, Kitsap, Klickitat, Skagit, Snohomish, Whatcom, Clallam and Jefferson counties.

At various times over the 10-day period, bad weather produced snow, high winds, flooding, landslides, avalanches and power outages, according to the news release. The affected counties all experienced some level of extensive damage, the news release states.

For further information on what it means to victims with damage, check with county emergency management departments.

• Lewis County Division of Emergency Management here
• Thurston County Emergency Management here
• Grays Harbor County Emergency Management here