Monday Jan. 17, 2011: The Cowlitz River at Skate Creek Road Bridge in Packwood this morning. The river was high and fast yesterday afternoon but has gone down a bit this morning. / Courtesy photo by Bill Serrahn
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
More than an inch of rain is expected in the mountains tonight, leaving some in Randle cautiously monitoring the Cowlitz River which has already begun flooding.
The fire department this morning went door to door advising residents in low-lying areas to evacuate. Some have, and some, like Per and Pearl Fjugstad are staying.
“We’re high and dry, it’s not a problem,” Per Fjugstad said about 6 o’clock tonight.
The couple, who live on McKay Street just off U.S. Highway 12 near the center of town, however, are surrounded by water.
In November 2006 when the Cowlitz River rose to just over 25 feet, some seven feet beyond its flood stage, theirs was the only home on McKay Street that did not get water inside. But the following year, they built themselves a new house across the street eight inches higher.
One of their neighbors departed a couple of hours earlier and another moved to her upstairs, Per Fjugstad said. He estimated the water was a little more than two feet deep at that end of the street.
“It’s not raining right now,” Per Fjugstad said. “In fact, I don’t think it’s rained in the last couple three hours. That’s gonna help us a lot.”
This morning’s forecast indicated the river could crest at almost 24 feet, but the latest prediction is for just less than 23 feet.
Lewis County Fire District 14 Chief Jeff Jaques said this evening U.S. Highway 12 just east of the intersection with state Route 131 is closed, as expected, but a detour is in place on Silverbrook Road.
And state Route 131 which leads out towards Cispus is closed.
A flood watch remains in effect for portions of Western Washington through tomorrow afternoon, including in Lewis, Thurston and Grays Harbor counties.
Flood warnings continue on the Cowlitz at Randle and Packwood, the Nisqually River near National, the Newaukum River near Chehalis, the Chehalis River at Grand Mound and the Skookumchuck River near Bucoda.
The National Weather Service cautions those living near “unwarned” rivers in the watch area should continue to monitor the latest weather forecasts and warnings until the watch has ended.
Some of those rivers have crested already, such as the Newaukum River, and the Cowlitz at Packwood.
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Continuously updated conditions, warnings and forecasts in more detail can be found from the National Weather Service’s website by clicking on “Weather forecasts” and “River levels” beneath “Other useful web links” on the right hand side of Lewis County Sirens pages.
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter