Lewis County Sirens.com

Updated

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – One local man has died on the roads today, the busiest travel day of the year.

The 69-year-old Winlock resident for unknown reasons crossed the center line and struck a pickup truck on Highway 603 in Evaline, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

It happened just before 4 p.m. and the road was expected to remain closed for a couple of hours, Chief Civil Deputy Stacy Brown said.

The collision followed a series of wrecks on Interstate 5 in Chehalis earlier during the noon hour.

“We had five collisions within moments of each other,” Washington State Patrol spokesperson Trooper Will Finn said. “Two were car-semi, two were two-car … the fifth one I’m not sure.”

“They said it was sunny and all of the sudden a rain burst came through,” Finn said.

Only one person was transported to the hospital, according to the state patrol and the Chehalis Fire Department.

Firefighters were headed to one accident near milepost 79 when they were called to another in the northbound lanes near West Street, according to Fire Capt. Kevin Curfman.

One woman was injured. “Her doors were locked, I took a window out to get access to her,” Curfman said. “Five airbags deployed. They were everywhere.”

Christie L. Wallin, 55, of Centralia, was taken to Providence Centralia Hospital where she is listed in satisfactory condition. Curfman said she had lower leg injuries.

Wallin’s car was totaled. It was part of a three-vehicle rear-ending collision just before 12:30 p.m., according to the Vancouver office of the state patrol.

Finn said the collisions occurred in both north and southbound lanes and were cleared out fairly rapidly.

Later in the day, a brief downpour near Castle Rock and a spinout on a puddle on Interstate 5 contributed to as many as 12 vehicles wrecking, although no serious injuries resulted, according to The (Longview) Daily News.

Brown said the Highway 603 crash happened near Schoolhouse Road. A detour was put in place. The 69-year-old driver died en route to the hospital, she said.

His 1997 Chevrolet Malibu was describe as totaled.

The other vehicle, a Ford Ranger pickup, was occupied by a couple from Lake Forest Park, according to the sheriff’s office.

The 47-year-old male driver was taken to Providence with back injuries; his 49-year-old wife cut her head but didn’t need hospitalization, according to Brown.

The state patrol is advising motorists to use extra caution during the busy holiday weekend.

“We just ask people to slow down, and take their time,” Finn said. “So they get to their destination safely.”

Updated at 12:34 p.m. and 12:58 p.m.

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

The flood warning has ended on the Newaukum River near Chehalis and forecasters have revised downward their expectations of overflowing of the Chehalis River in Centralia and Grand Mound.

Heavy rains ended yesterday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.

Minor flooding of less than a foot above flood stage is forecast tonight in the Centralia area, which would cause shallow flooding of farmlands and some roads, the weather service reports.

Centralia city officials this morning continue to offer sandbags for residents at the 100 block of Center Street and 1227 Harrison Avenue. The Center Street location will shut down at 2 p.m.

No emergency shelters are open this morning in Centralia, according to the city. All city streets were passable just before 8 a.m.

Lewis County officials also continue to monitor the rivers and note there remains standing water over several roadways in the county.

Information from the river gauge at Mellen Street in Centralia is missing since about 8 o’clock this morning, but the county has someone going out to the river to find out why, Lewis County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Stacy Brown said just after noon time.

A wind advisory was issued this morning for the area, with the potential for winds of 20 mph to 30 mph and gusts up to 45 mph this afternoon.

Brown said the county emergency operations center has had no reports of people with water inside their homes, vehicles stranded or rescues; except the Pe Ell Fire Department helped a couple of people out of their residences yesterday on Red Hawk Lane, she said.

Information and warnings can be accessed at the weather service website. Current river levels and their forecast flood levels are updated regularly by the weather service.
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Links to the two web sites noted above can always be found on the right hand sidebar of Lewis County Sirens.com

Here they are again:

• National Weather Service – NWS Seattle, here

• National Weather Service: River levels (Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service), here

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

The city of Centralia declared a local emergency late this afternoon in light of the excessive rainfall.

“The rain is expected to continue for the next 36 hours, causing local rivers, creeks and streams to exceed flood stages,” a news release from the city states.

Sandbag stations opened up in Centralia.

The Chehalis River at Doty crested more than five feet over flood stage late this afternoon and is expected to reach flood stage in Centralia before noon tomorrow, according to the National Weather Service. Then the river would continue to rise.

The crest in Centralia predicted by 6 p.m. tomorrow would be more than four feet over flood stage, according to the weather service.

The weather services says swift water will cover some roads, and water can be expected to encroach upon the first floors of some homes and businesses.

The Newaukum River near Chehalis is reaching flood stage about now and forecast to crest before morning at about two feet over flood stage, according to readings from the weather service.

The flooding is not considered major, but not minor either.

The Lewis County Department of Emergency Management increased its activation level this afternoon in preparation.

“Citizens are advised to take precaution and leave any area with dangerous rising water, prior to needing to be physically rescued,” the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office stated late this afternoon.

Those in flood prone areas should move their animals before the levels become dangerous, the sheriff’s office advises.

State Route 6 is closed at White Road because of water over the roadway.

Deep and hazardous flood waters will inundate many roads, residential and commercial areas around the Newaukum, the weather service says.

Further cautions from the sheriff’s office: Motorists are advised not to drive through standing water. Six inches of water can sweep you off of your feet, twelve inches can sweep your car away.

The sheriff’s office advises residents to monitor local radio stations.

The weather service notes folks should be alert for rapid changes and monitor developments.

Information and warnings can be accessed at the weather service website. Current river levels and their forecast flood levels are updated regularly by the weather service.

In Centralia, sandbag stations were expected be operational by 5 p.m.; in the 100 block of Center Street (near the fire station) and at 1227 Harrison Avenue (Harrison Square Presbyterian Church).  The stations will not be manned full time but will be monitored for constant supply, according to the city.

The emergency shelter located at 416 N. Tower Avenue will be open and can accommodate up to 50 people for emergencies only, the news release notes.

The sheriff’s office notes rescue personnel are on call.

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Links to the two web sites noted above can always be found on the right hand sidebar of Lewis County Sirens.com

Here they are again:

• National Weather Service – NWS Seattle, here

• National Weather Service: River levels (Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service), here