Tens of thousands of Washington residents face evacuation orders as catastrophic flooding ravages the state, exposing decades of infrastructure neglect and questionable disaster preparedness under previous administrations.
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Story Overview
- Over 78,000 residents ordered to evacuate Skagit River floodplain amid historic flooding
- Governor Ferguson declares a statewide emergency with 18 major floods forecast across Washington
- Families were devastated as homes were destroyed, including the family of a cancer patient who lost everything
- Infrastructure failures force road closures on major highways and suspend Amtrak service
Historic Flooding Forces Mass Evacuations
Washington Governor Bob Ferguson declared a statewide emergency as unprecedented flooding forces tens of thousands from their homes across the state. The Skagit County evacuation order affects 78,000 residents living within the river’s floodplain, representing one of the largest emergency relocations in recent state history.
Ferguson warned that “lives will be at stake in the coming days” as the National Water Prediction Service forecasts 18 major floods and 15 moderate floods statewide. This crisis highlights the vulnerability of communities that have relied on aging infrastructure and inadequate flood management systems for decades.
Washington State. My state. Horrible flooding along the I-90. West side. 😶🌺 pic.twitter.com/Tz1W1EVZOG
— Sherry🌺 (@SHERRYSLANE) December 11, 2025
Infrastructure Crumbles Under Natural Pressure
Critical transportation networks collapsed as floodwaters overwhelmed state infrastructure. Interstate 90 east of Seattle remains blocked by landslides, trapping vehicles under tree trunks, branches, and mud. Highway officials closed mountainous sections of U.S. Route 2 due to rocks, trees, and debris.
Amtrak suspended train service between Seattle and Vancouver, stranding travelers during the holiday season. Over 11,000 customers lost electricity by Thursday night, underscoring the power grid’s fragility. These failures underscore the consequences of prioritizing progressive social programs over essential infrastructure maintenance and disaster preparedness.
Families Bear the Cost of Poor Planning
The human toll reveals the devastating impact on hardworking families struggling through personal crises. Seven-year-old Jocelyn Rosas returned to find her mobile home underwater in Monroe, left with only her pajamas after her family relocated just two months ago to save money for her mother’s cancer treatment.
Pierce County officials conducted more than 25 water rescues, including helping residents wade through waist-deep water at RV parks. The Skykomish River crested at 24 feet, reaching its highest level since 2006 and nine feet above flood stage.
These stories demonstrate how government failure to prepare for natural disasters adequately disproportionately harms vulnerable families who can least afford such losses.
Weather Patterns Demand Better Preparedness
Meteorologists describe an atmospheric river as “a jet stream of moisture” stretching across the Pacific Ocean, delivering up to 6 inches of rain in 24 hours to Washington’s Cascade Mountains.
The Snoqualmie Pass area received an additional 1.7 inches in just six hours on Thursday. Weather forecasters predict another storm system will bring more rain starting Sunday, with unsettled patterns continuing through the holidays.
Mount Vernon faces a projected 39-foot river crest, which would constitute a record flood despite being lower than initial estimates. This pattern of extreme weather events demands robust infrastructure investment and emergency preparedness rather than the climate change virtue signaling that has dominated previous policy discussions.
