Authorities ordered at least 100,000 people to evacuate after historic storms dropped 13 to 16 inches of rain across parts of Washington state, sending four major rivers past record flood levels between Thursday and Friday. Streets became rivers, vehicles were submerged, homes flooded, and residents were rescued by boats and helicopters.
CBS News correspondent Carter Evans reported from Burlington, where officials issued a full evacuation notice and continued moving people out of the area. Many locals were caught off guard because the main rivers had already crested and were starting to fall, yet flooding kept worsening in some neighborhoods.
Emergency officials say the reason is backflow: even as the primary rivers begin to recede, their still‑elevated waters push back into smaller streams, tributaries and local drainage channels. That reversed or slowed drainage keeps water pooled in low-lying areas and residential streets, so flooding can continue long after the river crests.
In Mount Vernon, floodwalls along the Skagit River held, preventing the community from being inundated. Last night water rose up to the top of the barrier and seeped through weak points in places, but the structure held and spared homes behind it.
Local crews and emergency responders are continuing evacuations and rescues, moving residents to safer locations while assessing damage and monitoring water levels. Officials warn that even as major rivers fall, neighborhood flooding and hazards like unstable ground and downed power lines may persist, so affected residents should follow evacuation orders and safety guidance.