MOUNT VERNON, Wash.
Thousands of residents were forced to evacuate their homes, entire neighborhoods were left in ruins, and the region faced widespread damage. For many in western Washington, this past week has been a deeply emotional and challenging time.
On Saturday, Governor Bob Ferguson, Senator Patty Murray, and Senator Maria Cantwell visited Mount Vernon to assess the impact of the historic floods. The group met with Mayor Peter Donovan to inspect one of the areas affected by the flooding and to evaluate how the local flood wall performed during the crisis.
Mayor Donovan reflected on the week as a period marked by contrasting experiences. He highlighted the shift from the intense anxiety felt earlier in the week to the sense of relief that came with the calmer conditions on Saturday.
“What a contrast this feeling of a little bit of relief is compared to the anxiety we felt Tuesday night when we received those early river predictions,” Donovan said to the media.
He also pointed out how the preparations for the flood have evolved over time, thanks in large part to the construction of the flood wall in Mount Vernon.
“The wall behind us has changed everything,” Donovan stated. He explained that the wall protected 225 buildings in the downtown area, lifting them out of the FEMA 100-year flood plain. “Downtown Mount Vernon stayed dry this week, but more importantly, downtown residents were saved again,” he added.
The visit was especially meaningful for Senator Murray, who had played a key role in securing funding for the flood wall project. She shared her own experience from 20 years ago, when she was knee-deep in water during a severe flood in the same area.
“To now come back and see the businesses I saw, with business owners crying because they lost so much merchandise, are now safe—this investment in the wall really made a difference in this community,” Murray said. She emphasized that preventive infrastructure can make a significant impact on protecting communities from future disasters.
Despite the progress, the situation remains uncertain, as more rain is expected to test the flood wall and the region’s resilience.
Washington rescues in flood waters
As of Saturday morning, there have been 250 emergency rescues across the state, according to Governor Ferguson. Fortunately, no major injuries or fatalities have been reported so far.
“I think our prayers have certainly been answered. So far, remarkably, we have no reports of deaths that have come into the state,” Ferguson said. He expressed deep gratitude to the first responders and vowed to support those facing difficult times ahead.
“The coming weeks will be tremendously stressful for so many Washingtonians,” he said. “You’ve seen the videos—homes literally floating down the river. I don’t have words for someone going through that, and it’s just one of thousands of situations.”
Senator Murray echoed these concerns, adding, “As great as this sunny day is, some of the hardest times are still coming.”
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