Oregon Public Broadcasting

The National Weather Service is forecasting “near record” flooding on numerous Western Washington rivers. 

Muddy waters are spilling over riverbanks from the Canadian border to the Willamette Valley.  The Chehalis River Valley was especially hard hit by flooding a year ago. 

Correspondent Tom Banse found residents there are feeling better prepared for another go around now.

Camille Haskins and her husband haven’t quite finished repairs to their two story farmhouse from last year’s flood. 

Now the Chehalis River in rural southwest Washington is putting their land underwater again.  Family and friends came through the driving rain to help gather anything that could float away.

Camille Haskins: “It all sets in when you kind of stop and think about it.  So it’s tough, yeah.”

The Haskins have elevated their entire house by three feet since the last flood.

Camille Haskins: “We’ve done a lot of prevention with the driveway, diking, and the house raising, and that.  We feel pretty comfortable.”

Residents in this valley are grateful they had more time to prepare for the rising waters.  But I also heard weariness from neighbors who see major floods along this river more often these days.

Northwest river forecasts