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Whatcom County Declares Flood Emergency, Bellingham Flooded
Posted: 7:39 am PST January 7, 2009Updated: 7:24 pm PST January 7, 2009
BELLINGHAM, Wash. -- Police have closed numerous roads throughout Whatcom County and even some onramps to Interstate 5 are closed as well.Overnight Whatcom County officials declared a state of emergency because of urban, city and county wide flooding.
VIDEO: Urban Flooding Taking Over Whatcom County
VIDEO: Downtown Bellingham Dealing With Flooding A spokesman at the county's emergency operation center with Bellingham, city police Lt. Rick Sucee, said small creeks are now rivers and ditches are overflowing.Police are urging drivers not to go through streets where road closure signs are posted.The Whatcom County Emergency Operations Center is reporting numerous landslides have occurred on steep slopes in Whatcom County since Tuesday evening due to heavy rainfall on already saturated soil.Sucee said mudslides have hit at least three homes -- a couple in the Acme area where water has closed Highway 9. The Mount Baker Highway also is closed. There are no reports of injuries.The threat of such slides will persist throughout and following the present storm event.Persons who choose to remain in areas where steep slopes are present are advised to be aware of the possibility of dangerous landslides and debris flows, to be vigilant for signs of such landslides, and to take prompt action to protect their personal safety.The Whatcom County Humane Society, 733-2080 x3002, will provide "temporary housing" for small animals due to home evacuations. If you need assistance transporting animals to the shelter, call the Humane Society and ask for an animal control officer so the officer can make arrangements with you to pick up the animals and have them transported. The Bellingham school district even closed Wednesday so buses full of school children wouldn't have to travel over water covered roads.Meridian Street in downtown Bellingham looked like a fast moving river Wednesday than a main thorough-fare through town.Water was also up to the doors of businesses on Iowa Street, the city's auto row.Many residents found themselves using detours to get to their destinations.“I don't remember it ever being like this. I've been here all my life," said Bellingham resident Diana Conours. Conours tries to see the bright side."My front yard is a lake. I've got ducks floating around, water front property," Conours said.Emergency officials said they are used to flooding in the county, but definitely not in the city. County Executive Pete Kremmen declared the emergency Tuesday night to speed up emergency purchasing and government aid.
VIDEO: Urban Flooding Taking Over Whatcom CountyVIDEO: Downtown Bellingham Dealing With Flooding A spokesman at the county's emergency operation center with Bellingham, city police Lt. Rick Sucee, said small creeks are now rivers and ditches are overflowing.Police are urging drivers not to go through streets where road closure signs are posted.The Whatcom County Emergency Operations Center is reporting numerous landslides have occurred on steep slopes in Whatcom County since Tuesday evening due to heavy rainfall on already saturated soil.Sucee said mudslides have hit at least three homes -- a couple in the Acme area where water has closed Highway 9. The Mount Baker Highway also is closed. There are no reports of injuries.The threat of such slides will persist throughout and following the present storm event.Persons who choose to remain in areas where steep slopes are present are advised to be aware of the possibility of dangerous landslides and debris flows, to be vigilant for signs of such landslides, and to take prompt action to protect their personal safety.The Whatcom County Humane Society, 733-2080 x3002, will provide "temporary housing" for small animals due to home evacuations. If you need assistance transporting animals to the shelter, call the Humane Society and ask for an animal control officer so the officer can make arrangements with you to pick up the animals and have them transported. The Bellingham school district even closed Wednesday so buses full of school children wouldn't have to travel over water covered roads.Meridian Street in downtown Bellingham looked like a fast moving river Wednesday than a main thorough-fare through town.Water was also up to the doors of businesses on Iowa Street, the city's auto row.Many residents found themselves using detours to get to their destinations.“I don't remember it ever being like this. I've been here all my life," said Bellingham resident Diana Conours. Conours tries to see the bright side."My front yard is a lake. I've got ducks floating around, water front property," Conours said.Emergency officials said they are used to flooding in the county, but definitely not in the city. County Executive Pete Kremmen declared the emergency Tuesday night to speed up emergency purchasing and government aid. Copyright 2009 by KIROTV.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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