Welcome to Skagit County
|
Date:
October 21, 2003 TRAFFIC CONGESTION IS HAMPERING EMERGENCY RESPONSE EFFORTS The Skagit County Sheriff's Office advises that traffic congestion along the I-5 corridor is causing emergency vehicles and heavy equipment to be delayed in responding to the flood. Officials are requesting all citizens not directly involved in the flood fight operation to go home and remain at home. Officials request that citizens refrain from attempting to drive near the river to observe the flood. Officials strongly recommend that businesses located in the Sedro-Woolley, Burlington and Mount Vernon area close as soon as possible and, if closing is not possible, release affected employees to go home. Other businesses located throughout the region are encouraged to release employees who live in or commute through Skagit County to return home as soon as possible. Officials are
now conducting or preparing to conduct precautionary evacuations of
many low-lying areas of the down-river portions of the Skagit River.
The American Red Cross is setting up additional shelters for those
who are displaced. The areas being evacuated and shelters for evacuees
include: Highway 20 will be closed from Gardner Road east past Collins Road. Burlington City Officials are advising residents of the Gages Slough area within the City Limits to prepare for possible evacuation. Early this afternoon Officials will make the evacuation decision and affected residents will be notified. Sandbagging volunteers are requested to report to the Clear Lake Fire Hall. The Skagit Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross is also seeking volunteers. Red Cross volunteers should report directly to the Chapter headquarters at 119 S. 14th Street in Mount Vernon. The Skagit crested at 42.2 feet at Concrete at 6:45 AM this morning and is slowly receding. At 1:00 PM today it was reading 37.69 feet. Flood stage at Concrete is 28 feet. The 1:00 AM gauge reading at Mount Vernon was 31.83 feet. The forecast crest for the Skagit in Mount Vernon from the National Weather Service is 38 feet at 9:00 PM this evening. Flood stage at Mount Vernon is 28 feet. City officials are planning to begin sandbagging of the downtown revetment, a paved parking facility adjacent to the river in downtown Mount Vernon, at 8:00 AM Tuesday morning. County officials
and work crews continue to monitor the situation closely and take
appropriate actions as necessary. Additional news releases will be
issued as new information warrants. For updated Skagit River information
call 419-3425 or visit www.skagitcounty.net on the web. |