Welcome to Skagit County

News Release Number: 15
Date: October 21, 2003
Time: 5:30 PM

SKAGIT RIVER NOW FORECAST TO CREST AT 11:00 PM IN MOUNT VERNON

The National Weather Service now forecasts the Skagit River to crest at 38 feet in Mount Vernon at 11:00 PM tonight. The river stage in Mount Vernon at 5:00 PM was 34.29 feet.
The Skagit crested at 42.2 feet at Concrete at 6:45 AM this morning and is slowly receding. At 5:00 PM today it was reading 35.05 feet. Flood stage at both Concrete and Mount Vernon is 28 feet.

The US Army Corps of Engineers now advises that the South Fork Bridge over the Skagit River will be closed from approximately 7:00 PM this evening to 5:30 AM tomorrow morning. One lane will periodically be open for a short time. The purpose of the closure is to remove an extensive debris jam from the bridge.

Officials are now conducting or preparing to conduct precautionary and mandatory evacuations of many low-lying areas in the Sedro-Woolley, Burlington and Mount Vernon areas, as well as Fir Island. The American Red Cross is or already has established shelters at the following locations for those who are displaced:
- Hamilton 1st Baptist Church
- Grassmere Fire Station
- Marblemount Community Center (after 6:40 PM)
- Clearlake Community Covenant Church
- Conway Elementary School
- Skagit Valley College
- Sedro-Woolley High School
- Mount Vernon High School
- Bay View Elementary School
- Rexville Grange.

Note that one site earlier listed, Allen School, is not open as a shelter.

County and other 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, visit www.skagitcounty.net on the web or listen to local radio stations.