Dear friends and neighbors, 

The last week has been devastating for our communities as families have been displaced, roadways blocked, and homes flooded, but our neighbors have yet again shown their strength and come together to help each other out. 

Floodwaters have begun to recede in both the Skagit and Samish rivers, but challenges remain present throughout our region. Governor Inslee has issued disaster declarations for San Juan, Whatcom and Skagit counties. My office has been on the phone with local elected officials to ensure relief gets to those affected as quickly as possible. We are supporting our emergency responders and are already working to secure resources from all levels of government, especially for repairing, rebuilding and preventing future disasters. Be sure to document any damage, record actions you’ve taken, and save your receipts for expenses as that information may help you apply for local, state, and federal disaster aid. 

In the meantime, please continue to follow this guidance from our first responders: 

  • Call 911 for flood-related emergencies. Do not call 911 for non-emergencies. 
  • To report non-emergency flood impacts please leave a message at (360) 788-5311. 
  • To report non-emergency road impacts, call (360) 778-6400. 
  • DO NOT ignore road closure signs. Drivers have continued to ignore road-closed signs, cars have been stranded/stuck in floodwaters, and drivers have required rescue. This stretches the capacity of our first responders at a critical time. 
  • Public Works crews worked through the night to respond to flooded roads and must prioritize life and safety issues, including road closures. 
  • State highway roads and impacts are posted at this link. 
  • Find tips for safety and cleanup after a flood at this video playlist by the Emergency Management Division.   
  • Sand and sandbags are available at local fire stations and from local hardware stores. 
  • View the list of fire station sandbag locations. 
  • Stay off roadways and stay home if you can. 

We have a lot of work ahead of us to ensure we are better prepared for emergencies like this in the future. In the meantime, my thoughts are with each of our families and community members impacted by this disaster. Please continue to exercise caution while on the roads, and check in on your neighbors. 


Stay safe, 

Liz