Flooding closes Interstate 5, isolates some communities

Rising floodwaters from severe storms shut down Interstate 5 in Lewis County until at least Thursday*, disrupting traffic on the Northwest's major north-south route and sending travelers on a detour across the Cascades.

(* While the original version of this story indicated that I-5 in Lewis County would be closed until at least Wednesday, Jamie Swift, spokesman for the state Department of Transportation said today that the closure would last until at least Thursday.)

Crews in Lewis County rescued trapped residents from their homes by boat and helicopter.

In Grays Harbor County, two people died in storm-related accidents, much of the county was without power and virtually all roads to coastal communities were cut off. Winds gusted to 81 mph in Hoquiam early Monday.

Gov. Chris Gregoire declared a state of emergency, and the Army National Guard prepared to activate up to 300 troops by early today to help the State Patrol manage traffic problems caused by the severe weather.

The record rain and wind that churned through western Washington on Sunday and Monday created other problems as well:

• Raw sewage spilled into Budd Inlet when stormwater overwhelmed the sewage treatment plant in Olympia.

• About 250 people in the Cedar Flats area of Thurston County were stranded after a bridge washed out.

• Standing water blocked Cooper Point Road in the major commercial district on Olympia's west side, closing stores and snarling traffic.

• The Deschutes River was expected to crest late Monday night at 14.7 feet. Flood stage is 11 feet. Flooding was expected in the Tumwater Valley, including the golf course, along with some residential areas.

• Flooding closed state Route 8 in both directions in Thurston County, and a mudslide took out a popular barbecue restaurant.

• U.S. Highway 101 was closed for much of the day; it was partially reopened Monday night.

• Amtrak passenger service was halted between Portland and Vancouver, British Columbia.

• Emergencies were declared in numerous cities, including Olympia and Shelton, and shelters were set up all over Lewis County and in Rochester.

What's next

The situation should improve starting today as powerful winds subside.

Showers were expected to continue through tonight, but forecasters predicted partly cloudy skies Wednesday and Thursday.

Regionally, about 80,000 people were without power, Gregoire said.

I-5 closure

Water was expected to be five feet deep over the freeway by 10 a.m. today, when the Chehalis River in Lewis County was expected to crest, state Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond said Monday.

The freeway was closed in both directions between mileposts 68 (south of Chehalis) and 88 (Grand Mound) Monday night. It's the first such closure of the interstate in both directions since severe flooding in 1996, when I-5 was closed for four days, Hammond said.

Traffic from the south is being directed over U.S. Highway 12 to Eastern Washington, north on U.S. Highway 97 and west on Interstate 90 to Seattle — and vice versa.

"What we're asking folks is please don't take that trip if you don't have to. We don't know how long this flood will last," Hammond said.

Lewis County

Gregoire said 75 people had been evacuated in Lewis County, and another 75 were in need of help west of Chehalis. Rescuers pulled about 60 people out by boat and 15 more by air, she said.

Lewis County residents who live near rivers or large bodies of water were asked to evacuate. Record flooding was expected for the Chehalis River at 74.7 feet around 10 a.m. today.

Emergency shelters were being set up in Packwood, Randle and Chehalis. Shelters also opened at Boistfort Lions Club, Winlock Community Center and Vader Lions Club. The Red Cross set up shelters in Centralia at The Salvation Army, Centralia Middle School and Edison Elementary School.

The Meskil Bridge, between River and Leudinghouse roads, was reported to be washed out, as well as the bridge at state Route 6 and Chandler Road. The Newuakum River broke through its dike and flooded Burger King and McDonald's at Exit 72 of I-5 and Rush Road with 4 feet of water.

Flood warnings

The heavy rains pushed the Skokomish River in Mason County nearly 2 feet above flood stage Monday, triggering near-record flooding throughout the Skokomish Valley, National Weather Service reported.

A flood warning was in effect for the Nisqually River in Lewis and Pierce counties.

Shelton

The city declared an emergency Monday.

Several mobile homes at 1313 W. Cota St. were evacuated because of a mudslide. Some city streets were closed because of high water.

Residents were asked to avoid Kneeland Park because of floodwaters with a backup of raw sewage.

Mason County

Electricity was restored to nearly 12,000 customers affected by the storm. About 2,500 Mason County PUD 3 customers remained without power Monday night. Those customers were expected to have power sometime today.

Thurston County

Thurston County's Emergency Operations Center was activated Monday.

Don Krupp, chief administrative officer, said firefighters from McLane Fire and Life Safety had started sandbagging.

"Residents of the Upper Delphi are stranded due to flooding in the Lower Delphi area," Krupp said.

Capitol Campus

The bottom parking level at the state Natural Resources Building was flooded with a foot of water Monday. Parking customers were asked to go elsewhere while grounds crews pumped out the water.

Several small leaks were reported in campus buildings, including the fourth floors of the Legislative and Insurance buildings, according to the state Department of General Administration.

West Olympia flooding

At least six vehicles were stranded Monday in standing water up to 3 feet deep near the intersection of Black Lake Boulevard and Cooper Point Road, Olympia police said.

Cooper Point Road was closed between Capital Mall Drive and Black Lake Boulevard most of the day, Olympia police Sgt. Aaron Jelcick said.

Olympia Mayor Mark Foutch declared a state of emergency because of localized flooding and potential damage to city infrastructure from the rain and windstorm, a city news release said.

BPA crews

Crews from Bonneville Power Administration worked to repair high voltage transmission lines along the Oregon and Washington coasts.

Lines from south of Tillamook, Ore., to Port Angeles were damaged, a BPA news release says.

Several subgrid transmission lines along the coast were out, affecting numerous public utility districts and communities, including Grays Harbor County PUD.

Olympian reporters Christian Hill, Brad Shannon, Steve Powell, April Chan, Adam Wilson, Jeremy Pawloski, John Dodge, Matt Batcheldor and Keri Brenner contributed to this report, as did The Associated Press.