Cleanup, assessing damage begins in Whatcom cities hit hard by flooding
Lummi Nation remained isolated by floodwaters in the Nooksack River delta early Friday, Nov. 17, as communities upstream in Everson, Nooksack and Sumas continued the Herculean task of removing waterlogged belongings and debris, assessing damage and planning repairs after a three-day Pineapple Express storm triggered widespread flooding across Western Washington and southwestern British Columbia.
One fatality was linked to the storm in Whatcom County. Jose Garcia of Everson was swept away by floodwaters on his way to work at a dairy farm early Monday, Nov. 15.
Rolling slowdowns on Interstate 5 through the Lake Samish area ended early Friday after cleanup and repairs were complete following several landslides, the Washington State Department of Transportation tweeted.
Disaster-aid organizations were arriving in hard-hit areas of Whatcom County, and state, county and local public works officials began assessing damage to public roads, buildings and other infrastructure.
“There are multiple volunteer groups who are beginning to arrive in Whatcom County, including Samaritan’s Purse, the Salvation Army, Team Rubicon (a disaster-aid group), and others to assist in cleanup,” the county said at its website.
“Our local industries, including BP Cherry Point and Phillips 66 Ferndale Refinery are providing direct support with personnel and equipment. Farmers Equipment has provided large farm tractors that were used to evacuate people from their homes in Sumas,” the county said at a website dedicated to flood-related information.
Whatcom County officials said they expect damages will total $7 million to $10 million.
Three-quarters of the homes and businesses in the border community suffered damage, and flooding was more widespread than what occurred in January-February 2020, Sumas Mayor Kyle Christensen said.
Gov. Jay Inslee, who visited Everson on Wednesday, Nov. 17, and talked with residents who suffered losses, promised federal aid to repair and rebuild, along with funds to fight climate change, which is fueling severe weather incidents like floods and heatwaves.
An American Red Cross shelter was established at the Northwest Washington Fairgrounds in Lynden.
Inslee amended his severe weather emergency proclamation late Friday to allow the Department of Social and Health Services to make emergency cash assistance available in affected areas, according to a statement from his office.
His emergency order also temporarily waives restrictions on truck driver hours because of fears that farmers with as many as 60,000 dairy cows might not receive grain and feed supplies.
The DSHS cash assistance program is effective Monday, Nov. 22. The truck driver hours waiver is effective immediately.
Weather forecast
Water levels in rivers and streams across Whatcom County continued to decline Friday, even as a quarter-inch of rain fell at Bellingham International Airport in an afternoon downpour Thursday, Nov. 18.
Clear skies were forecast Friday, but clouds were in store for the weekend, with a 30% chance of rain Saturday.
About 4 inches of snow fell at Mt. Baker Ski Area and a Thanksgiving opening was possible, according to its website.
Schools
Classes were canceled for Friday, Nov. 19, in the Mount Baker and Nooksack Valley school districts.
Road status
Slater Road was open and Haxton Way opened at 10 a.m. Friday, the Whatcom County Public Works Department said at its website.
“Haxton Road is open with signage warning drivers there is still some water on the roadway. Please drive slowly to avoid hydroplaning in any remaining water,” public works said.
Dozens of roads remained closed because of standing water, flood debris or damage, according to the Whatcom County Public Works website.
Highway 9 remained closed in several places from Nugent’s Corner north, and the U.S.-Canada border was impassable at Sumas.
Bellingham Public Works officials closed three bridges, at Meador and James streets downtown and Rainier at 17th Street in Fairhaven, after inspections were complete, the city said in a statement late Friday.
Rail traffic between the U.S. and Canada remained blocked in Sumas after a BNSF train carrying unmilled timber and other freight derailed as tracks were undermined by floodwaters.
BNSF has not responded to requests for information about the incident.
Spokespersons for the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Railroad Administration told The Bellingham Herald that their agencies were not investigating.
BNSF is required to file a report, the Federal Railroad Administration said.
Damage assessment
Estimates of damages suffered by homeowners, businesses and government will be combined to seek federal disaster aid, which must meet certain financial criteria.
Flood damage reports were being solicited by Whatcom County and the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office at their websites and on Facebook page.
“Do you have flood damage? Did you experience impacts from the flood? Report your impacts to 360-788-5311. Leave a message with a description of the damage, your name, and phone number.”
Residents were urged to save receipts for flood-related expenses and document damages with photographs.
Cleanup begins
Volunteer cleanup efforts for Everson-Nooksack and Sumas were scheduled at 8 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 20, at the Everson Shopping Center, 200 E. Main St. and at the corner of Cherry Street and Sumas Avenue in Sumas.
Red Cross officials said in an email that they will provide clean-up supplies such as a mop, broom, bucket, scrub brush, bleach, and gloves at those two sites.
“The health department is deeply appreciative of the many community partners, local businesses, and individuals who have generously come forward to feed and shelter our neighbors as they cope with this week’s floods,” Whatcom County Health Department spokesperson Melissa Morin wrote The Herald in an email. “We’ve provided masks, hand sanitizer, and rapid tests to some shelters and are working to connect with more. We understand that their top priorities are helping to meet the immediate needs for food and shelter in this time of crisis and stress. We encourage people to take COVID precautions as they are able.”
“(Thursday) was productive in many ways,” Everson Mayor John Perry wrote on Facebook. “As a team, we were able to take some time to sit down and evaluate where we were at, and what our next steps are. Multiple organizations are working together to develop a central hub for serving the needs of the victims of the flood.”
In Sumas, work crews were going house to house to offer help clearing debris and making damage estimates, Sumas Mayor Kyle Christensen said on the city’s Facebook page.
“(Friday and Saturday) we have a huge work crew coming. In order for us to enter your homes, you need to walk through the process with your insurance company first,” he said. “You need to take pictures first. Once you have approval, we can come inside your home and help with demolition. If you have items at the curb they will be picked up today. If you don’t want them picked up please mark them in some fashion. If you need help inside your home we will not enter without you there. You must be present.”
Dumpsters were placed around the city for debris collection.
Emotional needs
Volunteers were arriving Friday and a command post was established at Cherry Street and Sumas Avenue, Christensen told The Bellingham Herald.
“We’ve started to get some boots on the ground. We’re getting a lot accomplished. We’re astonished and people feel blessed. Every day, you see people stepping up,” Christensen said.
Those who suffered flood losses need another kind of help, too.
“I’ve been saying to the volunteers, take 30 seconds or a minute just to talk to the people who’ve been affected,” Christensen said. “Talk to them, give them a hug.”
Community resources
In Bellingham, the Opportunity Council established a page at its website as a clearinghouse for assistance.
“While we don’t yet know the full extent of the devastation, we know our hearts break for our friends, families, colleagues, neighbors, and community as a whole. Our spirits are buoyed by the efforts of so many of our partners and dedicated community members as they work to respond quickly and effectively in these initial recovery stages,” the Opportunity Council said.
A database of resources, including information about low-interest loans and how to replace lost documents, was posted at the Whatcom County Library System website.
Homeless services
Many of Bellingham’s unsheltered homeless residents were missing after a week of rain, including the storm that brought flooding, said homeless advocate Melissa Gragg Wisener of Serenity Outreach Services.
“We’re not just displaced homeowners and renters, but a lot of the city’s homeless population is displaced and missing right now,” she said on the group’s Facebook page, SOS Bellingham.
About a dozen people who had been living outside sought room at Base Camp and its overflow shelter on Holly Street during the storm, said Hans Erschinger-Davis, CEO of Lighthouse Mission Ministries.
He told The Herald in a text message that the mission’s Street Outreach team told him that “it was quite an intense few days” as seemingly endless rain poured from the sky.
“With the amount of rain we had, everyone’s tents and campsites were saturated and most tents were blown over with tarps scattered all over the place,” but that people were otherwise in good spirits, Erschinger-Davis said the outreach team told him.
“It’s continuing to be a rougher time, especially if you get colder weather after a rain dump like that,” Erschinger-Davis told The Herald.
How to help
Donations to help those affected by flooding are being accepted through Whatcom Community Foundation’s Resilience Fund. A local donor and Puget Sound Energy have made matching funds available so donations this week are matched dollar for dollar, up to a combined total of $115,000. To contribute to the Resilience Fund, go online to https://bit.ly/3Ck86JW.
The county Friday evening announced stations are being set up to accept and distribute donations and register volunteers to help with clean up. They’re at Advent Christian Church 125 Front Street, Sumas, and the west end of the shopping center at 200 E. Main Street, Everson.
Sumas is well stocked with donations (but still needs toilet paper), but Everson/Nooksack need clothing from baby to adult sizes, toys, blankets and bedding, diapers, formula, mops and toilet paper. Gift card donations for hardware stores and grocery stores will also be accepted.
This story was originally published November 19, 2021 at 8:35 AM with the headline "Cleanup, assessing damage begins in Whatcom cities hit hard by flooding."
