Whatcom official says no immediate threat to Sumas from Canadian floodwaters
Damage from the flooding across Whatcom County in the wake of a three-day Pineapple Express storm could reach $7 million to $10 million, officials said at a press conference Tuesday afternoon, Nov. 16.
One man is missing after the atmospheric river that hit Western Washington, dumping a month’s worth of rain in less than 72 hours and pushing the Nooksack River over its banks from Acme in the South Fork Valley to the delta community of Marietta.
But no other injuries or deaths were blamed on the storm, officials said Tuesday. Bellingham Police still haven’t said if weather was a factor in a crash that killed two people Sunday night at the height of the storm.
In Abbotsford, B.C., across the border from Sumas, an evacuation order was issued for low-lying regions around the ranching enclave of Sumas Prairie because a station that was keeping water at bay could be overwhelmed by floodwaters, according to the Vancouver Sun and other published reports.
John Gargett, deputy director of the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office Division of Emergency Management, told The Bellingham Herald on Wednesday morning, Nov. 17, that Sumas and surrounding areas aren’t in any immediate threat from floodwaters in Canada.
U.S. officials have been closely monitoring the situation, he said.
“It should not affect Sumas or if it did it would take days to do so,” Gargett said. “Throughout the night, Sumas Police monitored the water levels in Sumas and they continue to slowly recede.”
Sumas Mayor Kyle Christensen said on the city’s Facebook page that early discussions with Everson Mayor John Perry and others indicate that flooding in Sumas Prairie, B.C., will not affect Sumas and Everson.
Nevertheless, some area residents wrote warnings on social media that they were fleeing as fast as they could after Canadian reports of imminent flooding.
Christensen used Facebook to persuade Sumas residents not to panic.
“No impacts would be possible to Everson and Nooksack and any felt in Sumas would be minor compared to what we all just got over the past 24 hours. There is no need for evacuations at this point and there will be plenty of warning if it is needed in the upcoming days,” he said.
It’s actually water from the Nooksack River that’s threatening British Columbia, Abbotsford, B.C., Mayor Henry Braun said in an online press conference early Wednesday.
A dam to protect the Barrowtown pump station was built hastily overnight and floodwaters were receding slowly, he said.
“The weather is helping us. (The Fraser River) needs to drop another (3 feet) before we open the floodgates at Barrowtown. If that happens, it will relieve the pressure at the pump station,” he said.
“At the moment, I feel much better today than I did last night. We’re not out of this yet. The Nooksack is still pouring across the border,” Braun said.
Rescues, roads closed
Northbound Interstate 5 south of Bellingham reopened Tuesday evening after landslides were cleared, but dozens of roads across the county remained closed because of landslides, water damage or standing water.
Law-enforcement officials and others warned against driving around barricades, because police and firefighters have rescued more than 100 people who ignored warnings and were stuck or swept away by raging water.
“A lot of energy has been wasted rescuing people who go past the signs,” said Whatcom County Executive Satpal Sidhu.
Clear skies were forecast for Wednesday, Nov. 17, but overnight temperatures near freezing raised the threat of freezing fog and black ice on roadways for the morning commute.
A 9-foot high tide in Bellingham Bay was keeping floodwaters from ebbing in Ferndale and downstream in Marietta late Tuesday, even as the Nooksack River eased slowly into its banks in Everson, Nooksack and Sumas, where hundreds of homes and businesses were flooded.
But officials were hopeful that a low tide overnight would drain the last of the deluge, which forced more than 500 people from their homes and closed hundreds of roads countywide.
A voluntary evacuation order was canceled early Wednesday for areas around downtown Ferndale, where the Nooksack River dropped just below moderate flood stage to 18.7 feet at 5 a.m., according to data from NOAA’s Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service.
“There are no evacuation notices still in effect within the city of Ferndale,” city officials said on Facebook.
“As Ferndale always does when there is a need, our community rose to the challenge in this flood fight. ‘Ferndale Pride’ was on full display yesterday,” Mayor Greg Hansen said.
“(Ferndale) and other agencies are in the process of determining the extent of damage caused by the event and will be assessing the condition of roads and other infrastructure in the days to follow,” the city said.
City Hall was open.
“We’re hoping by (Wednesday) we’ll have the river close to within its banks and we’ll begin the cleanup,” Gargett said at Tuesday’s press conference.
Nooksack waters crested Tuesday in Ferndale at 23.76 feet, in the major flood stage level.
River waters dropped below “action stage” at NOAA gages in Everson and near Nugents Corner.
“We’re a strong and resilient community and we’ve seen the best come out during this event,” Gargett said.
A Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office statement Tuesday evening said water levels were receding throughout the county.
About 300 people were being housed at shelters at North County Christ and King and Sonlight Community Church in Lynden.
Sheriff’s deputies and search and volunteers worked throughout the night Monday, Nov. 15, and continued their efforts Tuesday, responding to about 100 rescue calls.
Efforts to find Jose Garcia of Everson, who has been missing since Monday morning, were suspended Tuesday evening but would resume in the morning, the news release stated. Search and rescue deputies, Everson Police officers, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection helicopter, search dogs, several drones and volunteers from Summit to Sound Search and Rescue and Whatcom County 4x4 Unit have been involved in the search.
The county also noted that temperatures are expected to fall overnight and frost is expected: “Whatcom County Public Works crews will be sanding roads early Wednesday morning. Drivers should use caution during the morning commute.”
Disaster assistance
Sidhu promised help from the county as the cleanup begins, and he asked for everyone’s patience.
“It will be a couple of days before we’ve totally assessed all the damage,” he said at the afternoon press conference.
Flood damages can be reported on a hotline at 360-788-5311.
Those who experience losses should keep receipts and take photos of the damage for later reimbursement.
Gov. Jay Inslee, who issued a disaster declaration for Whatcom County and 13 others that bore the full force of the storm, was scheduled to visit affected areas Wednesday, Nov. 17.
Whatcom County Sheriff Bill Elfo also asked for patience and cooperation as damage assessment and recovery begins.
“We’ve experienced a historically devastating flood,” Elfo said. “Our first priority was getting people out of precarious positions. I think everyone’s performance was magnificent. We’ve got a long road ahead of us.”
Some schools still closed
Schools were closed in districts countywide on Monday and Tuesday.
Classes were canceled for Wednesday in the Ferndale, Nooksack Valley and Mount Baker districts, home to hard-hit areas.
Bellingham, Lynden and Blaine schools were open Wednesday, and Meridian schools planned to open two hours late with no morning preschool.
Northwest Indian College’s Lummi campus will be closed Wednesday.
Sumas update
Only scattered power outages were reported around Whatcom County on Wednesday morning,
Power was back in Sumas on Tuesday evening, according to the Puget Sound Energy outage map.
Water levels were decreasing, but some areas of town were still inaccessible because of high water, Christensen wrote on the city’s Facebook page about 5 p.m. Tuesday.
He posted this reminder for residents returning home:
“We want to remind everyone about some things to consider when you return to your home after a flood. With the power being back on now, make sure you do not have any electrical outlets, appliances or equipment submerged in water. If so, turn off the breakers to them for your safety. Make sure your heating ducts are not full of water before you turn on the heat. They might need to be drained to avoid any mold or mildew getting in your heating system. Dispose of any food in your refrigerators, freezers or cupboards that is spoiled and damaged. For your insurance needs please remember to take lots of pictures of the damage you sustained.”
This story was originally published November 16, 2021 at 5:39 PM.
