Wikipedia

Flood history in Chehalis, Washington

The city of Chehalis is located in Washington state and rests upon the Chehalis River. Due to the city's location in the Chehalis Valley along with the nearby confluences of the Newaukum River south of Chehalis and the Skookumchuck River in neighboring Centralia, the community has suffered from numerous floods. Some floods have occurred resulting from overflows of creeks and minor tributaries in the Chehalis river basin, and severe cresting of the Cowlitz River has occasionally led to flooding in the Chehalis area.

Flooding in Chehalis, Washington
Floodwaters over Interstate 5, Great Costal Gale of 2007
GenreNatural disaster
FrequencyMultiple events per decade
Location(s)Chehalis, Washington
Coordinates46°39′36″N 122°57′48″W / 46.66000°N 122.96333°W / 46.66000; -122.96333
Most recentDecember 2023; 11 months ago (2023-12)

The flood stage levels of the Chehalis, Newaukum, and Skookumchuck have fluctuated upwards historically, based on the height of dikes, levees, and floodplain surveys. Water inundation from heavy rains and excessive snowmelt has led to a considerable number of historic flooding events in the twin cities of Centralia and Chehalis.

Accounts of floods are traced as far back as early Native American settlement and since the beginnings of the city of Chehalis. Most floods occur between November and February, with only one minor event, in April 1991, occurring after March. The 20th century recorded over two dozen notable flooding events in and around the Chehalis community.

Flood causes

edit
 
Watershed of the Chehalis River, including mountainous regions upstream of the city.

Due to the flat topography of the Chehalis River watershed in the city, and a clay stratum under a thin layer of river soil, excess water is difficult to shed off the land or absorb into the ground.[1] Successive floods can add 1 to 4 in (2.5 to 10.2 cm) of additional sediment, further limiting how much water can enter the ground in future floods.[2] The rate of fall of the Chehalis River in the Twin Cities drops from a maximum 40 feet (12.2 m) per mile in the Willapa Hills down to approximately 3 feet (0.9 m) per mile.[3]

As of 2024, the flood stage for the Chehalis is set at 65 feet (19.8 m), the Newaukum River at 10.5 feet (3.2 m), and the Skookumchuck's mark at 85 feet (25.9 m). A water flow between 38,800 to 75,099 cu ft (1,098.7 to 2,126.6 m3) per second is a marker for a major flood event on the Chehalis compared to an average annual maximum of 20,000 cu ft (570 m3) per second.[3][4] Combined with the conjunction of the Skookumchuck and Newaukum rivers, the Chehalis Valley gathers floodwaters similar to a lake.[5] Approximately 70% of the city limits of Chehalis is situated in the floodplain.[6]

 
A clearcut hillside near Chehalis in 1908.

Human activities, such as upstream logging in the Chehalis River basin, have caused floods to become more severe. Clearcut logging has resulted in numerous landslides containing logs, mud, and silt that lead to congested areas, log jams, and large amounts of debris in area waterways. An increase in floodplain development and the use of fill has also been cited as a major cause to the augmented intensity of floods in the late-20th and early-21st centuries.[1][6] Local government and city officials have stated that due to the large footprint of the Chehalis floodplain, fill and development have little to no effect on the severity of floods.[7]

The risk of flooding at a level that used to constitute a 100-year flood, meaning there was a 1% chance of it occurring in any year, had increased by 33% between the 1980s and 2010s.[8] In addition to logging and development, climate change plays a role in increasing flood risk by delivering more precipitation to upstream areas.[9] Estimations from a 2022 climate study group that included the Office of the Chehalis Basin and the University of Washington show the Chehalis River and the surrounding watershed can be expected to experience 14 major floods every century due to a warming climate, the expectations were more than doubled, reaching a rate of 45 floods per 100 years by the mid-to-late 21st century.[3]

Native American flood history

edit

Historical accounts and spiritual lessons passed down through the history of Native American people living in and around the Chehalis River tell of major floods in the basin. Chronicles of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe speak of floods that reached the pinnacle of Mount St. Helens leading to the beginnings of the tribe. The Chehalis people have traditional stories of floods that led to the transformation of humans and animals and how they interacted between one another and their habitat.[10]

Flood events in the 19th century

edit

One of the first non-Native visitors to the area, botanist David Douglas, recorded several floods and highwater troubles during an expedition in 1825. Early settlers in the 1850s reported consistent flooding between the Skookumchuck and the Saundersville settlement, eventually known as the city of Chehalis. The area was considered at times to be a 4-mile (6.4 km)-wide lake, and the site of the future fairgrounds was known as "Wet Prairie".[11]

Local residents also reported high floodwaters occurring often during the 1860s, including in the winter of 1865.[12]: 45  A floodwater occurrence that affected the city and the Chehalis Valley, known locally as the great flood of 1867, involved the overflow of the Cowlitz River.[13] The first bridge constructed over the Chehalis River was washed away by a log jam during a flood in 1882; the passage was rebuilt the next year.[12]: 21 

At the advent of newspapers in Chehalis, two significant floods were recorded. A flood in December 1887 was stated to have been due in part to heavy rains after a dry summer. Two Chehalis residents died and some local areas were underwater by as much as 6 feet (1.8 m). River traffic, sawmill operations, and railroads were delayed. Two back-to-back minor floods occurred in December 1897, severely damaging nearby bridges, including a railroad bridge in Claquato.[10] Between the Twin Cities, the pair of events washed out a plank road and covered the Northern Pacific rail line in 2 feet (0.6 m) of water.[14][15] The second flood was caused by a combination of 14 inches (36 cm) of rain over a four-day period and melting snow.[16]

Flood events from 1900 to 1949

edit

1900s

edit
 
Floodwaters near the Burlington Northern Depot, Chehalis

The city was cut off and lost electricity during a flood in January 1903, caused by heavy rain and snowmelt; the flood mark was 4 inches (10 cm) below the 1897 events.[17] A large episode of rising waters, given the name the Schoumacher Flood after a man who was stranded for threes days,[18] occurred in 1906 as the Cowlitz River affected the area, again cutting off the city. Mail and railroad service were suspended for days and the flood of the Cowlitz considered worse than the 1867 flood.[19][13]

Factory areas and parts of the Pennsylvania Avenue-West Side Historic District suffered flooding in January 1909 after continuous rain and snowmelt caused the Chehalis to rise 19 feet (5.8 m) above its low water mark; residents could only move about by boat.[20] A record-setting event followed that November and was due to the excess rise of the Chehalis and Newaukum rivers which led to landslides, the inundation of the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds, and caused significant economic losses to lumber milling in the city.[10][18][12]: 55 

1910s

edit
 
The Skookumchuck River at Bucoda upstream of Chehalis.

A year later in November 1910 a flood similar to the 1909 event was significant enough to come close to breaking the new records. Again due to heavy rains and the overflow of both rivers, the waters also inundated the fairgrounds where the local rail tracks were covered and a small mudslide occurred. The event shut down gas service to the city for a small time.[21] A minor flood in early January 1914, due to continuous rainfall, caused the outage of the Twin City Railroad between Centralia and Chehalis.[22]

In December 1915, the city was hit by a flood from a storm reported by the Chehalis Bee-Nugget newspaper as the "Worst in City’s History".[10] The Chehalis and Skookumchuck rivers overflowed and additional rain a few days later caused the banks of the Cowlitz River to be overwhelmed. Damages were reported as limited with no loss of life, but a backup of sewer lines affected parts of the city. The Twin City Railroad could not operate. Similar to other past floods, mills and factories were closed, rail lines were inoperable, and the fairgrounds were covered in water.[12]: 55 [23] A new road between the Twin Cities was covered in 2 feet (0.6 m) of water, mudslides were reported in the area, and electricity had to supplanted by the local steam plant as larger power operators in the region were forced to shut down.[24]

Four years later, in January 1919, a deluge was declared by the Centralia Daily Chronicle as, "Present Flood Probably Worst in City’s History". The three major rivers in the area overflowed with landslides disconnecting travel, communities, and electricity in the area.[10][12]: 55  The elementary and high school were briefly closed. The flood was mentioned in regional newspaper accounts to have broken the record for highest depth but gauges reported that the waters fell 18 inches (46 cm) short of the mark.[25]

1920 to 1949

edit

Except for a small inundation of lowland flooding occurring between late December 1920 and early January 1921, in which the Chehalis River came within two feet of the crest record,[10][26] the city was spared any flooding events of note for twelve years. In December 1933, Chehalis was submerged in a month-long rain event, totaling over 22 inches (560 mm) of precipitation. The heavy rains affected most of Western Washington including roads between Portland and Tacoma and the submergence of the Pacific[27] and Ocean Beach highways.[28]

Passage between the Twin Cities was closed, and railroad traffic and postal services were disrupted in Chehalis. The city water supply was reduced due to damaged intakes and soil entering the reservoir.[29] Alexander Park and the fairgrounds flooded, the latter of which had water levels up to the eaves in some buildings. Flood records were broken and damages were estimated to be as high as $50,000 in the county (2024 value of $1.3 million).[12]: 87 [30][31][32]

Successive events of heavy rainfall in early 1936,[33][34] and excess rain mixed with snowstorms in February 1937,[35] led to additional moderate flooding. A 1939 flood from a rain on snow event submerged the Chehalis–Centralia Airport.[10][36]

A Cowlitz River overflow in 1946 affected the city. The weather pattern that caused the 1948 Columbia River flood was a widespread disaster throughout the region and both the Chehalis and Newaukum crested, leading to closures of roads and the airport.[10][18] A 1949 rainfall event affected the city as the Cowlitz overflowed.[37]

Flood events from 1950 to 1999

edit

1950s

edit

Heavy rains in February and March 1951 caused moderate, local flooding.[37][38] A flash flood in December 1953 clogged intakes of the local water system but the city's reservoir was ample enough that no shortage to residents occurred.[39] Heavy rain showers continued into January 1954 causing lowland flooding with some inundation of the Ocean Beach and Pacific highways, the latter of which being a predecessor of Interstate 5. Gauges at the Chehalis River reached over 68 feet (20.7 m).[40][41]

Two minor December 1955 inundations occurred due to a quick rise in the water of the Chehalis River. The second event was due to a combination of melting snow and near-record rain.[42][43] The Chehalis River crested at 68.5 feet (20.9 m).[44] A wind event, described as a "twister", hit the area the day after the river began to recede.[45] Two minor floods, with the Chehalis and Skookumchuck rivers barely reaching or surpassing flood stage, occurred in November and December 1959.[46] The November flood, with the Chehalis River reaching a foot over flood stage, did cause flooding in some neighborhoods.[47]

1960s

edit
 
Valley flooding at an unidentified location during the 1964-65 Christmas flood.

The highest flood levels in over a decade occurred in January 1964 with the Chehalis River overflowing 3.5 feet (1.1 m) above flood stage. Due to excessive rainfall over a two-day period, flooding was considered moderate with water covering local neighborhood streets, Alexander Park. A few businesses were unable to operate.[48]

Later in the year as part of the Christmas flood of 1964, a mixture of heavy snow and rain led to an approximate 1.8 feet (0.5 m) rise over flood stage of the Chehalis River, and the Skookumchuck registering just under flood stage of 68 feet (20.7 m). Lowland areas and some roads were submerged.[49][50] A state disaster declaration was authorized but the county rejected any funding, considering the aid too quick and unnecessary; federal aid was still available.[51] The Pacific Northwest event, described by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) as one of the 20th century's worst flood disasters, was ushered in by a weather pattern that dropped 6 in (150 mm) of rain during the course of a week in the city. Continuing heavy precipitation followed into January 1965, leading to minor flooding.[10][52][53]

1970s

edit

A minor cresting of the Chehalis in December 1970, due to a mix of snow and rain, produced local but moderate flooding.[54]

In January 1971, repeated heavy rainfall, along with snowmelt, began to overwhelm the city and the river basins. A minor overflow of the Chehalis in mid-January caused few issues but access to the airport was closed and a small mudslide shut down a portion of the main thoroughfare to Centralia.[55][56] Over a week later, more rains caused the Chehalis to crest producing flooding in local neighborhoods and another mudslide on the Kresky-National road between the Twin Cities.[57] The 1971 flood incident was asserted to be the worst since 1937.[10]

Residents were evacuated as the west side of the city flooded. The Chehalis River reached 6.5 feet (2.0 m) above flood stage and the Skookumchuck crested just over its flood stage.[58] The Chehalis peaked at 70.2 feet (21.4 m) and early estimated losses in the county exceeded $500,000.[59] The Red Cross immediately declared the Twin Cities a disaster area and over 9,000 sandbags were imported;[60] approximately 5,000 sandbags were used in Chehalis. There was no loss of life, but there was a larger than normal amount of evacuations, though only minor calls for housing assistance. Over 4 in (10 cm) of water intrusion were recorded at the local Yard Birds Shopping Center.[59] The region received aid via disaster declarations at the county, state, and federal levels.[61][62]

A major flood occurred in January 1972, becoming the first flood to submerge the newly built Interstate 5.[10] The event started in the middle of the month with the Chehalis reaching 1 foot (0.30 metres) over its banks, leading to some roads in the city to be covered.[63] Continuing rainfall over the next week led to the Chehalis to overflow its banks again, and the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) was mobilized in advance due to concerns over severe flooding.[64] Almost 5 in (130 mm) of rain fell over several days leading the Chehalis River to rise 15 feet (4.6 m) in two days while setting a flood stage record of 71.6 feet (21.8 m).[65][66]

While no deaths were reported, schools were closed, dozens of people, including a squirrel, were evacuated from the city and the Yard Birds Mall was under two feet of water, recording $500,000 in losses.[66] The Ocean Beach Highway was closed for a time, the main arterial to Centralia was covered by as much as 16 feet (4.9 m) of water, and about 200 feet (61.0 m) of Burlington Northern rail line between the Twin Cities was washed away.[67][68] Combined damages in Centralia and Chehalis was assessed at approximately $1.0 million. The fairgrounds suffered damages estimated at $250,000 after a levee built in 1952 failed.[10][67] A severe snowstorm followed days later, and flood disaster declarations were announced at the city, county, state, and federal levels;[69][70][71] official costs were determined to be nominally $400,000.[72]

Two years later, a cresting of the Chehalis River, twice in January 1974, caused $10 million in losses in the region after a period of heavy rain.[10] The river reached 69.1 feet (21.1 m) and similar to other floods, roads, rail lines, and schools were closed for a few days. The airport and the fairgrounds, protected by dikes after the 1972 event, were left unharmed despite some reports of seepage.[65]

Another heavy rain event, measuring 5.71 in (145 mm) at Centralia in one week, led to the quick overflow of rivers in the area in December 1975, including the Cowlitz. The Chehalis officially reached 71.17 feet (21.7 m)[73] and the Skookumchuck struck just above flood stage. The dike at the fairgrounds suffered a minor leak but was repaired with help from students from Green Hill School[74] and the venue was spared from major losses due to new pumps that were installed after the 1972 flood.

Heavy damages occurred at the Stan Hedwall and Alexander parks after they were submerged. Roads in Chehalis were closed and evacuations were required for areas of the city.[72] An apartment complex was evacuated by boat but there was no loss of life.[74] A state emergency declaration was announced two days after the flood began and federal relief arrived via the Small Business Administration two weeks later.[75][76]

A heavy rain storm in December 1977, which largely impacted Eastern Lewis County upstream of Chehalis, caused the Chehalis River to reach a high of 5.76 feet (1.8 m) over flood stage. The main artery between Chehalis and Centralia, Kresky Avenue which had been rebuilt in recent years, was again flooded over and closed despite additional attempts to control flooding by the widening of Salzer Creek, which courses through the area.[77][78]

1980s

edit

A major flood disaster developed in November 1986. Caused by a weather event considered at the time to be a "once-a-century" occurrence, it brought 6 to 8 in (150 to 200 mm) of rainfall over several days.[79] The city saw damage to two schools and a total of 10 feet (3.0 m) of water at the fairgrounds after a levee was breached.[10] All but one lane of the interstate was closed through city limits. The city declared a disaster and a ballfield at W.F. West High School was used as an emergency helipad.[80]

The flood led to a contamination cleanup at a closed industrial site, known as American Crossarm and Conduit, near Millett Field. The inundation caused a spillage of approximately 10,000 US gallons (38,000 L; 8,300 imp gal) of a mixture of creosote, diesel fuel, and chemicals used in the treatment of lumber which spread into the surrounding neighborhoods as well as the Dillenbaugh Creek watershed. Cancer-causing compounds such as dioxin and pentachlorophenol were included in the spill.[81][82] The remediation was undertaken by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and was listed in 1988 as a federal superfund site.[83] The $9.5 million hazardous cleanup project was not completed until 1996.[84]

1990

edit

Interstate 5 was covered with floodwaters again during a major flood disaster in January 1990. Heavy rains, including 4.5 inches (110 mm) in one day, coupled with a dike breach on the Skookumchuck,[85] led to severe damages at the fairgrounds and the airport. At-capacity reservoirs in the city overflowed and both the Skookumchuck, at 87.11 feet (26.6 m), and the Chehalis, at 73.39 feet (22.4 m), broke flood stage records.[10][86][87] The Yard Birds Mall reported up to 24 inches (61 cm) of water and over $1.0 million in losses.[88] I-5 was closed for a day as it was submerged at one point by 7 feet (2.1 m) of floodwaters.[89][90] A USACE report the following year recognized the event as a 100-year flood, the first in the city's history.[90][91]

A following flood due to a Western Washington weather event in November of that year led to lowland flooding in the community. Led by extreme record rainfall, the Chehalis reached 71.43 feet (21.8 m).[87][92] A smaller flood occurred in April 1991, the only flooding event ever recorded later than March in Chehalis and the surrounding area.[93]

A small overflow of the Chehalis, reaching 3 feet (0.9 m) above flood stage, occurred in early January 1997, creating an influx of waters in low-lying areas, specifically around Washington State Route 6 (SR 6).[94][95] The Scout Lodge was used as a temporary Red Cross shelter.[96] Owing to repeated inundations to the lands, the city attempted in the weeks after the 1997 event to buy out homes in the flood-prone area.[97] Accompanying heavy rainfall in late December 1998, several roads were under a minor amount of water in the city but no waterways reached flood level. A similar event transpired in late January 1999. Only the Chehalis River exceeded flood stage, by just 0.5 feet (0.2 m).[98][99]

100-year flood of 1996

edit
100-year flood of 1996
 
U.S. President Bill Clinton speaks in nearby Portland, Oregon during a tour of regions impacted by the 1996 floods.
LocationChehalis and other communities in the Chehalis Valley
Deaths0
Property damage$2 million

A 100-year flood, part of the larger 1996 Pacific Northwest floods, with the Chehalis River carrying 49,000 cubic feet of water per second, transpired in February 1996.[100] Setting crest and flood stage records, the Chehalis, at 74.3 feet (22.6 m), the Cowlitz River, over 6 feet (1.8 m) above flood stage at 24.2 feet (7.4 m),[101] and the Skookumchuck, at 87.3 feet (26.6 m), overflowed after 4 inches (100 mm) of rain in one day.[102] It was the first chronicled situation in which all three major rivers in the valley exceeded their historical flood stage levels in one event.[103] The level of water inundation surpassed that as listed on 100-year floodplain maps.[104]

A state of emergency was immediately declared and I-5 was closed for 4 days after it was covered in 6 feet (1.8 m) of floodwater;[104][102] further measurements listed the amount of flooding there to be 10 feet (3.0 m).[105] The Red Cross operated a command station in the downtown district and, due to a large number of requests, had to limit the amount of services to 100 people per day.[106] Radio broadcasts of emergency information to the city were limited to one station, KITI-FM, after waters forced the closure of an AM broadcaster.[102]

Resembling prior floods, the airport was severely flooded,[102] parts of the Chehalis Industrial Park were submerged,[107] the Chehalis Apartments and surrounding neighborhood were underwater,[106] and Kresky Avenue was closed for several days due to standing water and a mudslide.[108] Other roads in the area were closed as well, and there were multiple school and business closures.[102] Evacuations were voluntary and both the R.E. Bennet Elementary School and the Lewis County Jail were used as temporary shelters.[107][109] The fairgrounds had some standing water at the beginning of the deluge but the pumps, which were forcing out 24,000 US gallons (91,000 L; 20,000 imp gal) per minute,[107] became overwhelmed when a dike broke. The waters reached 18 inches (46 cm) higher on the grounds than the 1990 flood.[110]

The flood event led to city ordinances directing that existing homes in the Chehalis floodplain be raised 12 inches. Several hundred homes reported significant damages.[10] A year after the event, damages to the Chehalis sewage treatment plant, which included cracked storage basins, unstable soil, and a destroyed pump, were estimated to reach as high as $1.5 million.[111] The city was able to buyout and relocate 27 of 31 homeowners in the neighborhood near the sewage plant, a long-standing flood prone area.[112]

Flood events in the 21st century

edit

2000s

edit

The early events of the 21st century marked the beginning of 18 recognized floods in twenty years on the Chehalis River.[113]

Minor flooding was reported in mid-December 2001 due to continuous, rainy weather over several days. Several roads and low elevation areas, such as the Chehalis Apartments near Millet Field, were underwater. The Chehalis crested at 69 feet (21.0 m).[114][115] A comparable rainfall and flood event occurred in January 2003 where record precipitation struck Lewis County. Both the Chehalis and Skookumchuck reached minimum flood stage.[116][117] Another analogous weather pattern, a Pineapple Express, occurred two years later in 2005, once again causing the minor submergence of several roads. Three of the four local river systems, the Cowlitz, Newaukum, and Skookumchuck, reached or exceeded their flood limits.[118][119]

The following January 2006, Chehalis experienced three heavy rainfall patterns in the month. The first led to a small flood that engulfed the airport and surrounding lowlands. Caused by a stretch of 20 consecutive days of measurable rain, both the Newaukum and Skookumchuck moderately crested over their limits, and the Chehalis was 1 foot (0.30 metres) above its banks.[120] Roads, low areas, and farmlands were moderately submerged.[121]

The depth of the waters was enough to crack a 500,000-US-gallon (1,900,000 L; 420,000 imp gal) concrete holding tank at the city's wastewater treatment plant. The tank was considered mostly empty and sewage ran off into a nearby slough not affecting the city's water supply.[122][123] Days later, the Chehalis and Skookumchuck rose to flood levels after more rainfall hit the area.[124] At the end of the month, a downpour of 2 inches (51 mm) during a single evening led to an immediate flood warning by the National Weather Service (NWS).[125] The Newaukum crested 2 feet (0.6 m) above flood stage, and both the Chehalis and Skookumchuck were declared as being below Phase II flood levels. Low-lying residential areas and roads in the city were again underwater, necessitating some evacuations.[126]

An equivalent flood event that inundated the airport occurred in November 2006.[127] Lewis County was part of a statewide emergency declaration and the city of Chehalis declared its own during the three-day storm that produced almost 7 inches (18 cm) of rain. Minor-to-moderate road and lowland flooding developed, specifically around the Millet Field and Chehalis Apartment neighborhoods. A few evacuations were required and fallen trees damaged a water main.[128][129]

December 2007 Flood

edit
December 2007 Flood
 
Volunteers distribute goods in Chehalis during 2007 flood
DateDecember 2007
LocationChehalis and other communities in the Chehalis Valley
Deaths0
Property damage$930 million

A record flood in early December 2007 closed I-5 in the city for several days as the highway was covered in 10 feet (3.0 m) of water. Breaking the crest record set in 1996, the Chehalis River set a flood stage mark of 74.78 feet (22.8 m).[10][130] The river exceeded the threshold for a flood event to be considered catastrophic, listed as 75,100 cubic feet of water per second (cfs), and an average flow rate of 70,000 cfs was recorded at a monitor station north of the city in Grand Mound during the unfolding disaster.[3]

Numerous areas in the city were impassable and the local shopping district was submerged.[131][132] Neighborhoods with no recorded history of intruding floodwaters were heavily inundated,[6] over 500 people in the area were evacuated,[12]: 126  and within two days the fire department had recorded the rescue of 80 people.[133] Chehalis residents in flooded areas relied on a variety of watercraft for transport.[134] Railroad freight, as well as Amtrak services, were halted.[135]

Despite local opposition, a dike at the airport near the interstate was intentionally breached[136] by the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) the day after the rivers crested. The purpose for the opening in the levee was to protect and open the highway, a concern of the governor at the time. Other concerns were due to excessive floodwaters at the airport and the Twin City Town Center.[137]

The highway was reopened, only for commercial traffic, after an approximate 4 day closure.[138] The freeway was fully open to private passenger vehicles the next day though speed limits were reduced. The airport reopened in a week and it was recorded that the airfield was underwater by as much 8 feet (2.4 m) with 2 inches (5.1 cm) of silt and mud covering the runway.[136]

Within a week, Lewis County was granted aid under state and federal emergency declarations, with parts of the aid operation overseen by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which provided food and emergency services; FEMA later expanded the aid to include cleanup and repairs regarding infrastructure.[139] The financial aid included loans to businesses, farmers, and residents for repairs to their property or to help offset economic losses incurred. Lewis County was specifically granted cash grants up to $28,800 for residents to pay for immediate necessities or repairs.[140] The governor, Christine Gregoire, along with senators Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray and other federal representatives, toured the city.[141]

The event was due in part to the Great Coastal Gale of 2007, which produced 22 in (560 mm) of rainfall in the Upper Chehalis Basin.[142] The severity of the disaster was also connected to global warming and a combination of poor floodplain development and logging practices.[1][6] In opposition, local officials stated that developers in the city are mandated to exceed the requirements to build in a flood-prone area.[133]

The total cost of damages was estimated by a state commission to be $930 million[100] and 100 homes in the region were demolished.[12]: 126  Between the Twin Cities, 220 business suffered damages, which included a combined loss of $6.8 million to the local landmark shopping centers, Sunbirds and Yard Birds Mall.[143] Due to the closure of the highway, approximately $4 million of daily economic losses to the state were estimated and repairs to the freeway in Chehalis were assessed to cost several hundred thousand dollars.[144]

Two months after the record flood of 2007, the USGS determined the disaster to likely be classified as a 500-year flood.[145]

Flood of 2009

edit

Another major flood materialized in January 2009, with the Chehalis River reaching a high of 72.5 feet (22.1 m)[146] and the Newaukum cresting at approximately 2.5 feet (0.8 m) over its flood stage.[147] The event was based on heavy rain and a warm weather event that led to sudden snowmelt. Several regions within Chehalis were immersed and rail lines were shut down, as well as 20 miles (32 km) of the interstate, which was covered by as much as 3 feet (0.9 m) of water.[148][149][150] Lowlands around the Dillenbaugh Creek watershed were underwater and residential roads near the Government and Pennsylvania-Westside districts experienced some minor submergence. The fairgrounds and airport levees held and little damage was reported at the Twin Cities Town Center.[151]

Governor Gregoire visited the city a few days after the waters receded.[152] The city council declared a local state of emergency days after the event as a step to be eligible for federal relief funds.[153] Initially, despite a combined loss of over $9 million in business and residential damages, state and federal emergency declarations were not announced;[154] two interconnecting federal emergency declarations were declared at the end of the month and in March, allowing funding and assistance provided via FEMA to proceed.[155][156][157]

Similar to the 2007 event, reiterated concerns were brought up regarding the increase in flooding in the valley, specifically the logging practice of clearcutting and the conversion of floodplains for development.[158]

2010s

edit

A less severe flood transpired during record daily rainfall in December 2010,[159] and 17 in (430 mm) of precipitation led to another flood in November 2012.[160][161] Heavy rain led to only a moderate flood event in December 2015 that submerged several homes and businesses in the area.[162] Several residents had to be evacuated.[163] The rainfall was expected to be significantly worse and severe warnings were sent out to the public. However, the Chehalis and Newaukum rivers reached just above their flood stages as the anticipated precipitation did not unfold.[164][165]

2020s

edit

A stretch of I-5 between Chehalis and Centralia was closed for several hours after a major flood in January 2022. The closure was a measure of precaution. The highway was never flooded but several exits and on-ramps were partially submerged.[166] The flood was created by excessive snowmelt and heavy rainfall, leading to a retroactive emergency proclamation from the state governor.[167] The Newaukum River broke its crest record set in 1996[168] and floodwaters reached as far into the city as the Lewis County Courthouse.[166] Five miles of railroad track used by the Chehalis-Centralia Railroad and Museum were washed out.[169] The severity of the flood led to the Red Cross opening a shelter at the fairgrounds and the deployment of the Washington National Guard to help with sandbag operations.[168] Several weeks after the 2022 flood, over 100 structures of various homes and businesses within the Chehalis River Basin had reported damage, with an estimated financial loss of over $2 million.[100]

Chehalis underwent minor water inundation from excessive precipitation during the 2023 Pacific Northwest floods event. Homes and businesses located near W.F. West High School experienced approximately 1 foot (0.30 metres) of flood depth, and the accumulation was due in part to an unnamed creek in the area unable to handle the additional flow of water. The extreme rainfall was caused by an atmospheric river and led to flood warnings of the Newaukum River.[170][171]

History of flood mitigation

edit

20th century

edit
 
The levee protecting the Chehalis-Centralia Airport.

After the 1933 flood, a bill was introduced in 1934 in the federal legislature asking for $7.5 million in funds to construct a variety of flood and water control measures of waterways in the region, including dams, improving navigation in rivers, and repairing watersheds, with special attention on soil erosion and protecting the local agriculture.[172] Based on a survey of the 1933 event, another federal bill followed a year later once again requesting flood control for the Chehalis River.[173] A meeting was held with the United States Department of Agriculture and War Department at the Lewis County Courthouse in 1937, to advise and explain the loss of farmland and subsequent costs of flood damages in the Chehalis basin.[174]

During World War II, the Department of War and the Army Corps of Engineers built levees around the Chehalis–Centralia Airport[175] and in 1942 installed a levee pump.[176] During severe flooding from the Great Coastal Gale of 2007, the pump failed forcing an intentional break of the levee leading to increased damages to the community. An electric two-pump station was completed in 2018[175] with funding provided by the Chehalis River Basin Authority at a cost of $1.14 million.[176][177] The pumps, able to siphon as much as 12,000 gallons per minute, worked flawlessly during the January 2022 flood event.[175]

After the repeated floods in the 1970s, renewed calls were made for reducing the economic and social impacts of flooding. An ongoing survey since the 1950s, known as the Upper Chehalis Basin Project, was pushed for finalization. The dormant plans included a storage dam that could also be used as a source of irrigation.[178] Additional ideas during this time were calls for more dikes on the local river systems, deepening the Chehalis River, and legal restrictions on building in the floodplain.[179] Most of the plans or ideas were considered too costly at the time by the Army Corps of Engineers, including expenditures on check dams and additional dikes that would outweigh the potential return in local economic benefits.[180]

Flood control measures, including levees, dams, and relocations, were repeatedly rejected by various local groups, as well as regional, state, and federal governments and agencies between the 1960s and into the 1980s. Funding and permission to build levees around the Twin Cities were finally approved by the federal government, but it was found that the project would not protect the highway and would make flooding worse outside of the levee zone.[142] Recommendations sent to the state legislature from a joint committee formed after the January 1990 flood produced no plans after two years of efforts.[181] A Comprehensive Flood Hazard Management Plan (CFHMP) was initiated as well and completed in 1994. The plan was required at the time for any potential state funding for future flood control maintenance and the report specifically mentioned that despite several studies and promises for over 60 years, no actual flood control solutions had been implemented.[182]

Beginning in 1991, in order to protect the Chehalis Industrial Park and salmon runs through the area, flood control work was begun on Dillenbaugh Creek, a 17 square miles (44 km2) watershed near the Port of Chehalis; the project was unregulated but later approved by the state. The Lewis County Flood Control District began work on salmon habitat restoration and flood control on the creek in the late 1990s. Additional flood trenches, with focus on maintaining a healthy salmon migration route, were constructed into the early 2000s.[82]

Government and community meetings months after the 100-year flood of 1996 reiterated the lack of funding for large flood control projects and encouraged public outreach and education and the flood-proofing of buildings. The first website with information on the conditions of local rivers and flood programs was created.[183] The city submitted a request for the state to purchase $1.4 million worth of homes and property in flood prone areas in Chehalis.[184] After the small 1997 flood, the Twin Cities announced an attempt for a flood zone tax district and the county reproposed several flood control efforts including diverting around or removing a bend in the Chehalis River near the Skookumchuck conjunction.[185]

21st century

edit
 
The Newaukum River.

Following the 2003 flood, FEMA released new flood maps for the Newaukum River that also included its forks near Forest, Washington; flood maps in the area had not been updated since the 1970s.[186] In the same year a $30 million plan was authorized by the state legislature meant to expand the Skoomkumchuck Dam (built 1970) and build levees;[187] it was rejected by the county, as well as the cities of Centralia and Chehalis, due to concerns of future maintenance costs.[141] Another plan was agreed upon in 2005 by another commission, the Chehalis River Flood Reduction Project, that included designs for new levees and improvements to the Skookumchuck Dam. It failed to move forward due to complications from the planned widening of the interstate, the find of a potential archaeological site at the Chehalis and Skookumchuck junction, and failed funding for the $100 million project.[188]

In 2006, expected supplemental funding of up to $30 million to build the embankments were changed to other projects in the state after the annual budget bill was passed. A late legislative request earmarked $2.5 million to make improvements to Airport Road around the airfield.[189] By the end of 2006, during another flood event, Chehalis and Centralia opted out of a joint "Flood Control Plan" with Lewis County meant to improve and build levees and to provide flood protection upgrades to the dam. The refusal was based on concerns the project did not take into account other areas of need, and that the financial return was not worth the upfront costs.[190]

The severity of the 2007 submergence, connected to increases in building up of the floodplain, led to another attempt of a suspension of allowed construction in the watershed. Despite talks over bans since the 1986 flood, city officials denied that the use of fill had any major impact and that the need to build on flood lands were necessary for the city's economy.[6] Planned FEMA flood maps, which were in the process of being updated since 2005, incorporated details of the 2007 flood into the maps, with particular attention to areas in Chehalis that had no previous record of being submerged.[191]

In addition to the 2007 flood, the 2009 event, which shut down I-5 for the fourth time since 1990, spurred the reintroduction of plans to raise the height of levees, and built additional embankments, in the region. Limited funding was provided for extra gauges and better warning systems. The potential project for the Skookumchuck Dam, meant to increase the amount of water the dam could hold, was reintroduced, and a new flood district, with the ability to raise taxes, was proposed.[150] Proposals in the 2010s by the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) centered on protecting I-5, either by widening and raising the highway, or building additional levees or walls. The projects, estimated to cost as much as $550 million, was locally rejected due to the focus on the interstate, rather than an approach of a basin-wide strategy.[192]

After the 2009 flood, federal funding of $1.7 million was authorized to continue to study flood mitigation in the Twin Cities.[193] A bill restricting development in 100-year floodplains was passed by the House of the state legislature, though it was opposed by local representatives over concerns that the bill intruded on local government rights.[194] A state Senate bill was also passed, allowing for the potential creation of a flood district with taxing power between counties in the Chehalis River basin.[195] The unanimously passed bill died in the House after it was deemed unacceptable to a voting bloc of representatives after changes to the bill, particularly the voting of memberships to the district board, were introduced in a committee.[196][197] Official drafts of FEMA flood maps were released at the end of 2010 after being delayed to incorporate new information from the major floods in the 2000s. The updated maps almost doubled the amount of flood prone, floodplain, and floodway areas in the city.[198][112]

The levees at the Chehalis—Centralia Airport were widened from 15 feet (4.6 m) to 30 feet (9.1 m) beginning in 2013. The efforts were part of a two-phase, $1.2 million project to increase the levee structure's size, providing additional flood protection to the transportation hub and surrounding business district. The 1.8-mile (2.9 km) long earthen system was planned to protect the surrounding area from a 50-year flood event.[199]

A partnership study that accounted for climate change was released in 2022 and recommended the city and surrounding area to prepare for more major floods by increasing stormwater drainage, reducing timber production to allow for more old-growth forests, eliminating clearcutting, and suggesting an increase in floodproofing homes and businesses.[3]

Chehalis Basin Flood Authority and Strategy

edit
 
The Upper Chehalis River near Pe Ell.

The Chehalis River Basin Flood Authority (CRBFA), which is overseen and funded by the Washington Department of Ecology Office of Chehalis Basin (OCB), directs flood control measures, flooding concerns, and advance flood warnings for the Chehalis River watershed. Beginning in 2010, Chehalis residents can be alerted via email by the authority's online flood warning system known as the Chehalis Basin Flood Warning System (FWS). The FWS provides information on rainfall, temperature, and river and stream gauge readings in the area.[200]

As part of the CRBFA is the Chehalis Basin Strategy, a partnership formed in 2014 to mitigate flooding and to restore aquatic habitat, particularly for local Chinook salmon. The alliance is a conglomerate of regional governments in and around Lewis County, in association with Native American tribes, environmental groups, scientists, and local citizens[201] The group offered proposals that outlined several flood control reduction measures, with downstream levee improvements especially at the Chehalis–Centralia Airport, and a flood retention dam in Pe Ell which is expected to limit catastrophic damage from 100-year floods within the Chehalis River Basin.[202][203]

The projects are to be carried out in three phases. The first phase began in 2012 and declared complete in the early 2020s with a combined 140 flood and habitat projects completed at a cost of $152 million. The second stage was implemented soon thereafter and is focused on long-term solutions and strategy for flood control and financial backing of future tasks. The final phase is planned to begin in the mid-2020s and will target construction, additional financing, and devising long-term structural government oversight.[204]

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c van Schagen, Sarah (January 10, 2009). "Massive flooding in western Washington linked to man-made causes". Grist. Archived from the original on July 17, 2023. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  2. ^ Pfiefer, Larissa (May 2, 1996). "Flood meeting swamped". The Chronicle. pp. A1, A10. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e Sexton, Owen (October 21, 2022). "'More Floods and Worse Floods' in the Chehalis Basin: Officials Discuss Potential Effects of Climate Change". The Chronicle. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  4. ^ "USGS 12027500 CHEHALIS RIVER NEAR GRAND MOUND, WA". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  5. ^ The Chronicle staff (May 22, 1999). "Deluges". The Chronicle. p. 11. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d e Mapes, Lynda V. (December 9, 2007). "Did development, logging set the stage for disaster?". The Seattle Times. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  7. ^ "Building, Logging May Contribute to Flooding". The Chronicle. The Seattle Times. Associated Press. December 10, 2007. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
  8. ^ "State works to mitigate flood damage, restore fish habitats in Chehalis River basin". Medium (Press release). Washington State governor's Office. June 2, 2017. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
  9. ^ "Flood impacts - Washington State Department of Ecology". ecology.wa.gov. Retrieved 2024-06-20.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Julie McDonald; Edna Fund (December 6, 2017). "From Native American Legends to 2007: A History of Flooding in the Chehalis River Basin". The Chronicle. Archived from the original on July 26, 2023. Retrieved July 26, 2023. Article a copy from the book "The Flood of 2007: Disaster and Survival on the Chehalis River"
  11. ^ Mittge, Brian (February 8, 2011). "Fifteen Years Ago Today, the Deluge of 1996 Walloped the Twin Cities and Became Known as The Flood of Record (Until 2007)". The Chronicle. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h McDonald Zander, Julie (2011). Images of America - Chehalis. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 9780738576039. Archived from the original on December 4, 2023. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  13. ^ a b "Travel Paralyzed". The Chehalis Bee-Nugget. November 23, 1906. p. 1. Archived from the original on April 24, 2024. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  14. ^ "Highest Water For Years". The Chehalis Bee. December 31, 1897. p. 2. Archived from the original on April 24, 2024. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  15. ^ "Tracks Under Water". Bessemer Herald. January 15, 1898. p. 12. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  16. ^ "Rivers Overflow". Logansport Daily Reporter. December 30, 1897. p. 1. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
  17. ^ "Waters Raged". The Chehalis Bee-Nugget. January 9, 1903. p. 1. Archived from the original on April 24, 2024. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  18. ^ a b c Jones, Pat (November 11, 2006). "History of floods a part of this community". The Chronicle. p. 3. Archived from the original on April 26, 2024. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  19. ^ "High Water Here". The Chehalis Bee-Nugget. November 16, 1906. p. 1. Archived from the original on April 26, 2024. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  20. ^ "Chehalis River Causes Trouble". Centralia Daily Chronicle. January 21, 1909. p. 1. Archived from the original on April 26, 2024. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  21. ^ "Southwest Washington Visited By Heavy Storm The Past Week". The Chehalis Bee-Nugget. November 25, 1910. p. 1. Archived from the original on November 16, 2023. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  22. ^ "North Coast Is Rain Paralyzed". La Crosse Tribune. January 7, 1914. p. 5. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
  23. ^ "Heavy Rains Brings Highest Water Known Here In Years". The Chehalis Bee-Nugget. December 24, 1915. p. 1. Archived from the original on April 24, 2024. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  24. ^ Auvil, Dennis (June 28, 1976). "1915 flood damage slowed railraods". The Daily Chronicle. p. A17. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
  25. ^ "Toledo Bridge Is Damaged - Floods Stop Schools". The Chehalis Bee-Nugget. January 24, 1919. pp. 1, 9. Archived from the original on April 24, 2024. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  26. ^ "Yesteryears - 30 Years Ago". The Daily Chronicle. January 4, 1951. p. 4. Archived from the original on April 26, 2024. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  27. ^ "Flooding of 1933 Recalled". The Daily Chronicle. February 1, 1964. p. 7. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  28. ^ Auvil, Dennis (June 28, 1976). "Area's worst flood in December, 1933". The Daily Chronicle. p. A17. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
  29. ^ "Perilous City Water Situation Is Restored To Normal". The Chehalis Bee-Nugget. December 29, 1933. p. 1. Archived from the original on April 25, 2024. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  30. ^ "Thousands Of Dollars Worth Of Damage Results From High Water And Storms In This Section Last Week". The Chehalis Bee-Nugget. December 15, 1933. p. 1. Archived from the original on January 31, 2024. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  31. ^ "Heavy Downpour Of Rain Breaks December Records". The Chehalis Bee-Nugget. December 22, 1933. p. 1. Archived from the original on April 26, 2024. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  32. ^ "Inflation Calculator | Find US Dollar's Value From 1913-2024". www.usinflationcalculator.com. 2024-06-12. Retrieved 2024-06-27.
  33. ^ "Rivers Are Rising As Result Of Rain". The Centralia Daily Chronicle. February 22, 1936. p. 6. Archived from the original on April 26, 2024. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  34. ^ "Flood Menace Removed Here". The Centralia Daily Chronicle. February 28, 1936. p. 1. Archived from the original on April 26, 2024. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  35. ^ "Washington Rains Back On The Job". The Chehalis Bee-Nugget. February 5, 1937. p. 1. Archived from the original on April 26, 2024. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  36. ^ "Flooded Streams Start to Recede". The Centralia Daily Chronicle. February 13, 1939. p. 4. Archived from the original on April 26, 2024. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  37. ^ a b "Rains Raise Rivers". The Daily Chronicle. February 9, 1951. p. 1. Archived from the original on April 26, 2024. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  38. ^ "Flood Threat Is Seen Fading". The Daily Chronicle. March 13, 1951. p. 1. Archived from the original on April 26, 2024. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  39. ^ "Flash Flood Cuts Off Water for Twin Cities". The Daily Chronicle. December 10, 1953. Archived from the original on April 26, 2024. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  40. ^ "Streams in Twin City District Run High From Record Rainfall". The Daily Chronicle. January 6, 1954. p. 1. Archived from the original on April 26, 2024. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  41. ^ "Flood Danger Fades As River Levels Drop". The Daily Chronicle. January 7, 1954. p. 1. Archived from the original on April 26, 2024. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  42. ^ "Fast Melt for Snow Brought by Pelting Rains; Rivers Watched". The Daily Chronicle. December 20, 1955. p. 1. Archived from the original on April 26, 2024. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  43. ^ "Flood Danger Seen Growing as Heavy Rain Continues To Sweep Most of Lewis County". The Daily Chronicle. December 21, 1955. p. 1. Archived from the original on April 26, 2024. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  44. ^ "Flood Danger Fades Away". The Daily Chronicle. December 27, 1955. p. 1. Archived from the original on April 26, 2024. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  45. ^ "Gale Adds To Flood Grief; Streams Drop". The Daily Chronicle. December 23, 1955. Archived from the original on April 26, 2024. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  46. ^ "High Water To Subside". The Daily Chronicle. December 16, 1959. p. 1. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  47. ^ "Flood Danger Said Eased in Twin Cities". The Daily Chronicle. November 23, 1959. p. 1. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  48. ^ "Mop-Up On; River Data Tells Story". The Daily Chronicle. January 27, 1964. p. 1. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  49. ^ "Snow Next?". The Daily Chronicle. December 23, 1964. p. 1. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  50. ^ "River Levels Dropping Over Lewis County Area". The Daily Chronicle. December 24, 1964. p. 1. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  51. ^ "Aid Rejection To County's Credit". The Daily Chronicle. January 4, 1965. p. 6. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  52. ^ "Sun & Snow". The Daily Chronicle. January 6, 1965. p. 1. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  53. ^ "Rain Quits". The Daily Chronicle. February 1, 1965. p. 1. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  54. ^ "Heavy Rains, Wet Snow Punish Region". The Daily Chronicle. January 27, 1970. p. 1. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  55. ^ "Chehalis To Overflow But Rainfall On Decline". The Daily Chronicle. January 16, 1971. p. 1. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  56. ^ "Two Rivers Receding After Weekend Highs". The Daily Chronicle. January 18, 1971. p. 1. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  57. ^ "Rain Drums Deliver Downpour Drumbeat". The Daily Chronicle. January 25, 1971. p. 1. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  58. ^ Martin, John (January 26, 1971). "Predicted Flood Worst Since '37". The Daily Chronicle. p. 1. Information also taken from photo caption above article
  59. ^ a b Bingaman, Francis (January 27, 1971). "Flooding Eases; Disaster Aid Sought". The Daily Chronicle. p. 1. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  60. ^ "Washington State Faces Extreme Flood Peril". Barstow Desert Dispatch. UPI. January 27, 1971. p. 2. Retrieved October 1, 2024.
  61. ^ "Disaster Declared". The Daily Chronicle. February 1, 1971. p. 1. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  62. ^ "Lewis Disaster Area". The Daily Chronicle. Associated Press. February 9, 1971. p. 1. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  63. ^ "River Waters Recede". The Daily Chronicle. January 13, 1972. p. 1. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  64. ^ Bingaman, Francis (January 20, 1972). "Deluge Continues - Area Braces For major Flooding". The Daily Chronicle. p. 1. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  65. ^ a b "Cleanup begins as floods recedes". The Chronicle. January 17, 1974. p. 1. Retrieved May 1, 2024. Information also taken from photo caption above article
  66. ^ a b Hoxit, Eric (January 21, 1972). "Record Flooding Inundates Western Lewis County". The Daily Chronicle. p. 1. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  67. ^ a b Hoxit, Eric (January 22, 1972). "Flooding Conditions Reported Improving". The Daily Chronicle. p. 1. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  68. ^ "Flood Waters Are Going Down". Port Angeles Evening News. Associated Press. January 23, 1972. p. 1. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  69. ^ "Chehalis Disaster Cited". The Daily Chronicle. January 25, 1972. p. 1. Retrieved May 1, 2024. See additional article on page, "Winter's Heavy Punch: Snow, Ice Follow Flood"
  70. ^ Atkins, John (January 24, 1972). "Lewis County Flood Disaster Declared". The Daily Chronicle. p. 1. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  71. ^ "Flood Loans Available". The Daily Chronicle. February 14, 1972. p. 10. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  72. ^ a b Martin, John (December 4, 1975). "Severe flooding inundates Twin Cities". The Daily Chronicle. p. 1. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
  73. ^ "Cooler Temperatures End Rising Flood Waters". Idaho State Journal. Associated Press. December 5, 1975. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
  74. ^ a b Martin, John (December 5, 1975). "Floodwaters begin to recede in region". The Daily Chronicle. p. 1. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
  75. ^ "Floods Driver Indians From Washington Home". The Pampa Daily News. United Press International. December 5, 1975. p. 1. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
  76. ^ "Flood aid available at local centers". The Daily Chronicle. December 17, 1975. p. 14. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
  77. ^ "County's flood toll may top $6 million dollars - No plans to raise Kresky". The Daily Chronicle. December 5, 1977. p. 1. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
  78. ^ "Manager all 'wet' on road". The Daily Chronicle. December 8, 1977. p. 6. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
  79. ^ "Most Washington rivers gorged by a 'once-a-century' storm". United Press International. November 26, 1986. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  80. ^ Fund, Edna (November 24, 2011). "Today in History: Record Rainfalls Drench County in 1986". The Chronicle. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  81. ^ Vowell, Michele (January 12, 1995). "Danger at out doorstep?". The Chronicle. pp. A1, A10. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  82. ^ a b Mittge, Brian (January 21, 2005). "Dillenbaugh Creek : Where salmon and industry mingle". The Chronicle. pp. A1, A8. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
  83. ^ Vowell, Michele (January 31, 1996). "Health concerns remain". The Chronicle. pp. A1, A10. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  84. ^ Vowell, Michele (May 25, 1996). "The end of a hazard". The Chronicle. pp. A1, A7. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  85. ^ "Flooding Forces Hundreds To Flee". The New York Times. Associated Press. January 11, 1990. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
  86. ^ Nelson, Jonathon (February 8, 1997). "Remembering The Flood". The Chronicle. p. C1. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
  87. ^ a b The Chronicle staff (February 11, 1997). "Corrections". The Chronicle. p. A3. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
  88. ^ Nelson, Jonathon (January 21, 1995). "Yard Birds Is Closing". The Chronicle. p. A1. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  89. ^ The Seattle Times staff (January 10, 1990). "Centralia Man Dies In Rising Waters - The Rain Eases, But Residents Brace For More Flooding". The Seattle Times. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
  90. ^ a b Vowell, Michele (February 14, 1996). "Preparation". The Chronicle. pp. A1, A8. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
  91. ^ "Flood Summary Chehalis River Basin January 1990 Event" (PDF). United States Armey Corp of Engineers. May 31, 1991. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
  92. ^ Chuck Taylor; Ed Walker (November 26, 1990). "State Reeling Under Massive Flooding From Record Deluge". The Seattle Times. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
  93. ^ Geluso, James (March 2, 1999). "Melting snow no flood threat, experts assure". The Chronicle. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  94. ^ The Chronicle staff (January 2, 1997). "Worries : Rivers should recede". The Chronicle. p. A8. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  95. ^ Henderer, John (January 3, 1997). "Chehalis family still not allowed back into its home". The Chronicle. p. 1. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  96. ^ The Chronicle staff (December 30, 1996). "Area rivers are spilling over". The Chronicle. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
  97. ^ Levine, Ruth (January 25, 1997). "Chehalis may buy flood-ridden properties". The Chronicle. p. A3. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  98. ^ The Chronicle staff (December 30, 1998). "River levels recede; Chehalis warning stays". The Chronicle. pp. A1, A8. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  99. ^ The Chronicle staff (January 29, 1999). "Water up, but rains will taper". The Chronicle. p. 1. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  100. ^ a b c Emily Fitzgerald; Eric Rosane (January 26, 2022). "So Far 120 Homes, Structures Reporting Damage Totaling at Least $2 Million From January Flooding". The Chronicle. Archived from the original on July 17, 2023. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  101. ^ Mittge, Brian (February 7, 2006). "The 1996 flood, day by day". The Chronicle. p. A9. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  102. ^ a b c d e The Chronicle staff (February 8, 2011). "The 1996 Flood - Day by Day". The Chronicle. Archived from the original on January 13, 2022. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  103. ^ The Chronicle staff (February 17, 1996). "This is a total disaster". The Chronicle. p. 2. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  104. ^ a b Yardley, William (January 3, 2008). "Anger and blame after deadly flood in Northwest". The New York Times. Archived from the original on February 26, 2024. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
  105. ^ Mittge, Brian (February 7, 2006). "Remembering the big flood". The Chronicle. pp. A1, A8. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  106. ^ a b Robinson, Erik (February 13, 1996). "Flood victims look for help - Flooded apartments no place to cal home for this family". The Chronicle. p. A1. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  107. ^ a b c Michele Vowell; Larissa Kotik; Jonathon Nelson (February 9, 1996). "Floods hammer area". The Chronicle. pp. A1, A5, A8. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
  108. ^ The Chronicle staff (February 12, 1996). "Kresky is now open to two-way traffic". The Chronicle. p. A5. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
  109. ^ The Chronicle staff (February 17, 1996). "The Record Flood of 1996 - Flood Memories". The Chronicle. p. 11. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  110. ^ Michele Vowell; John Pierce (February 12, 1996). "Fairgrounds flood topped '90". The Chronicle. p. A3. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
  111. ^ Levine, Ruth (February 24, 1997). "Chehalis awaits price tag for sewer repair". The Chronicle. p. A3. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  112. ^ a b Brewer, Christopher (February 11, 2011). "FEMA Maps Could Devastate County". The Chronicle.
  113. ^ Mapes, Lynda V. (April 16, 2020). "Quinault Indian Nation opposes new dam on Chehalis, seeks alternatives". The Seattle Times. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
  114. ^ Graham, Julie M. (December 15, 2001). "Wet weather continues; some flood warnings end". The Chronicle. pp. A1, A3. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  115. ^ Mittge, Brian (December 18, 2001). "Streets submerged". The Chronicle. pp. A1, A10. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  116. ^ Mittge, Brian (January 31, 2003). "Rainy days descend upon Western Washington". The Chronicle. pp. A1, A12. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  117. ^ The Chronicle staff (February 1, 2003). "Rain swells local rivers, floods roads". The Chronicle. pp. A1, A11. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  118. ^ The Chronicle staff (January 18, 2005). "Rivers rising after heavy rainfall". The Chronicle. Associated Press. pp. A1, A8. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  119. ^ Mittge, Brian (January 19, 2005). "Clear weather, halt in rains ease flooding". The Chronicle. Associated Press. pp. A1, A9. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  120. ^ Carrina Stanton; Sharyn L. Decker (January 11, 2006). "People bear up under the wet stuff; Rising river levels create concern". The Chronicle. pp. A1, A9, A11. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  121. ^ Stanton, Carrina (January 13, 2006). "Rivers recede, but flood watch continues". The Chronicle. pp. A1, A9. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  122. ^ Stanton, Carrina (January 18, 2006). "Fix still coming for Chehalis sewage plant". The Chronicle. p. 1. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  123. ^ Stanton, Carrina (March 28, 2006). "Sewage plant work to begin this week". The Chronicle. pp. A1, A8. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  124. ^ Stanton, Carrina (January 16, 2006). "More rain coming". The Chronicle. pp. A1, A10. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  125. ^ Stanton, Carrina (January 30, 2006). "Flood warning returns to local rivers". The Chronicle. pp. A1, A8. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  126. ^ Stanton, Carrina (January 31, 2006). "Flooding takes a toll in Twin Cities". The Chronicle. pp. A1, A7. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  127. ^ Decker, Sharyn L. (November 9, 2006). "Flooding effects range far, wide". The Chronicle. p. A7. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
  128. ^ Amanda haines; Erik Olson (November 7, 2006). "Rain will stop today...but not for long; Help". The Chronicle. p. A7. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
  129. ^ Haines, Amanda (November 8, 2006). "Locals breathe a big sigh of relief". The Chronicle. p. A5. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
  130. ^ "Rivers Continue to Surge as Storms Ease in Northwest". The New York Times. December 5, 2007. Archived from the original on February 27, 2024. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  131. ^ "Floodwaters linger in Washington, Oregon". NBC News. Associated Press. December 3, 2007. Archived from the original on July 17, 2023. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  132. ^ "Northwest floods likened to Mount St. Helens". NBC News. Associated Press. December 6, 2007. Archived from the original on July 17, 2023. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  133. ^ a b Decker, Sharyn L. (December 7, 2007). "Chehalis Digs Out of Millions in Damage". The Chronicle. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
  134. ^ Hal Bernton; Ralph Thomas (December 5, 2007). "Extensive flooding, 3 confirmed deaths, hundreds of rescues". The Seattle Times. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
  135. ^ Brian Mittge; Sharyn L. Decker (December 4, 2007). "Rivers Run Wild". The Chronicle. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
  136. ^ a b The Chronicle staff (December 12, 2007). "Chehalis-Centralia Airport Back Open". The Chronicle. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
  137. ^ Mittge, Brian (December 6, 2007). "Hole Punched in Airport Road Levee". The Chronicle. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
  138. ^ Lange, Larry (December 6, 2007). "I-5 reopens to commercial vehicles". The Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Archived from the original on April 24, 2024. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  139. ^ Ammons, David (December 19, 2007). "Storm aid to state boosted". The Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Associated Press. Archived from the original on April 25, 2024. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  140. ^ Schreiber, Dan (December 10, 2007). "Bush Approves FEMA Cash Grants". The Chronicle. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
  141. ^ a b Wong, Brad (December 8, 2007). "Bush declares state flooding major disaster; funds on way". The Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Archived from the original on April 25, 2024. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  142. ^ a b Godwin, Mandy (May 13, 2020). "When the Chehalis floods again, who pays the price?". Crosscut - Cascade PBS. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
  143. ^ Nile, Amy (December 13, 2012). "Twin Cities Businesses Prepare for Next Flood". The Chronicle. p. 5. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  144. ^ Stiffler, Lisa (December 7, 2007). "A wet, rough portion of I-5 is back open for business". The Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Archived from the original on April 25, 2024. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  145. ^ Schreiber, Dan (February 7, 2008). "USGS: Flood Was Likely a 500-Year Event". The Chronicle. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
  146. ^ Allen, Marqise (January 9, 2009). "After Downpours, Only Normal Drizzles Ahead". The Chronicle. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  147. ^ Decker, Sharyn L. (January 16, 2009). "Newaukum River's Rise Leaves Minimal Damage". The Chronicle. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  148. ^ "Roads slowly reopen in storm-hit Washington". NBC News. Associated Press. January 7, 2009. Archived from the original on July 17, 2023. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  149. ^ "Northwest floods close roads, stall commerce". NBC News. Associated Press. January 9, 2009. Archived from the original on July 17, 2023. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  150. ^ a b Lange, Larry (January 8, 2009). "Solution to flooding problem a long way off". The Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Archived from the original on April 25, 2024. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  151. ^ Schreiber, Dan (January 9, 2009). "Chehalis Ducks Anticipated Disaster Damage". The Chronicle. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  152. ^ Casey McNerthney; Amy Rolph (January 9, 2009). "I-5 reopened, but work on flood cleanup just beginning". The Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Archived from the original on April 24, 2024. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  153. ^ Schwatrz, Eric (January 13, 2009). "Chehalis Officially Declares Emergency". The Chronicle. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  154. ^ Stanton, Carrina (January 17, 2009). "Help May Be on the Way". The Chronicle. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  155. ^ Schreiber, Dan (January 30, 2009). "Friday, 6:18 p.m. -- Obama Declares Disaster for Lewis County". The Chronicle. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  156. ^ Schreiber, Dan (February 3, 2009). "FEMA Returns to Lewis County". The Chronicle. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  157. ^ Schwartz, Eric (March 3, 2009). "Obama Declares Disaster, Again". The Chronicle. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  158. ^ McClure, Robert (January 8, 2009). "Blame recurring floods on a triple whammy". The Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Archived from the original on April 25, 2024. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  159. ^ "Storms bring flood threat to Wash., Ore. rivers". NBC News. Associated Press. December 12, 2010. Archived from the original on July 17, 2023. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  160. ^ NBC News staff and news services (November 20, 2012). "Storm slams Pacific Northwest with record rain, wind; at least one dead". NBC News. Archived from the original on July 17, 2023. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  161. ^ Sunde, Scott (January 19, 2012). "Ice storm hits region". The Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Archived from the original on April 24, 2024. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  162. ^ Chen, Natasha (December 10, 2015). "Water surrounds homes in Southwestern Washington, more rain expected". KIRO 7 News (Seattle, Washington). Archived from the original on July 17, 2023. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  163. ^ "Washington gov. declares weather emergency". USA Today. King 5 News (Seattle). December 10, 2015. Archived from the original on April 7, 2024. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  164. ^ The Chronicle staff (December 10, 2015). "Flood Central: All Local Rivers Have Crested, Receding". The Chronicle. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  165. ^ Tomtas, Justyna (December 10, 2015). "Chehalis River Receding After Closing Roads in South Thurston County". The Chronicle. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  166. ^ a b Horne, Deborah (January 7, 2022). "Lewis County hard hit by flooding". KIRO 7 News (Seattle, Washington). Archived from the original on July 17, 2023. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  167. ^ Antonio Planas; Phil Helsel (January 7, 2022). "Flooding in Washington state shuts down interstate, forces evacuations". NBC News. Archived from the original on July 17, 2023. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  168. ^ a b The Chronicle staff (January 6, 2022). "Flood Central: Rivers Have Crested Across Basin". The Chronicle. Archived from the original on July 17, 2023. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  169. ^ Vander Stoep, Isabel (January 14, 2022). "Flood Causes Washouts on Chehalis-Centralia Railroad Line, Scenic Rides to Be Postponed". The Chronicle. Archived from the original on July 17, 2023. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  170. ^ Vander Stoep, Isabel (December 6, 2023). "Rainstorms fill rivers, soak Lewis County with surface flooding". The Chronicle. Archived from the original on December 11, 2023. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  171. ^ Phair, Vonna (December 6, 2023). "What to know about flooding in Western WA". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on December 11, 2023. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  172. ^ "A Detailed Flood Survey Of Southwest Washington Counties Requested". The Chehalis Bee-Nugget. January 19, 1934. p. 1. Archived from the original on December 4, 2023. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  173. ^ "Flood Control Bill Asked In Congress". The Chehalis Bee-Nugget. February 22, 1935. p. 5. Archived from the original on April 26, 2024. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  174. ^ "Floods Costing Area $297,000". The Chehalis Bee-Nugget. April 23, 1937. p. 1. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  175. ^ a b c The Chronicle staff (August 4, 2023). "Chehalis Basin Strategy progress in review: Chehalis-Centralia Airport pump station replacement". The Chronicle. Archived from the original on August 14, 2023. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  176. ^ a b Zylstra, Matthew (April 6, 2022). "New Pumping System Proves Its Worth After January Flooding Event". The Chronicle. Archived from the original on August 14, 2023. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  177. ^ The Chronicle staff (April 30, 2021). "Our Views: Chehalis-Centralia Airport Pump Project Just One Success Story". The Chronicle. Archived from the original on August 14, 2023. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  178. ^ The Chronicle editorial staff (January 27, 1972). "Chehalis Basin Push Needed". The Daily Chronicle. p. 4. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  179. ^ Minnick, Ed (January 31, 1972). "Following The Furrow". The Daily Chronicle. p. 2. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  180. ^ Atkins, John (February 28, 1972). "Flood Control Projects 'Too Costly'". Tri-City Herald. The Chronicle. Associate Press. p. 14. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  181. ^ Vowell, Michele (April 4, 1996). "Local officials to discuss flooding". The Chronicle. p. 1. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
  182. ^ Vowell, Michele (February 24, 1996). "The Great Floods - Educating the public is primary technique used for flood prevention in the Lewis County area". The Chronicle. pp. A1, A8. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  183. ^ Vowell, Michele (April 9, 1996). "Money is lacking to pay for plans to control floods". The Chronicle. pp. A1, A12. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  184. ^ Henderer, John (September 10, 1996). "Chehalis submits buyout application". The Chronicle. p. A3. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  185. ^ Nelson, Johnathon (January 7, 1997). "County reviewing flood control proposals". The Chronicle. p. A3. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  186. ^ Mittge, Brian (July 17, 2003). "Feds unveil new flood maps". The Chronicle. pp. A1, A11. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  187. ^ Mittge, Brian (December 11, 2004). "Fighting floods". The Chronicle. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  188. ^ The Chronicle editorial staff (February 22, 2005). "Flood reduction on Chehalis seems mission impossible". The Chronicle. p. 6. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  189. ^ Olson, Erik (April 1, 2006). "Flood project barely afloat". The Chronicle. pp. A1, A11. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  190. ^ Haines, Amanda (November 7, 2006). "County flood plan dead in the water". The Chronicle. p. A3. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
  191. ^ Schwartz, Eric (January 16, 2008). "After Three Decades, New Flood Maps Coming". The Chronicle. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
  192. ^ Fortis, Bianca (August 25, 2012). "Chehalis-area leaders slam state projects for I-5 flood control". The Seattle Times. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
  193. ^ Schwatrz, Eric (March 12, 2009). "Federal Spending Bill Includes Flood Money". The Chronicle. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  194. ^ Schwartz, Eric (March 12, 2009). "Floodplain Development Restrictions Pass House". The Chronicle. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  195. ^ Schwatrz, Eric (March 9, 2009). "Senate Paves Way for Flood District". The Chronicle. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  196. ^ "Flood District Bill Is Derailed in State House". The Chronicle. April 2, 2009. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  197. ^ Schwartz, Eric (April 20, 2009). "Flood District Bill Dies in Committee". The Chronicle. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  198. ^ Allen, Marqise (November 19, 2010). "Official Draft Floodplain Maps Released". The Chronicle. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  199. ^ Spurr, Kyle (November 2, 2013). "Widening of Airport Levee Delayed Until Next Summer". The Chronicle. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  200. ^ The Chronicle staff (December 1, 2023). "Strategy in review: Chehalis Basin Flood Warning System wins National Operational Excellence Award". The Chronicle. Archived from the original on February 1, 2024. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
  201. ^ "Learn about how you can help ensure a prosperous future for the Chehalis Basin". Chehalis River Alliance. Archived from the original on July 27, 2023. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  202. ^ "Chehalis Basin Strategy". Chehalis Basin Strategy. Archived from the original on June 22, 2020. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  203. ^ Eric Rosane; Claudia Yaw (July 21, 2021). "$70 Million Chehalis Basin Board Budget Stalled". The Chronicle. Archived from the original on July 25, 2023. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  204. ^ The Chronicle staff (July 3, 2023). "Chehalis Basin Strategy Submits Status Report to Washington State Legislature". The Chronicle. Archived from the original on July 18, 2023. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
edit
Retrieved from "https://en.wiki.x.io/w/index.php?title=Flood_history_in_Chehalis,_Washington&oldid=1257010468"