Army Corps of Engineers amplifies its flood fight assistance across communities

USACE Seattle District
Published Nov. 12, 2021
Solo truck used to stabilize a damaged levee and place rock armor along the left bank of the Skagit River, Washington.

The solo dump truck that was used by the flood response team to stabilize a damaged levee Nov. 11 and 12, 2021, and place rock armor along a 150 linear feet section on the left bank of the Skagit River, Washington, to mitigate against levee failure during the flood. Construction is expected to be completed tonight (Nov. 12). The activity is in response to an atmospheric river and heavy precipitation currently impacting the region. Photo courtesy Seattle District Skagit Flood Team

Rock armor along the left bank of the Skagit River, Washington.

The Seattle District flood response team continued their flood response efforts by stabilizing a damaged levee Nov. 12, 2021, placing rock armor along a 150 linear feet section on the left bank of the Skagit River, Washington, to mitigate against levee failure during the flood. Construction in this location is expected to be completed tonight (Nov. 12). The activity is in response to an atmospheric river and heavy precipitation currently impacting the region. Photo courtesy Seattle District Skagit Flood Team

Photo of solo dump truck used to stabilize a damaged levee Nov. 12, 2021, by placing rock armor along a 150 linear feet section on the left bank of the Skagit River, Washington, to mitigate against levee failure during the flood.

The Seattle District flood response team continued stabilizing a damaged levee Nov. 12, 2021, by placing rock armor along a 150 linear feet section on the left bank of the Skagit River, Washington, to mitigate against levee failure during the flood. Construction in Mount Vernon is expected to be completed tonight (Nov. 12). The activity is in response to an atmospheric river and heavy precipitation currently impacting the region. Photo courtesy Seattle District Skagit Flood Team.

Photo of HESCO barrier installed in Pacific Park, along White River, Washington

The Seattle District flood response team installed a HESCO barrier in Pacific Park, along White River, Washington, Nov. 12, 2021, to prevent flood water from flowing into critical areas of the city. Photo courtesy Seattle District Skagit Flood Team

Photo taken of John McAvoy, mechanical engineer with the Seattle District, standing at the bank of the Wallace River in the Snohomish River Basin, to show the rise of the river bank and the degree of bank erosion

Photo taken of John McAvoy, mechanical engineer with the Seattle District, standing at the bank of the Wallace River in the Snohomish River Basin, to show the rise of the river bank and the degree of bank erosion. McAvoy is part of the flood response team that deployed to Snohomish County, Washington, to monitor the flood water levels along the river, Nov. 12, 2021, in response to an atmospheric river and heavy precipitation currently impacting the region. Photo courtesy Vyacheslav Govorushkin, USACE Seattle.

Photo of the bank of Wallace River near Sultan Washington.

Seattle District flood response teams deploy to Snohomish County, Washington, and monitor the flood water levels along the Wallace River near Sultan, Washington, Nov. 12, 2021, in response to an atmospheric river and heavy precipitation currently impacting the region. Photo courtesy Vyacheslav Govorushkin

The Emergency Operations Center at the Seattle District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers extended its flood fight efforts across various counties to respond to an atmospheric river and heavy precipitation impacting the region.

According to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, atmospheric rivers are long, flowing columns of condensed water vapor. Like a conveyor belt, they carry vapor for thousands of miles from out over the ocean. When an atmospheric river hits the West Coast, it can generate a series of storms, with each storm producing inches of rain. Another atmospheric river is forecasted for the region starting Saturday evening, Nov. 13 through Monday, Nov. 15.  

A Corps team providing direct assistance to the City of Mount Vernon began work Nov. 11, 2021, to repair an eroding segment of a Skagit River levee near Lions Park.  Crews are stabilizing the levee by placing rock armor along a 150-foot-long damaged section on the left bank of the river to mitigate against levee failure during the flood. Construction at the city is expected to be completed tonight. The levee provides protection within the City and unincorporated Skagit County to include public infrastructure, downtown Mount Vernon, residential structures, businesses, and utilities.

Two additional flood response teams deployed today to the White and Snohomish River basins. Both teams are working as river spotters, monitoring local conditions, and checking on potential vulnerable levees.

30, 000 sandbags have been delivered to Skagit County and the district is currently coordinating sandbag deliveries to various communities along the Olympic Peninsula. The district previously provided pumps to the City of Orting and Quileute Indian Nation, which they are currently using to help reduce possible high-water levels.  

Engineers in the Corps’ Reservoir Control Center are monitoring conditions and are prepared to respond to forecasted flooding. The RCC manages and regulates Mud Mountain and Howard Hanson Dams, both located near Enumclaw.  Both reservoirs are near empty and have storage space available to greatly reduce the risk of flooding on those rivers. They also manage Ross and Upper Baker dams in the Skagit River basin and Wynoochee dam in the Chehalis River basin when pre-defined flood flow thresholds are forecasted in those basins. 

Public Law 84-99 enables the Corps to assist state and local authorities in flood fight activities and cost share in the repair of flood protection structures. The purpose is to prevent loss of life and minimize property damage associated with severe weather.

Private citizens seeking sandbags should contact their local government offices. 

The National Weather Service issues flood watches and warnings and should be consulted for that information.

 


Contact
Nicole L. Celestine
206-764-3750
paoteam@nws02.usace.army.mil
4735 E. Marginal Way S. Suite 1202

Release no. 21-012