Home / Disasters and Accidents / Washington infrastructure buckles under relentless atmospheric rivers
Washington infrastructure buckles under relentless atmospheric rivers
17 Dec
Summary
- Over 1,200 rescues conducted across 10 counties since December 8.
- Thirteen state highways are closed, with one potentially months away from reopening.
- Two levees have been breached near Seattle, prompting evacuation alerts.
Washington state is experiencing widespread disruption due to continuous atmospheric river storms, leading to significant infrastructure damage and testing the resilience of its systems. Since December 8, emergency responders have conducted over 1,200 rescues across 10 counties. Thirteen state highways remain shut, with major routes like Highway 2 potentially closed for months because of extensive mudslides and damage.
The relentless rainfall has overwhelmed flood control measures, causing two levees near Seattle to breach. The town of Pacific issued an evacuation alert for 1,300 residents after a large breach in a HESCO barrier levee. Similarly, a levee in Tukwila was breached, though damage was quickly contained. At least two dams are under scrutiny for cracks and potential failure, raising concerns for surrounding areas.
Experts warn that such intense flooding events are expected to increase due to climate change, with rising temperatures leading to more rain and less snowpack. While short-term measures focus on reinforcing existing infrastructure, long-term solutions may require giving rivers more space to mitigate future risks from increasingly powerful storm systems.
