Year Later, Region Better-Prepared For Floodwaters High Water Common In Central Washington

It was one year ago that the worst flooding since 1933 struck central Washington.

Scores of homes were inundated, hundreds of people were evacuated and entire communities were marooned by high water.

From Easton to Richland, the Yakima River and its tributaries rose above their banks. Floodwaters inundated half of Toppenish and ripped new river channels.

The toll: one dead, 111 homes destroyed and 2,204 homes damaged in Yakima, Kittitas and Benton counties. To date, federal and state agencies have spent $17 million in emergency funds on rebuilding.

It would be nice to think such floods are rare. But that is not really the case.

Nearly forgotten in the aftermath of last February’s floods was a flood just two months earlier. That flood, on Nov. 30, 1995, was ranked as the region’s third-worst since record-keeping began in 1908.

This New Year’s Day, a so-called “Pineapple Express” blew in from the Pacific Ocean, carrying warm temperatures and huge volumes of rain which combined with a deep snowpack to make a perilous situation.

While the front barely brushed Yakima County, it was enough to trigger flooding and ice jams which forced the evacuation of dozens of people in the White Swan area.

The waters of Satus Creek lapped halfway up the concrete girders of a U.S. Highway 97 bridge that wasn’t even touched in the floods of 1996.

Enough water poured out of the Satus and Toppenish creek drainage to nearly double the flow of the Yakima River, according to the federal Bureau of Reclamation.

Deep snow still covers the Cascade mountain slopes and valley floors. Emergency management officials are keeping a close eye on the weather.

After last year’s flooding, most local officials say they’re better-prepared to deal with a large-scale flood.

Forty-eight hours into last year’s flooding, the county ran out of sandbags. Now, 400,000 bags are being held in storage.