‘Nobody can get out’: KIRO Newsradio listeners share firsthand accounts of navigating historic floods

A powerful atmospheric river has unleashed near-record flooding across western Washington.

“The Gee and Ursula Show” on KIRO Newsradio checked in with listeners Thursday affected by the flooding.

“My daughter had to be evacuated, and I’m working with my sister, she’s probably going to have to be evacuated out of Burlington,” Kirk in Mount Vernon said. “It’s eerily calm, though. It’s a really eerie situation here. I’m across the street right now from Lions Park. It’s right on the river at a rail yard, and you can just kind of see people walking around looking at the river. But I know that false sense of security is there, and I don’t know, because it’s supposed to keep rising until early tomorrow morning.”

KIRO host Ursula Reutin noted some people haven’t evacuated because it doesn’t seem bad, but officials projected the worst is yet to come.

“I called my daughter at 6:18 a.m. because I got the alert about who’s supposed to evacuate. She just thought it was an Amber Alert, and didn’t really pay attention to it, and so I got her up out of the house. I said, ‘You guys, got to get up. You have to go now,'” Kirk shared.

Mike, a retired farmer in Stanwood, warned drivers to be cautious, as the road between the dike and the river is about three to four feet deep in water.

“A lot of folks think that because they’ve got a big, tall truck that they can drive through this water, just for fun. And what will happen is their engine will stall. They can’t restart it because it’s all wet, and they think that, well, these farmers have big equipment, and they can come and get us. Well, it’s just as dangerous for us out there,” he said.

‘We can’t get out’: Fall City resident shares story with KIRO Newsradio

Jenni in Fall City is unable to leave her home.

“We can’t get out. Nobody can get out,” she said.

Jennie explained the only way to leave would be to hike through the Snoqualmie Valley Trail, but noted the access roads to the trail are most likely closed too. However, Jenni said she and her neighbors prepared for the storm and stocked up on groceries.

“I think we’re going to be good. I’m hoping that the river goes down tomorrow,” she said.

‘We are an island’: Listeners text in to Gee and Ursula amid major flooding

Listeners also texted their stories throughout the show, describing what they witnessed during the severe flooding.

“We are in Burlington, about three blocks from the Skagit. We sandbagged around our home yesterday and left last night,” Steve from Burlington wrote. “Many of our neighbors followed the evacuation notice as well. If the river crests over 40 feet, we will have some problems. The concern from many I have spoken to is with the levees’ holding. If they breach, in certain areas, it would be catastrophic.”

Another listener, who did not give their name, wrote: “Live in Carnation, we are an island and also Duvall.”

Carter in Seattle also described the situation in Duvall.

“My buddy lives in Duvall,” Carter wrote. “He describes it as an island right now. Send me some videos last night of the water completely engulfing the bridge.”

Residents mistake flood alert for Amber Alert: ‘They may want to consider changing the tone’

One listener, who didn’t provide their name, responded to Kirk’s story about his sister mistaking the flood alert for an Amber Alert.

“I was at a doctor’s appointment this morning at Skagit Valley near the hospital, and the nurse said that she lives in Mount Vernon and received the evacuation order, but said she wasn’t going to go anywhere because it wasn’t that bad. Also, to comment on the person who reported the Amber Alert, I received the alert yesterday as well because it’s the same sound as the Amber Alert, and thinking it was the Amber Alert, not realizing it was an evacuation, so they may want to consider changing that tone or sound,” the listener wrote.

Peter in Port Orchard had a different outlook on the flooding.

“I know this flooding is causing a lot of problems, but it could be worse. It could be snow and ice,” he shared.

In contrast, Trucker Joe from Graham wrote, “I wish it was snow.”

Listener on flooding: ‘You know it’s bad when Walmart in Mount Vernon is closed’

Joel in Big Lake put the situation in perspective with a local benchmark.

“You know the situation is bad when the Walmart in Mount Vernon is closed!” he wrote.

Bernie in Sequim said the Peninsula was lucky to avoid heavy flooding. He added that he is “Praying for the rest of western Washington.”

Meanwhile, Bill in Lake Stevens questioned Washington Governor Bob Ferguson’s request for federal aid.

“I have mixed feelings about the state asking for federal help when they consistently interfere and ignore federal laws they disagree with,” he wrote.

Lastly, John in Snohomish had some advice for local drivers.

“One other important thing to mention in my opinion is to not drive through areas with standing flood water that have buildings nearby, as you create a wake that pushes the water further into these buildings, doing more damage. If you don’t have business in that area, please don’t drive where there is standing water or homes or other buildings,” he wrote.

Keep up with the latest flood reports on MyNorthwest.

Listen to Gee and Ursula on “The Gee and Ursula Show” weekday mornings from 9 am to 12 pm on KIRO Newsradio.