The American state of Washington is facing a historic disaster. Governor Bob Ferguson declared a state of emergency and called for the immediate evacuation of nearly 100,000 residents after extreme rains caused massive flooding.
Extensive flooding caused by heavy rains forced authorities in the American state of Washington to evacuate tens of thousands of residents. TASR informs about it according to the report of the DPA agency.
- Heavy rains caused widespread flooding in Washington state.
- The governor called on residents to evacuate the affected areas.
- Authorities are expecting the highest water level in history.
- They declared a national emergency.
Historical situation
Washington State Governor Bob Ferguson on Thursday urged people in the affected areas to go to safe places and follow the instructions of local authorities. Approximately 100,000 residents received the call to evacuate.
“I understand that many in our state have experienced significant flooding in the past. However, this is a historic situation where we are expecting 61 centimeters higher than the previous record,” the governor wrote on social network X.
A national emergency
Ferguson said more than 30 highways in Washington state have already been closed. He also declared a national emergency in order to mobilize funds and personnel for rescue work.
The National Guard was also deployed to help, evacuating people to safety by helicopters or ships. Dozens of rivers have burst their banks, flooding cities and farmland.
The cause of the downpours in the northwestern United States is the meteorological phenomenon “atmospheric river”, in which warm and moist air meets a cold air mass in a strong altitudinal flow.
