Flood — Ferry, Washington

2018-05-09 to 2018-05-24 · near Orient, Ferry, Washington

Event narrative

Flood water flow undermined the western abutment of the Rockcut Road Bridge across the Kettle River near Orient. This erosion is considered critical by an inspecting engineering firm. The bridge remains open but with weight and speed restrictions.

Wider weather episode

Run off from melting of near record snow pack in the British Columbia mountains promoted record flooding on the Kettle River during the second and third weeks of May. Bottom lands and parks along the river were extensively inundated as well as yards and outbuildings. Many homes near the river suffered basement flooding and a few homes received first floor flooding.

Highway 21 near Danville, a major highway through this rural area, was closed due to the river flooding the road. Customs Road, running along the north side of the river was flooded in multiple locations, cutting off access to numerous residencies along the river. Highway 395, another major thoroughfare along the river, was threatened with erosion and traffic was restricted in places. One bridge over the Kettle River suffered partial erosion of the abutment requiring extensive repairs.

The swollen river cut off access to to every home along the river between Curlew and Toroda through flooding of access roads and driveways. Emergency officials evacuated some stranded residents with boats.

In Stevens County the river eroded a steep sandy bank leading to an outbuilding being swept into the river on May 13th. The associated home was also threatened. This house was saved after heavy equipment physically moved the house farther from the bank.

The extent of the flooding prompted the Governor of Washington State to include Ferry County in a State of Emergency Declaration.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (48.9149, -118.2024)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 759149. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.