Days of storms that have wreaked havoc across Western Washington have prompted Governor Jay Inslee to declare a state of emergency in Washington.
The proclamation covers storms that started on November 30 and have caused major flooding, landslides, power outages and closed roadways across the western side of the state.
Inslee says some of the most severe flooding in Washington has occurred in three counties to the north and south of Seattle. The declaration also directs the Washington Military Department to coordinate state response activities and can be used to activate the Washington National Guard if necessary.
In Cowlitz County, a rockslide tumbled across the northbound lanes of I-5, blocking all lanes for several hours and severing the main link between Seattle and Portland. Cleanup will begin once officials have determined it is safe. Drivers are urged to avoid the area.
A small RV park near the Puyallup River was evacuated on Wednesday morning as floodwaters stranded several recreational vehicles and small cars.
Firefighters went vehicle-to-vehicle to make sure everyone was safe and some people were evacuated by boat. The camp was a temporary home for several dozen RVs and camper-trailers.
The flooded park was just down the river from the area where seven people in a riverbank homeless camp were swept into the water and later rescued Wednesday morning.
The owner of the RV park, Kevin McLeod, hooked up a pump midday to try to move water out of the park and back into the river.
Flooding also hit the town of Pacific, where the White River rolled into town just after midnight on Wednesday.