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Raaul Sanchez rushes another armload of clothing to his van as he and his family evacuate their home in the Three Rivers Mobile Home Park in South Kelso on Wednesday. Bill Wagner / The Daily News

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Kelso officials order evacuations

Wednesday, January 7, 2009 9:15 PM PST

By Barbara LaBoe

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Fears the Coweeman River will breach the dike in Kelso have caused emergency officials to order an urgent and mandatory evacuation of parts of Kelso south of Allen Street. The Red Cross prepared to shelter at least 3,000 people countywide.

Officials said South Kelso residents should leave as soon as possible and added several shelters have been opened. The affected area includes the airport, industrial area, South Kelso residences and the Three Rivers Mall.

“We gotta get people outta there,” Denny Richards, Kelso City’s Manager. “I’m worried about getting people out of there.”

“The dike at Coweeman River has got some weak spots, and the water is rising a lot higher than anybody thought it would,” he added. Officials say there’s a 50/50 chance the river could breach the levee. “So it’s serious, get out of town.”

Notice of evacuation has been given to residents in the south portion of Kelso, both east and west of Interstate 5, Toutle area near county roads Sightly, Canal and Moore, and in the city of Woodland a Mobile home park and a RV park at 2009 Lewis River Road.

People are currently providing sand bag protection at the Brook Hollow Mobile Home park located on East Allen Street.

Due to the possibility of experiencing flood waters at the Cowlitz County Maintenance Shop, sand bags and sand may now be obtained at the north entrance of the fair grounds located at 1900 7th Ave. in Longview.

The Southwest Chapter of the American Red Cross is preparing to shelter up to 3,000 people Wednesday night as flooding forces people from their homes, including the mandatory evacuation in Kelso.

The Red Cross has or plans to open five shelters in Cowlitz and Wahkiakum counties as need arises, said Red Cross spokeswoman Suzanne Arnits.

All three school gymnasiums in Woodland have opened as shelters.

The Red Cross also has opened a shelter in the Kelso First Presbyterian Church, 215 Academy St., and the County Expo Center in Longview.

Toutle Lake High School also has opened as a shelter.

The Fire House in Cathlamet also is serving as a shelter.

Previous

WWJD wrote on Jan 7, 2009 5:38 PM:

" New Life Fellowship is also being used as a shelter tonight. "

pacnwmom wrote on Jan 7, 2009 5:45 PM:

" Holy Crap!! Good luck to all of you being affected by this. i pray that ya'll don't have to be out long "

WsuCoug wrote on Jan 7, 2009 6:04 PM:

" At was at the dike earlier and I don't see how it isn't going to flood. It is touching the grade street bridge and there is still another 6inches of rain foretasted for our area and the mountains. Good luck to all those who need it.
If there is anywhere people can volunteer their time let us know! "

beermanyoder wrote on Jan 7, 2009 6:22 PM:

" wtf i moved away from new orleans for a reason dammit "

Beer&Skittles wrote on Jan 7, 2009 6:40 PM:

" Nobody's too happy, and everyone's pretty nervous. Everyone's out of Allen St. Apts. at of 6:30 tonight. Good luck everyone!!!!! "

Kelsomommy wrote on Jan 7, 2009 6:40 PM:

" Has anyone heard about North Kelso, I heard evacuation was pending. Just wondering I have sich children! "

lizziee wrote on Jan 7, 2009 6:42 PM:

" Holy Crap is the perfect phrase to use, that's 4 sure! I'm stuck up on top of Carroll Rd with a landslide blocking both lanes. They are truly busting rear to get it cleaned up. We're all very thankful 4 what everyone is doing. If I've learned one thing in all this, it's to have a back up plan 4 the emergency plan. My 14 yr old was at school when the road went and the ER plan was to go to his Grandma's. 4 hours later we get a call from the Sheriffs office that South Kelso has a Mandatory evactuation. Grandma is in her 70's and can't drive at night. Lord help those dikes and keep Kelso safe (and all the surrounding areas effected. "

kkd wrote on Jan 7, 2009 7:03 PM:

" Best wishes to everyone in town.
Ill be keeping my child home
from Coweeman tomorrow... I want
her home where I know she is safe.
Better safe than sorry. "

namebrandsoda wrote on Jan 7, 2009 7:07 PM:

" I attend school at KHS, The parking lot is always a mess, even with just our normal amounts of rain fall. Today was pretty bad, the auditorium, and Shop class areas were flooded.

It was pandemonium. "

livnez wrote on Jan 7, 2009 7:16 PM:

" DUH the car in thye picture depicts some bright person that didn't think that his car in NOT a boat!! "

Lucky7 wrote on Jan 7, 2009 7:28 PM:

" At 5:00 p.m. tonight I'd say The Coweeman had less than 4 feet before water goes over the dike at Tam O' Shanter Park. It's scary high! SoKel residents my prayers are with you, I sincerely hope your homes are spared and families are safe. Good Luck! "

flukehouse wrote on Jan 7, 2009 7:36 PM:

" My mom and dad were evacuated from Cathlamet on the Elochman River, they went to Kelso and got a hotel room. They were just asked to evacuate the hotel room. what a nightmare story they are going to have! "

riseagainst wrote on Jan 7, 2009 7:38 PM:

" Haha, yeah. I was outside the school when the lady tried to drive her car through that it. She got about 4 feet into it and then kinda floated for 2 more. Then she got out, the water to her waist and proceeded to say, "Did you guys see that? Oh man!" "

kspringstead wrote on Jan 7, 2009 7:39 PM:

" What we should be doing in this forum is trying to suggest the best driving routes around town and get this information out to everyone. So if anybody has any information about roads that are closed maybe we can suggest alternate routes here so we can call our loved ones and direct them in the safest routes possible. I kniow that right now most of the roads in North Kelso are still clear here and so far the Cowlitz river dike is holding. I did notice the road was closed over by Coweeman Middle School, you know the one that the kids always use to cross over to go into North Kelso, via the bus drop off points.

Giving an effort to help in anyway I can. "

formermarine wrote on Jan 7, 2009 7:44 PM:

" Doesn't do any good to start pumping out until it stops.You pay by the gallon. "

AmericanGirl wrote on Jan 7, 2009 8:13 PM:

" Does anyone know a back way from Castle Rock to Oly from the freeway closure? "

fano24 wrote on Jan 7, 2009 8:24 PM:

" We live in Kelso on South 7th Street. High and dry here no signs of any flooding, (yet) so we have decided to stick it out. Several of our neighbors and freinds have decided the same however several also took the warning and left. We would need a lot of water to even come close to our area... Only road in the neighborhood clossed is 11th other than that all looks good here. "

who am I? wrote on Jan 7, 2009 8:50 PM:

" kkd, you aren't the only one. Kelso schools are now canceled for tomorrow. "

day2day wrote on Jan 7, 2009 8:51 PM:

" Kelso schools are closed. "

Ella Mentry wrote on Jan 7, 2009 8:54 PM:

" fano24...if the river breached the levee, I think that would qualify as "lot of water." Isn't the evacuation mandatory? I hope no one has to place their life in danger just to save you when you could have saved yourself. "

fano24 wrote on Jan 7, 2009 8:56 PM:

" We have decided to stick it out so far our area looks fine. "

WsuCoug wrote on Jan 7, 2009 8:58 PM:

" AmericanGirl, there isnt one all the back roads are out as well. "

CONCERENED wrote on Jan 7, 2009 9:04 PM:

" IM IN WEST KELSO, MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH THESE VICTIMS OF MOTHER NATURE, HANG IN THERE PEOPLE , IT WILL SOON BE OVER AND WE SHALL SEE BRIGHT SUNNY DAYS AHEAD, NICE PIC TDN OF THAT HOUSE TO, HAVNT SEEN TO MUCH ABOUT THIS AREA, SINCE ALLWE GET IS portland NEWS , SHEESH!!! "

coach wrote on Jan 7, 2009 9:08 PM:

" and last week we were bitching about snow ohh my "

Kelso Eagle wrote on Jan 7, 2009 9:19 PM:

" Just stopped by the Grade Street bridge. Looks like the water level on the Coweeman has dropped some over the last few hours. It appears to be about the same level it was at lunch time, they say. Also sounds like the high tide for the Columbia is at 10:00P, so it might drain better as the tide goes out after that. "

AmericanGirl wrote on Jan 7, 2009 9:21 PM:

" Oh great well thank you anyway. "

1226 wrote on Jan 7, 2009 9:22 PM:

" Just because you don't see water in your area now, doesn't mean there won't be. If the dike overflows you will have water quickly and lots of it. Why take a chance with that? Do you have kids???? "

Roudyruss wrote on Jan 7, 2009 9:24 PM:

" Mabey Fano24 should go look at the Coweeman river and how it is only a few feet from going over the dike. The news said the experts give the odds at 50-50 of a breach. "

noduh wrote on Jan 7, 2009 9:26 PM:

" as a young girl i lived on s 7th in kelso and it flooded back then every year so good luck to those who stayed.I just want to say way to go..the police and firemen out there tonight are truly awesome.We took there advice and moved my elderly grandmother to higher ground.We didnt want to hear at 2am that water was coming into her home.This way she is safe dry and warm.what is one day away from home if saftey is an issue???Furthermore the dike at 7pm had 2 weak points with water coming thru.I pray for the safety of the ones who stayed home. "

craziemomma8 wrote on Jan 7, 2009 9:31 PM:

" If they are worried about part of the dike along the coweeman breaking and flooding all of south kelso why dont they close allen street under I-5 and dike it off so if part of the dike goes only one half or the other gets flooded instead of all of south Kelso. Also are they woried about the dike liquifying under the I-5 bridge due to vibrations from the freeway as they were during the 96 flood. "

trikay77 wrote on Jan 7, 2009 9:32 PM:

" any news about castle rock in the city limits? "

Lucky7 wrote on Jan 7, 2009 9:36 PM:

" AmericanGirl - unless you can fly U'r outa luck. Oly had a lot more rain than us, like 8 + inches in the last 24 hours. Roads closed, no trains. Best Advice: Find a hotel on a hill and stay put until Friday at least, maybe Vancouver? Even when the rain subsides tommorrow I suspect roads will be damaged and with the amount of flooding it'll take 2 or 3 days for it to subside enough for repairs. It's ugly out there! "

kelso gringo wrote on Jan 7, 2009 9:38 PM:

" Staying put here on south 6th in Kelso. "

day2day wrote on Jan 7, 2009 9:40 PM:

" Kelso schools are closed. "

MedStudent wrote on Jan 7, 2009 9:40 PM:

" I live in south Kelso on fourth. Earlier this afternoon I put clothes and everything in the car just in case. When the police started going up and down the roads telling everyone to evacuate, I loaded up my dog in my car and my grandma got in her car and we left. Last time it flooded back in 1996 the water never came to our house, but it seems worse this time around. If its fine tomorrow we'll probably go back home. "

kspringstead wrote on Jan 7, 2009 9:40 PM:

" So far the roads here are clear at North 2nd Avenue and Barnes St. I think the usual places on North Pacific Avenue will be affected by the rising water levels if at all.
My worry is that Mayfield Dam will have to let some water out later on this evening.
Does anyone remember what happened back in '96? I think they let too much out as I recall.
So that will be the real test of the dikes along the North Pacific Avenue going towards Castle Rock.
We can all look out our windows and report what is the state of the weather / water by the nearest cross streets from our homes. As a group we should be able to cover quite a large area.
My first suggestion is to ensure you have an escape route planned ahead of time. Be wiser than the situation. "

MOTOSPORT21 wrote on Jan 7, 2009 9:50 PM:

" beermanyoder I AM FROM NEW ORLEANS TOO...WHEN DID YOU COME UP? AND FROM WHERE....ME RIVER RIDGE "

longviewWA33 wrote on Jan 7, 2009 9:52 PM:

" Have any of you guys seen the kalama river today I did and it was the highest i have ever seen it, there were so many house flooded I would have never thought the river could reach some of those houses but it did "

sawdust2553 wrote on Jan 7, 2009 9:53 PM:

" TO AMERICAN GIRL:
To get to Castle rock to Olympia around the closure, try this. Go north on I-5 to Hwy 12. Go east to Marys corner. Then North on Jackson Hwy. It will turn in to Gold Street in Chehelis and then into North Pearl in Centralia. Follow signs to Bucoda then to Tenino. You may then take 99 north bound to Olympia or travel on 99 west bound which will take you to I-5 at exit 88 where it is closed. A word of Caution; You should drive this route only during the day unless you are familiar with it. You may have some flooding problems around Bucoda. You may see the route by looing at WWW. googlemaps.com Good luck "

CONCERENED wrote on Jan 7, 2009 9:57 PM:

" HECK CRAZIEMOMMA, IN THE 2 YRS I WORKED THERE, THEY CAME IN HALF DEAD TO START WITH LOL!!! "

becauseicare wrote on Jan 7, 2009 10:05 PM:

" We just contacted the fire department and Castle Rock in city is on "YELLOW" alert meaning that we need to have a bag packed with our belongings so that we are not scrambling when\if they do announce an evacuation. Please don't forget about your pets, atleast try to get them to an upper level if you can not take them with you. "

kspringstead wrote on Jan 7, 2009 10:12 PM:

" Hey, everyone if we hear the warning for evacuation remember to be as organized as we all courteous as possible as we depart our homes for planned routes for escape of the 2009 Flood, call ahead to your planned destination(s), if in case of a force out or high water.
I hear the wind increasing outside and the rain still coming down, any news I find out I will share, so far I know that the Kalama River road is currently blocked by mudslides, I read that from another forum on this site.
Listen for the emergency broadcast system will have a shelter if you cannot get to your planned destination. Can anyone recommend a radio station, which is currently covering the flood of 2009 currently? Please inform the group just in case we lose power we can use our battery-powered radios to keep up-to-date on the local events as they happen. Lets keep in mind that power failure is a possibility and to prepare for it in case it happens or at least have some flash lights close by as you try to find you way around in the dark. Remember to locate your Fuse box or breaker box if the water get up high enough you should know how to throw the main breaker as to prevent injury due to electrical shock. Trying to be as proactive and not reactive. "

Scot Heisel, TDN wrote on Jan 7, 2009 10:20 PM:

" Here's a link to a story I just posted about Castle Rock: http://www.tdn.com/articles/2009/01/08/area_news/doc4965943fe6bc2633056636.txt "

IQ wrote on Jan 7, 2009 10:23 PM:

" When is the river supposed to crest? Is the dike still holding? We all evacuated So Kelso in 96 but the dike held & there wasn't any water inside the diked area.... let's pray we are that lucky this time. God be with all of you who stayed. "

craziemomma8 wrote on Jan 7, 2009 10:39 PM:

" Kalama river road and old pacefic hwy are closed at there junction due to flooding over the roadway from the Kalama river over floving this whole area. I watched eirlier as the river crossed Kalama river road then crossed the fairgrounds and then into cress lake now the lake is full and going over old pacefic hwy s it is closed at Mt. Pleasent and the freeway exit for Kalama river road. "

craziemomma8 wrote on Jan 7, 2009 10:40 PM:

" I haerd on the news the river is suposto crest at 4am "

craziemomma8 wrote on Jan 7, 2009 10:43 PM:

" Good luck to every one and may you all have dry homes in the morning and my god be with us all. "

fringe wrote on Jan 7, 2009 10:43 PM:

" My husband works for the city and I hope nothing happens to him when he has to go rescue someone who stayed.!! I don't get it. It is worse this time around. All that has been speculated about could happen. Why not leave...? No friends, no family to take you in elsewhere? There are shelters if you need one... just get out and let the families of the rescue, road, city, etc... rest easier. "

Lucky7 wrote on Jan 7, 2009 10:45 PM:

" Supposed to crest in Kelso 8:00 a.m. tommorrow morning about 4 feet above flood stage, but it'll stay high for a few days. I bet it'll be late Friday or even Saturday before we even get back to flood stage. "

avery's mommy wrote on Jan 7, 2009 10:55 PM:

" Down here in North Kelso with water up to my steps, any word on wether or not we are going to have to evacuate? "

mikadax wrote on Jan 7, 2009 10:56 PM:

" where is the castle rock red cross shelter at? "

Atrucker wrote on Jan 7, 2009 11:26 PM:

" Re: AmericanGirl, any back road now would be dangerous. To much water, wind, mudslides going on. And fallen trees, save your self the misery. "

kamilee2005 wrote on Jan 8, 2009 3:42 AM:

" I live in South Kelso on South Pacific. We were evacuated earlier today. I am really worried for everyone living in my neighborhood! I had to leave all of my personal belongings except a few pictures n some clothes...I am praying the flooding doesnt effect anyones homes....I know I have high hopes. Has it even began to flood around that area though? Its hard to think of the cowlitz actually reaching over the railroad tracks to my home...please anyone give me an update! Thanks and god bless! "

argoman wrote on Jan 8, 2009 7:35 AM:

" Hat's off to the Kelso city officials, it is about time you did something right. "

GaretJax wrote on Jan 8, 2009 7:36 AM:

" How's the streets look over around Dover St?? "

press wrote on Jan 8, 2009 7:47 AM:

" I mam across the oceans many here in Philippines and I from the Kelso/Longveiw area and I am upset about the news I have just read.

I hope that everyone stays calm does not panic and works together in getting through this the best that they can by giving out any advises that the can that are good.

Last week we also had flooding on this local Visayan Island and in one town two people were missing an old grandfather and his fie year old son had washed away and untill now have not been found due to flooding.

The houses here are mostley made of nippa hut and bamboo and their house had collasped.

I wish everyone safety again. "

Amazed By Ignorance wrote on Jan 8, 2009 9:25 AM:

" Is the city of Longview keeping an eye on the sloughs? I live near 32nd & Ocean Beach, and it was about 4 feet from flowing over into the street yesterday around 1 p.m. To all you macho types "riding the storm out"...Move your butts. The ten seconds of fame you may get on the news just isn't worth it. "

monkeycrazy35 wrote on Jan 8, 2009 9:48 AM:

" Well Kamilee it is MOM and they just lifted the evacuation for South Kelso!!!! "

Kalama Dude wrote on Jan 8, 2009 11:28 AM:

" WSDOT and the WSP aren't letting anyone use Hwy 12 unless they prove they live there. That was in all the news yesterday and again today, so giving a lovely route through Chehalis will not be an option until Monday apparently. Giving anyone this info and some level of hope is wrong. Let them check the official resources or try for themselves, but in the case of I-5 North you will get turned around at Exit 68 NOT allowed to meander through wherever to your hearts content. Learn the facts before giving any advice people others these fine folks will actually try what you incorrectly tell them and could get stranded or worse. Good luck though. "

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