Columbia, Walla Walla counties recovering from weekend floods
By Caleb Stipkovits
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COLUMBIA COUNTY, Wash. (KAPP) — Communities across southeast Washington are working to recover after weekend flooding left some areas temporarily underwater.
Dayton, the largest city in Columbia County, experienced significant flooding that covered streets with water reaching up to a foot high on some properties.
“I was sleeping so it must have happened in the middle of the night,” Josh Lucas said, one Dayton resident. “I was wondering what was going on, then I heard swooshing outside, then I looked outside and saw all this water.”
At its peak, Lucas said the water reached his doorstep, about a foot off the ground.
Dayton, Waitsburg, and other communities built along the Touchet River bore the brunt of the flooding. The towns now face extensive cleanup efforts as residents and local crews work to remove the mud and debris left behind.
“I just started. Someone already shoveled my sidewalk, I don’t know who did. It’s a pain,” Lucas said about the cleanup process.
The flooding originated in the nearby Blue Mountains, where the combination of rainfall melting snow at high elevations and additional rain in the foothills overwhelmed the local water system. That included the Touchet river and other nearby water sources, causing them to swell.
Despite the challenging cleanup ahead, Lucas offered encouragement to fellow residents dealing with flood damage.
“Stay strong, that’s it. Stay strong,” he said.
Cleanup crews continue working to clear streets in Dayton and other affected areas. Authorities are asking residents to avoid driving on roads that remain blocked during the ongoing recovery efforts.
Apple Valley News Now plans to speak further with the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office for more information on the county’s cleanup efforts.
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