Environment

How WA property owners can get financial relief after the flood

More than 100,000 Washington residents have been advised to evacuate their homes in the wake of catastrophic flooding across the region. That’s about double the number of Washington homes and businesses that are covered by flood insurance.

Live updates: Western Washington floodwaters recede, but atmospheric rivers expected to return Sunday

The Stehekin Valley near Lake Chelan is under an evacuation order as officials predict more landslides and rising waters by Monday. Floodwaters near the Skagit River have begun to recede, but officials say residents should only return home if routes are safe and open, and their homes aren't currently flooded. Residents in Skagit County, a densely populated agricultural hub an hour north of Seattle, and elsewhere across the state aren't out of the water yet. Additional atmospheric rivers are forecast to hit again Sunday evening through Wednesday. Areas affected by heavy rainfall are at an increased risk of landslides and mudslides. Officials have advised visitors of burned areas this weekend to take extra precautions. The Trump administration on Friday approved Washington state’s appeal for federal disaster assistance, quelling some anxiety over whether the state would receive federal assistance. View KUOW's developing list of flooding resources here. See flood updates from Thursday, Dec. 11 here.

Western Washington faces 'catastrophic' flooding as two atmospheric rivers dump heavy rain

Western Washington braced for what the National Weather Service in Seattle called “catastrophic” conditions Wednesday as an atmospheric river drenched the state.

Cleaning leaf-clogged bike lanes on Seattle’s Eastside — using bike power

Fall in the Seattle area means lots of leaves in bike lanes. Slippery, soggy leaves can be dangerous on two wheels. Now, volunteers in Kirkland have a clever, new tool to clean bike lanes from the seat of a bike.

Can a watershed have legal rights? The Snohomish River debate deepens

The tide is turning in a Snohomish County legal battle over whether a river and its watershed have legal rights that can be defended in court.

Endangered orcas return to Puget Sound without newborn J64, presumed dead

Almost the entire population of southern resident killer whales gathered in central Puget Sound on Sunday, but the newest member of J Pod, a newborn known as J64, was not among them.

Furloughed feds pick up Seattle beach trash to keep serving the public

Furloughed federal employees were out in the rain picking up cigarette butts, bottle caps, and other trash at Seattle’s Golden Gardens Park on Friday.

Staff shortages pull Forest Service office workers into fire roles

After a slew of firings and deferred resignations last winter, U.S. Forest Service employees who are normally in the office — like wildlife biologists or hydrologists — have jumped in to help with fire information.

Orca mom carries dead newborn calf in San Juans