Nika Bartoo-Smith
Underscore Native News+ ICT
Flood warnings continue to go out across the state following heavy rains last week causing three tribes declaring state of emergencies and thousands of Washington state residents to evacuate their homes due to flooding.
Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson issued a statewide emergency declaration on Dec. 10 following the atmospheric river that brought over a foot of rain to parts of western and central Washington.
Lummi Nation also declared a state of emergency due to the severe flooding, hazardous travel conditions and rapidly rising water levels. The tribe is located approximately 100 miles north of Seattle near the U.S.-Canada border.
“Flooding is something our people have faced for generations,” said Anthony Hillaire, chairman of the Lummi Indian Business Council, in a Dec. 13 video update. “Events like this remind us why protecting our people, and improving critical infrastructure such as elevating Slater road and strengthening flood protections, remain a priority for the Lummi Nation. These investments are about safety, access and ensuring our community stays connected during emergencies.”
The tribe’s communication team announced Dec. 14 on Facebook that Lummi leadership and Lummi Natural Resources met with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that no damage to the levee, a concern due to the flooding, was found at that time. A levee is a natural or artificial stop bank to prevent the overflow of water.
The Snoqualmie Tribe, about 27 miles east of Seattle, also declared a state of emergency related to the flooding on Dec. 10.
On Dec. 11, the Nooksack Indian Tribe also declared an “atmospheric river and winter weather proclamation of emergency” since the heavy rainfall will affect the reservation, and opened an emergency shelter for community members impacted by flooding through Dec. 12.
This is a developing story.
This story is co-published by Underscore Native News and ICT, a news partnership that covers Indigenous communities in the Pacific Northwest.