Flooding

An Associated Press review has found that thousands of people may be paying more for flood insurance or remain unaware of the dangers of dam failures because of conflicting federal policies.

Nooksack officials and homeowners are concerned about problematic drainage that appears to be getting worse.

Authorities rescued people from raging rivers and roads submerged by high waters in the Pacific Northwest and continued to investigate the deaths of two people whose bodies were found in Oregon creeks this week as an atmospheric river brought heavy rain, flooding and unseasonably warm temperatures to the region.

An atmospheric river has brought heavy rain, flooding and warm winter temperatures to the Pacific Northwest, closing rail links, schools and roads as it shattered daily rainfall and temperature records in Washington state.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says high tide flooding has become more common as sea levels rise and is affecting residents of coastal towns and states. Floods that used to only occur during large storms now occur more regularly from simple causes.

A strong storm fueled by an “atmospheric river” brought rain, snow and threat of flooding and avalanches on Monday to the Pacific Northwest. Forecasters said a new daily rainfall record was set in Seattle Monday with 2.33 inches of rain and the rainfall total over 48 hours was close to surpassing the normal precipitation for all of February.

The main east-west highway in Washington state reopened over the mountain passes after being closed for almost four days due to a winter storm that made travel too dangerous.

At least one person was missing and presumed dead as snow turned to rain and deluged the Pacific Northwest, causing flooding, landslides and avalanche danger in the mountains.

The latest storm to hit the Pacific Northwest brought flood warnings, the shutdown of mountain passes, school closures and icy roads Thursday.

State health officials are investigating the three omicron variant COVID-19 cases confirmed in Washington so far. Olympia correspondent Austin Jenkins and KNKX Morning Edition host Kirsten Kendrick look at that response and other issues facing state government right now.