The Chronicle, 2/25/99
A Phase 1 flood is expected today on the Chehalis River in Centralia and Chehalis, according to the National Weather Service.
A Phase 1 flood, the smallest in Lewis County's four-phase flood classification system, inundates low, flood-prone areas, but spares most business and residential areas.
The river is expected to crest at midday in Lewis and Thurston counties, flooding some
residential and business districts in the Twin Cities.
The Skookumchuck River is expected to crest below flood stage in Lewis County, but was above flood stage in Thurston County early Thursday morning. It was expected to recede slowly, according to the NWS.
Showers expected today won't be enough to keep the rivers from receding, according to NWS forecasts.
At 7 a.m. today, the Chehalis River was at 69.15 feet at the Mellen Street Bridge in Centralia. Flood stage there is 65 feet. The Skookumchuck was continuing to rise, reaching 83.23 feet at the Pearl Street Bridge, still below the flood stage of 85 feet.
Wednesday saw 1.15 inches of rain in Centralia, following 0.76 inches on Tuesday. The area around Pe Ell got the most rain, with 1.84 inches reported for Wednesday, relatively dry after Tuesday's 4.26 inches.
Heavy rainfall forced closure of more than a dozen Lewis County roads Wednesday, although some were reopened today.
The Adna area west of Chehalis received the brunt of the storm, as high water forced closure of nine roads, and water ran over 21 more of the region's county and state roads.
The state Department of Transportation closed Highway 6 at milepost 13 near Lebam at 8:40 a.m. Wednesday, and reopened it at 4:20 a.m. today, said spokeswoman Linda Mullen.
Water ran over the highway elsewhere, although not so much to warrant additional closures.
In Thurston County, commissioners declared a state of emergency Monday in response to flooding and landslide damage.
The county has been hit with 60 percent more rain than it has ever recorded, said Keith Eisner, Thurston County public works spokesman.
Flooding forced closures in South Thurston County at Anderson Road north of U.S. Highway 12, Moon Road at 183rd Avenue, Independence Road at 201st Avenue 188th Avenue near the Lucky Eagle Casino, and Independence Road at Marble Road and 110th Avenue.
Slide dangers in Thurston County were concentrated near the Steamboat Island peninsula and Sunset Beach near The Evergreen State College.
Throughout Lewis County, water flowed over 51 roads Wednesday, closing 13.
Road closures still in effect this morning included Rice Road, Shorey Road, Curtis Hill Road, Tune Road, Teitzel Road, Twin Oaks Road from Highway 603 to Pleasant Valley Road, Highway 603 near Highway 6, and King Road.
"It looks like we're in pretty decent shape this morning," said Ed Oliphant, county interim road maintenance superintendent.
The only "lasting concern" involves a slide over Draper Road in Independence Valley that could get worse, Oliphant said.
"We're out there today," he said. "(It's) going to be a little difficult to deal with there."
A small slide at the Golden Age Mobile Home Park, Chehalis, also occurred early Wednesday morning, causing damage to an outbuilding and possibly to a mobile home at 151 Leona Lane, said Bob Nacht, city community development director.
Trees broke across the top of the home, although damage was unknown as of The Chronicle's news deadline this morning.
The city of Chehalis ordered 16 of 20 homes in the park east of Lewis County Mall evacuated last week as a hillside threatened to give way and bury the residences.
The county was fortunate that temperatures cooled in East Lewis County, stopping snow from melting. Heavy snowpack in the mountains could have greatly exacerbated the situation, Oliphant said.
"If you get that combination, head for the hills," Oliphant said.
Although Highway 6 is still closed in places because of water over the roadway, Pe Ell and Boistfort students are back in school today.
Adna students, who were released early Wednesday, are also back in school today.
Reporters James Geluso, John Henderer and Alice Thomas contributed to this story.
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