La Conner community combats wave of saltwater flooding

Normal lasted less than 24 hours last week after La Conner weathered heavy snowfall and thick ice before Christmas that brought the community to a virtual standstill.

Winter king tides along with high westerly winds and low barometric pressure contributing to steady rain and rapid melt-off combined to produce flood conditions causing significant damage to more than a dozen homes and businesses in the town's low-lying areas from Sherman Street (south) to State Street (north) and downtown last Tuesday morning.

The fast-rising Swinomish Channel flooding, fueled by Skagit River run-off, prompted La Conner Mayor Ramon Hayes to issue a state of emergency Dec. 27.

The declaration Hayes signed authorized Town staff to take immediate emergency measures to protect the health and safety of persons, property and the environment in La Conner.

"We're working with (Skagit County) emergency management," he told the Weekly News last Wednesday, "and we're looking to forge a strategy with our legislative representatives."

That strategy would be both short-term and long-range in nature, said Hayes.

"As terrible as this event was and I wish it had never happened," Hayes said, "I think La Conner is the perfect size to put together a model (flood control) plan that we can present to our legislators and the governor."

In the meantime, Hayes and Town Administrator Scott Thomas are asking residents and merchants to report flood damages by Jan. 11 for potential state disaster relief aid.

"The more damage reports we have," said Thomas, "the better our chances of receiving assistance."

The list should be lengthy.

The interior of Santo Coyote Mexican Kitchen at Morris and Second streets was swamped with six inches of water. After the front entrance was sandbagged, a drain cleared and water swept away, the restaurant re-opened later in the week.

Water gushed inside other businesses as well, including handmade. la conner, Nell Thorn's and Clever Kathy Designs on First Street. The latter store's carpet had to be pulled due to mildew damage and cardboard boxes containing merchandise were soaked, co-owner Al Felkar said.

"We've had flooding before," he said, "but nothing quite like this."

Felkar, Chamber of Commerce Director Mark Hulst, Town Council member Rick Dole, Town public works employees, La Conner firefighters, Swinomish Emergency Manager Brian Geer and others were on the boardwalk early Wednesday to assess flood impact and monitor that morning's king tide.

None anticipated a repeat of Tuesday's torrent, which fortunately proved to be the case.

"Having higher air pressure is definitely a factor," Dole said.

Geer termed Tuesday a "perfect storm" of conditions that bore highly imperfect consequences. Like Dole, he and Adam Avery of La Conner's fire department welcomed the rise of barometric pressure Wednesday.

La Conner is no stranger to winter flooding, going back decades. But few if any could remember a surge of water from Swinomish Channel as severe as that experienced Dec. 27.

Public Works Director Brian Lease likened it to a river that quickly converted some lawns in town to virtual lakes, requiring prolonged use of pumps to remove the water.

"We were ready for the king tide," said Lease, whose crews had worked Christmas Day on a Maple Avenue water issue, "but there was also the low pressure, high winds and rain that were part of the mix."

A KING-TV news team was in La Conner in the aftermath of the flood to interview Thomas and townspeople.

The Seattle station spoke with former Weekly News editor and publisher Sandy Stokes, a Caledonia Street resident, whose home was inundated with 10 inches of water. Stokes told news staff that she and husband Bill had to pump water out of a bathroom window prior to evacuating.

"We're alive, we're good," Sandy Stokes said. "Everything is good. Nobody drowned. Nobody was hurt."

Stuart Welch said on-air that he considered himself fortunate that water didn't enter his home at Caledonia and Fourth streets.

"The water got to within one inch of coming in the house," said Welch.

Even so, he didn't completely escape the deluge. Deep water collected in his garage, destroying items stored there and forcing Welch to remove his vehicles and employ a large fan to dry out the building.

The timing could not have been worse. Town offices were closed for a municipal holiday Dec. 26 since Christmas was Sunday, leading some to suggest that the Town was caught somewhat off-guard.

Still, flood control response was much in evidence well into Tuesday night. Volunteers of all ages answered the call to fill sandbags at the fire station and public works building. Bags were deployed the length of the waterfront and in low spots around town and likely will remain in place for some time.

"We'll clear space for walking," said Lease, noting that king tides are anticipated through January.

Lease noted the irony of Thanksgiving Day having been unseasonably warm, sporting spring-like weather.

"It was the first Thanksgiving in years that we didn't have any calls," he said. "Now, I guess we're paying for that."

Hayes said he was heartened by how the community rallied in wake of the flooding. The Rex and COA, area restaurants, fed volunteers while the Mesmans and Fohns, nearby farmers, provided additional equipment for sandbagging.

"The response on the part of everyone was tremendous," said Hayes. "It was great to see everybody coming together the way they did. That's what La Conner is all about."

Help came from all quarters. The Skagit County Sheriff's Office, Fire District 13, Fire District 2, Dike District 12, Swinomish Tribal Police and La Conner Schools joined area emergency management officials in answering the call.

The Town planned to strategically place waste containers for disposing of flood-damaged property Monday.

Hayes and Thomas are hoping the Town's State of Emergency declaration will be enough to enlist state support as well.

They urge residents and merchants to document expenses and taking photographs of damages.

Online self-reporting damage assessment forms links are:

English: skagitcountywa-self.govplatform.com/en/service/Damage_Assessment_Form.

Spanish: skagitcountywa-self.govplatform.com/es/service/Damage_Assessment_Form.