UPDATE Yakima County commissioners declare state of emergency

YAKIMA — Yakima County commissioners declared a state of emergency this morning, paving the way for emergency help protecting urban levees should it become necessary.

Meanwhile, major highways linking Central Washington to the west side remain closed.

Interstate 90, the major east-west freeway, won’t open today, the state Department of Transportation said.

Also closed were White, Blewett and Stevens passes. Only Satus Pass, U.S. Highway 97 south to Goldendale, remains open.

Locally, the focus of concern about high water has shifted to the Yakima and Naches rivers as both continue to rise even as small streams are beginning to show signs of receding.

Both rivers are expected to crest above flood stage either this evening or tomorrow morning.

The Yakima River at Parker is expected to reach about 12 feet, two feet above flood stage.

The Naches River will be a foot above flood stage at about 18 feet before declining.

Yakima County Engineer Gary Ekstedt said the declaration allows the Army Corps of Engineers to take swift action to shore up urban levees if erosion occurs.

The levee system protects the Regional Wastewater Treatment plant as well as private property in Terrace Heights and east Yakima.

“It’s not so much about anything imminent,” Ekstedt said. “It is the severity of what happens if there is a problem.”

Elsewhere in Yakima County, the Nile Road is closed at Clover Springs because of water over the roadway.

Ekstedt said Ahtanum Creek appears to have stabilized and may be falling.

Kittitas County emergency officials also said they are seeing some urban streams recede. Flooding there prompted evacuations Wednesday.

Cooler weather is forecast, which should speed dropping flood waters.

According to a status report from Kittitas County authorities Wednesday night, 18 county roads are closed due to flooding in the Ellensburg area and the northwest part of the county.

Portions of Elk Meadows near Easton is being flooded, and power lines are down at Elk Meadows Drive.

Shelters for those displaced by flooding are open at the senior center in Cle Elum and St. Andrews Catholic Church in Ellensburg.

Overall, flood warnings are in effect for 14 counties in Western Washington and seven in Eastern Washington.

A total of 24 rivers are expected to flood over the next 48 hours.