Evacuations Urged Near Thurston County's LaGrande Dam

THURSTON COUNTY, WA — Amid heavy rains Thursday, Tacoma Power announced it would increase water flow from the LaGrande Dam, prompting evacuations along the Nisqually Delta. The Thurston County Sheriff's Office said water flow was expected to hit 17,000 cubic feet per second by 1 p.m. Thursday. River height is expected to peak at 4 p.m., but flooding is likely to continue through Friday. Thurston County officials said the evacuation advisory could remain in place until Saturday.

The Lacey Fire Department worked with the sheriff's office and Thurston Emergency Management to notify residents living near Durgin Road, Kuhlman Road and Nisqually Cutoff Road that they need to evacuate. A pet-friendly shelter was established by the American Red Cross at 6015 30th Avenue Southeast in Lacey.

According to the sheriff's office, riverside residents in the Nisqually Pines area should stay alert and be prepared to evacuate on short notice.

Widespread flooding was reported throughout the region Thursday morning, particularly in East King County and Snohomish County. The National Weather Service issued flood warnings at 18 river points, including waterways near Issaquah, Auburn, Puyallup, Orting, Snohomish and Monroe.

You can monitor the flood situation along all Thurston County rivers online, or visit the National Weather Service website for complete river forecasts.