La Conner Community News

12/14/2025

SATURDAY UPDATE

The d**es and levees held overnight and there is no imminent risk of flooding to La Conner, though the National Weather Service and authorities warn of another wet weather front moving in Sunday night.

Town leaders urge residents to keep their go bags handy and gas tanks full.

Skagit County is still in full emergency response mode as crews monitor damaged levees, high river flows and widespread flooding — and now another atmospheric river with high winds is on the way. The next storm is expected to arrive Sunday evening, bringing the potential for moderate to major flooding early next week.

With the river projected to stay near or above flood stage into late next week, the county’s Emergency Operations Center remains activated around the clock, and residents are being urged to stay alert as conditions evolve.

Read the whole update here:

The d**es and levees held overnight and there is no imminent risk of flooding to La Conner. Many areas nearby are flooded, and Governor Bob Ferguson reports President Trump agreed to an emergency d…

12/13/2025

La Conner made it through the end of the week without any flooding, though our neighboring communities of Fir Island, Mount Vernon, Burlington and further east are still dealing with major flooding. Local officials are still watching the d**es and levees carefully for signs of failure or breach, but as of Friday night, we have not yet had incidents that could send river water our way. However. The river is still heavy with water, the ground is saturated and the d**e and drainage systems under immense pressure. Officials will know more in the morning about downstream impacts to water and sewage systems.

12/12/2025

Update: While the direct link to the Skagit County flood page isn't working, you can access it here: https://skagitcounty.net/Departments/EmergencyInformation/

Note the county does not link to the Town of La Conner's updates page. You can get local information from the Town here: https://www.townoflaconner.org/AlertCenter.aspx?AID=FLOOD-INFORMATION-DEC-2025-110

12/12/2025

UPDATE: The flooding across the state, including Skagit County, has been declared a national emergency, according to Governor Bob Ferguson. Read the governor's social post and see the written confirmation below.

I just received a phone call from Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem. Secretary Noem informed me that the president signed our request for an emergency declaration. We have also received written confirmation of that emergency declaration.

I expressed my thanks to Secretary Noem on behalf of the people of the State of Washington during this extremely challenging time. More details at our 2 p.m. media availability.

12/12/2025

The Skagit County Department of Emergency Management special webpage for flood information is down for at least the second time since Wednesday. Go to the Town of La Conner's website for official updates follow La Conner Community News for regular news briefings.

On Friday morning, La Conner remained generally unaffected by the flooding taking place upriver in the Skagit Valley, though the risk of flooding remains as the rains continue and Skagit River continues to swell and put pressure on d**es and levies.

The Town reiterated that they have not called for an evacuation here. Skagit County has urged evacuation since Wednesday, causing confusion among residents about what to do. Town officials say La Conner’s flood risk is different from neighboring areas, even those in the floodplain. To flood La Conner, the Skagit River would have to break through a d**e and travel several miles across farmland before reaching town, which could take hours.

Presently, the d**es and levees are holding and made it through the night intact, according to the incident management team coordinating with local authorities.

Elsewhere, Burlington experienced some flooding overnight and Fir Island is still closed and likely to remain closed for the day. Most of the flooding appears to be coming from overflowing water on Highway 20.

12/12/2025

🚨 Flood update from the Town of La Conner 🚨

Many of you have seen the county and state evacuation alerts on our website, in our posts and in the news coverage of the weather system moving through Northwest Washington right now. But it might seem a little confusing, since the Swinomish Channel hasn’t flooded the boardwalk and the town is presently calm.

You may also have noticed the Town hasn’t blared a horn urging you to evacuate. There is a reason for that, and we sat down with La Conner Emergency Management Commissioner Doug Asbe today to learn why.

TL;DR

La Conner’s flood risk is different from neighboring areas, even those in the floodplain. To flood La Conner, the Skagit River would have to break through a d**e and then travel several miles across farmland before reaching town. That has not happened, and officials are monitoring the d**es closely so they can act quickly if it does.

What NOAA is forecasting tonight and tomorrow

NOAA’s latest forecast for the Skagit River at the Mount Vernon gauge (8:41 a.m. Thursday) predicts a crest of 39.1 feet around 10 a.m. Friday — above the previous record of 37.4’. Forecast probabilities show a 90% chance of a crest around 38 feet.
This is a significant river event, but La Conner’s risk depends on the integrity of the d**e system, not just river height.

What the Town recommends

The Town is NOT asking residents to evacuate right now. As stated on its website, the Town recognizes the event is significant, but “... based on current information available, the Town recommends that residents be prepared to evacuate, but wait to evacuate until directed to do so.”

Asbe acknowledged this can be confusing for consumers of information who are trying to make a decision about what to do, but reiterated that the blanket evacuation orders do not take into account La Conner’s proximity to the swelling rivers.

The Town urges you to be ready NOW with:

✔️ A GO bag
✔️ A full tank of gas
✔️Review of your evacuation route

The d**es protecting La Conner are being monitored now and will be continuously and intensively monitored this afternoon by the d**e and drainage districts. If a d**e fails, Asbe is counting on d**e district officials to notify the Skagit County Department of Emergency Management, who will in turn notify the Town.

Asbe said you will know if a d**e failure occurs: You will be notified by continuous long blasts from fire engine air horns signaling it’s time to evacuate.

Residents should have time to move to safe areas, such as Maple Hall or the Garden Club. These shelter spaces are not up and running yet and will not be until the horns blare, Asbe said. Town officials do not have the resources to open them before a d**e failure occurs.

Read more on the Town's website,

Please see the subpage under "How Do I . . ." and then "Find" for "FLOOD INFORMATION-DEC 2025" for the latest information.

12/11/2025

*Access to Fir Island and Conway to tighten by midday*

By noon, roads around Fir Island are expected to be restricted to local traffic only, according to county officials.

Equipment is staged across Fir Island and Conway, including backhoes and other heavy machinery, in case flood‐fight work is needed.

Skagit County Fire District 3 is preparing five trucks of sandbags. If more are needed, they may put out a call for volunteers, but they are not asking for general volunteers this morning.

Crews are patrolling the d**es, looking for boils, slumping, seepage or other early signs of trouble.

12/11/2025

🚨 La Conner declares a state of emergency 🚨

Mayor Marna Hanneman has officially declared a local state of emergency for the Town of La Conner in response to the ongoing flooding threat and unprecedented rainfall. The declaration cites the risk of road closures, impacts to the wastewater treatment plant, and threats to public facilities, as well as a substantial risk to people, property and the environment.

What this means for you:

• The Town’s Emergency Management Plan is now fully activated.
• The Mayor and town departments can move quickly, enter emergency contracts, and request additional resources.
• Emergency notifications and responses may escalate as conditions change.
• The declaration stays in place until further notice.

This does not mean danger is imminent inside town limits right now — but it does mean officials are mobilizing resources and preparing for possible impacts if levees fail or conditions worsen.

More to come! Follow us and keep an eye on the Town's dedicated emergency webpage for updates: https://www.townoflaconner.org/AlertCenter.aspx?AID=FLOOD-INFORMATION-DEC-2025-110

12/11/2025

It's bright and still in La Conner this morning, and your dedicated team of volunteer newsies were up bright and early to pick up your newspapers and deliver them to you!

We are dropping off extra newspapers at the La Conner Fire Department and the Rex, and will add more locations as we get a handle on what is open and what isn't. You can always stop by the newsroom and pick one up -- we'll leave a stack by the door if we aren't here.

A big morning update to come in the next hour. Stay warm, stay dry and get to higher ground, neighbors!

12/11/2025

EVACUATION ORDERED FOR AREAS IN THE 100-YEAR FLOODPLAIN

La Conner flood update, 10:33 p.m.

At 10:04 p.m., Skagit County called for evacuation of the entire 100-year floodplain area, which includes La Conner and a few areas of the Swinomish Reservation.

Reached via email, La Conner Emergency Management Chair Brianna Wilson says the immediate concern is the outskirts of La Conner, not the town core, Shelter Bay, the Swinomish Reservation, or Snee-Oosh. However, levees and d**es remain at risk, and any failure could affect the town itself, most likely Friday/Saturday if it occurs.

Emergency shelter sites have been identified but are not yet open. If needed, the Garden Club and Maple Hall would likely open first for those in immediate need. Residents should be prepared to bring their own sleeping bags/blankets and water/food for up to three days, given the scale of regional impacts.

More details on shelter openings and next steps will be shared as soon as they’re confirmed.

Here is Skagit County's press release in full:

Skagit County is experiencing major flooding and is operating under a ‘LEVEL THREE – GO’ evacuation. All residents living within the 100-year floodplain should evacuate to high ground immediately. Do not wait.

The Skagit River is predicted to crest at record-setting levels over the next two days. The city of Concrete is expected to see a crest at 46.13 feet and Mount Vernon is predicted to crest at 42.13 feet. In 2021, the Skagit River set records at 38.93 feet in Concrete and at 33.11 feet in Mount Vernon. WA State Governor Ferguson has declared a statewide emergency in response to historic flooding across the state.

Floodplain Maps & Road Closures

Use the new interactive 100-year floodplain map to find your property and see what ZIP codes are under evacuation. The flood plain is indicated on the map by yellow/orange. Widespread evacuation notices are in effect: www.skagitcounty.net/flood.

Track state-wide road conditions and closures on the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) website at: https://wsdot.com/Travel/Real-time/Map/.

Residents are encouraged to sign up for emergency information alerts or follow Skagit County on Facebook . The River Level Hotline at (360) 416-1404 and www.skagitcounty.net/flood are also updated frequently.

Emergency Shelters / Resources

The Skagit County Emergency Operations Center is coordinating shelters with local organizations, churches, towns, and the American Red Cross. Shelters and parking are on a first-come, first-served basis. Residents displaced by floodwaters can seek shelter in the following places:

Concrete High School:
Address: 7830 South Superior Avenue, Concrete, WA 98237
Contact: 360-391-2589
No pets allowed at this shelter
Family Promise at Central United Methodist Church
Address: 1013 Polte Rd, Sedro-Wooley, WA 98284
Contact: 360-854-0743
Pets will be accommodated if possible.
Bethany Covenant Church – Red Cross Shelter
Address: 1318 S 18th St, Mount Vernon, WA 98274
Contact: 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767)
Pets are not allowed at this shelter
Parking Lots for Vehicles Only

Silo Park, Parking Lot
Address: 7503 N Superior, Concrete, WA
Parking Lot behind Superior Building
Address: 45418 Main Street, Concrete, WA
Concrete Community Center
Address: 45821 Railroad Avenue, Concrete, WA
RV Parking

Bakerview Park parking lot
Address: 3101 East Fir Street, Mount Vernon, WA 98273
Available for fully self-contained RVs only, no facilities or hookups.
Skagit Speedway
Address: 4796 Old Highway 99 North; Burlington WA 98233
Livestock Resources

Shelter for livestock is available at the Sedro-Woolley Rodeo Grounds located at 24538 Polte Rd, Sedro-Woolley. For questions, call: 360-421-9468.

If you need help making arrangements for your livestock, you can contact Skagit Animals in Need (SAIN) at [email protected] or on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/SkagitAnimalsInNeed.

Additional resources will be posted as they are available.

Safety Reminders During Floods

The Skagit County Emergency Operations Center is working with partner agencies to survey the county and close roads impacted by flood waters. The Skagit County Sheriff’s Office will work with emergency response agencies to help evacuate communities as needed.

Do not drive on d**es or over flooded roadways. Practice “turn around, don’t drown.”
Follow all road closure and cautionary signs and do not drive around barricades. Water can be deeper and faster-moving than it looks, making driving through any moving water very dangerous.
Specific Questions?

Skagit County Department of Emergency Management will help the public find available sand and sandbagging resources. Those in need of sandbags can reach out to DEM at [email protected] or by calling (360) 416-2090

To monitor road closures, visit the Skagit County road closure website here: www.skagitcounty.net/reporting/roadclose/

Residents should monitor forecasts and be ready for additional weather alerts. For health, safety, and preparedness information about floods, visit www.skagitcounty.net/Flood/Documents/FAW%20Insert%202025.pdf.

For updated river forecasts, please visit www.skagitcounty.net/Departments/EmergencyInformation/levels.htm or call the River Level Hotline at (360) 416-1404.

For more local emergency information, sign up for the emergency information listserv or follow Skagit County on Facebook . Call the Flood Hotline for general questions about this flooding event at (360) 416-2090. The River Level Hotline at (360) 416-1404 and www.skagitcounty.net/flood are updated frequently during events and can be resources for information as well.

Historic Flooding Predicted for Skagit County, Upriver Communities Recommended to Evacuate - December 10, 2025, 10:42 a.m. - En español

12/11/2025

La Conner flood update, 10:08 p.m.

The Christmas Boat Parade scheduled for Saturday has been canceled for safety reasons.

With the Skagit River forecast to crest up to 4 feet above the record flood level on Thursday and Friday, and state and local emergencies declared across Skagit County, officials expect significant debris — including large floating logs — to move through the Swinomish Channel. Town staff have already observed increased debris along the boardwalk.

Because of the heightened risk to boaters and spectators, the Town and parade organizers agreed to cancel this year’s event to keep everyone safe.

Also:

Skagit County will be closing all non-essential government services, including all District Court and Superior Court services, on Thursday to ensure the safety of employees and residents and to allow emergency response teams the ability to focus on critical operations. Essential services — including emergency management, public safety, and road maintenance — will continue to operate.

There will be La Conner Community News paper delivery on Thursday, as long as it is safe for our team of dedicated newsies. We just picked up tomorrow's newspaper bundles from the printer off Anderson Road and brought them back to town with no issue. If you see a La Conner Community News newsie out delivering papers in the wild, please thank them for their volunteer service to make sure everyone stays informed and connected.

12/11/2025

UPDATE: Conway and d**e and drainage districts

At a community meeting at Skagit County Fire District 3 in Conway tonight, officials said they will begin patrolling the d**es at 6 a.m. Thursday, with crews supporting d**e district commissioners and monitoring the Skagit River closely.

They acknowledged that the biggest risk to Conway (and to La Conner) right now is flooding if the d**es and drainage systems fail after the rivers crest, which could happen Thursday and Friday mornings.

The meeting followed an evacuation alert for Conway that was sent through the state Emergency Management Division’s texting program to the cell phones of people in the area to the surprise of local officials.

About an hour after the phone alert went out, SCFD3, D**e District 3 and D**e District 22 — which covers Conway and Fir Island — posted a clarification to Facebook:

“This was issued at a state level, not local level, out of an abundance of caution. The Conway and Fir Island area are not in immediate danger at this time and evacuation is at your own discretion.”

At the meeting, Skagit County Sheriff Sgt. Brad Holmes reiterated that local agencies are not forcing anyone to evacuate, but strongly urged people to leave if they can — either tonight or tomorrow morning. He said the purpose of the state alert is to encourage those who are able to go early to do so, so limited local resources can focus on emergencies and rescues for those who remain. River height forecasts, he noted, have been changing and generally increasing throughout the day.

A D**e District 22 commissioner acknowledged the uncertainty, calling the Skagit “a very confusing river” and saying they are doing their best to prepare even though “we don’t know where to start” until the river shows more activity.

Darrin Morrison of D**e District 3 said they are standing up operations to patrol the levees on Fir Island and along the Skagit River from the east side of the river to the county line to the south. He said commissioners have been trying to think ahead and have done “tons of work over the last couple of years on the levees.”

“We feel confident we can hold a normal flood,” Morrison said, but emphasized that it’s a complex system, and it’s not automatic that the river will hit the projected 41–42 feet.

Residents were encouraged to evacuate if they are able, preferably by tomorrow morning, keep go-bags ready, and continue monitoring official updates.