The rising waters have brought more than just sightseers. The Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office said looters have taken to kayaks to steal from flooded properties.
SNOHOMISH, Wash. — Marsh Road in Snohomish has become an unlikely attraction, drawing neighbors and curious strangers to witness a route that people never expected to see underwater.
The Snohomish River, normally about six miles away, has transformed a peaceful rural road into a flooded waterway.
“We came over here to check it out, and we didn’t believe it until we really saw it, how bad it was,” said Zach Herrick, who used to drive the route regularly.
Herrick described Marsh Road as a peaceful drive that pairs perfectly with listening to music.
“Now, I mean, I guess you could do the same thing with a boat,” he said with a laugh.
The flooding has submerged the road under an estimated 20 to 30 feet of water in some areas. The Snohomish County Golf Center and multiple family farms are now completely underwater.
But the rising waters have brought more than sightseers. The Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office said looters are using kayaks to steal from flooded properties.
“People are coming from all over the area just to take advantage of these people who can’t get to their properties right now, and it’s just heartbreaking,” said Reva Barnhart, whose home borders the flooded area.
Barnhart said onlookers even climbed onto the roof of her and her husband, Michael Urick, to get a look at the historic flood—then came the thieves.
“They had kayaks out here, but they were taking stuff from trailers in boats with motors on them,” Urick said.
Deputies said looters navigated to flooded Franklin Farms, though the stolen property was later recovered.
Next to Barnhart and Urick’s home, furniture and animals from the farm are safely being stored on a neighbor’s property, where water has stayed out so far. But residents fear that may not last.
“The next storm that’s coming through Monday through Thursday is probably going to take our house,” Urick said.
Authorities are urging anyone forced to evacuate to lock up valuables and take steps to protect their property, including installing security cameras. Despite road closures and “No Trespassing” signs, people continue to enter the flood zone.
The sheriff’s office is asking residents to report suspicious activity immediately.
Source link
