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Rain subsides, but slide danger remains

The heavy rain has subsided, but some rivers could continue to rise and landslide danger could linger for several days
Hoquiam slide damage

SEATTLE - Nearly 200 people in Hoquiam were cut off after a landslide caused by heavy rain blocked the only road out of the neighborhood.

The slide came down on Beacon Hill Drive. City officials say the road could be blocked for days, but on Monday afternoon, some residents were being escorted to and from their homes via a logging road.

The Coast Guard was on stand-by in case there was a medical emergency and someone needed to be airlifted out.

Slides were reported on US 12, US 101 and SR 107.

In Hoquiam, nearly 5.4 inches of rain fell in 24 hours, the weather service said. In Monroe, the total was 6.9 inches. Nearly 5 inches fell in an area near Issaquah.

By Monday evening, the National Weather Service said the storm's heavy rain was over, although some rivers could continue to rise and landslide danger could linger for several days.

County-by-county road closures

WSDOT road closure information

Hoquiam Police Chief Jeff Myers said three homes were moved off their foundations by a landslide near Queets Avenue.

Police urged residents to leave their homes along an eight-block stretch of Queets Avenue at the base of Beacon Hill because of the danger that the whole bluff could give way, Chief Myers said.

"I don't think it's going to be a problem if we can get out in the next couple of days," said resident Janet Dahl. "I think between all of us... we'll make it work."

The Red Cross opened an emergency shelter at Immanuel Baptist Church in Hoquiam.

In Aberdeen, KBKW reported that firefighters rescued an elderly woman from one of the homes, cutting a hole in the roof. A Police officer and a firefighter climbed down to the woman, who is in her 80s. She and her small dog were pulled out through the roof. The woman was taken to a hospital but police say she's in good condition.

Sandy Dunsire, owner of Dunsire Printers, said the situation was the worst he'd seen in about 10 years. Water had gotten inside his store.

Dunsire also put a sign outside the store telling drivers to "slow down" because the waves vehicles kicked up could send water into buildings.

Grays Harbor County Sheriff Rick Scott said a dozen inmates of the juvenile detention facility on the banks of the Chehalis River in Aberdeen were moved to the county jail as a precaution.

Flooding threatened the water treatment plant for the Naselle Youth Camp, a correctional facility operated by the state Department of Social and Health Services, said Mark Stewart, a spokesman for the state Emergency Operations Center.

The Grays Harbor YMCA, Miller Junior High School and Union Gospel Mission are being used as evacuation centers.

A section of State Route 4 near Naselle was closed after a culvert beneath the highway collapsed.

Water flooded several streets in downtown Centralia, along the Interstate 5 corridor. Flood waters were receding there by Monday evening

The Weather Service issued flood warnings on the Bogachiel, Naselle, Newaukum, Puyallup, Skokomish, Snoqualmie, Stillaguamish and Tolt rivers and a flood watch for many other Western Washington rivers.

Grays Harbor County PUD was reporting a number of power outages across the county.

Latest forecast from the KING 5 First Alert Weather Center

KING 5 Meteorologist Jeff Renner said the warm front that brought the heavy rain has moved north of the border, but saturated ground will raise the threat of locally dense fog in addition to the landslide threat.

Highs through the week will be in the low to mid-50s. In areas of persistent fog, temperatures may remain in the mid- to upper-40s.

For updated news, traffic, weather and ski conditions anytime, download the family of KING 5 apps for your mobile device.

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