Today the National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning for the fire-torn region in Eastern Washington, which is currently dealing with the largest fire in state history. And while the heavy rains are obviously a good for putting out fires, they’re predicted to come with thunderstorms, which are good for starting them.
According to the alert, flash floods can develop in as little as 10 minutes of heavy rain, as rain runs almost instantly off burned soils. Soils in a “burn scar” can also become unstable when it rains, and flow paths, containing rocks, trees, and other debris, can affect locations that are miles away. After a briefing with Governer Jay Inslee yesterday, President Obama signed an emergency declaration authorizing federal resources including the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Department of Homeland Security to coordinate relief efforts with state and local agencies.
“A lot of it has to do with drought, a lot of it has to do with changing precipitation patterns, and a lot of that has to do with climate change,” the president said.
Tuesday, Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell and dozen other senators asked Senate leaders to pass emergency legislation to allocate $615 million to fight wildfires.
This is why we need smart people working on the climate change problem, something that 97 percent of climate scientists agree is an actual, palpable issue that’s only going to get worse. Further, it’s why we need government assistance in a general sense. Emergencies happen to everyone, and right now they’re happening in a big way just east of the Cascades. Without a safety net, emergencies can ruin lives. This is a lot for our friends in the east to handle. Homes and incomes are lost, power is out, and it’s going to take months, if not years, to recover. If you want to help our friends in Eastern Washington, Give Naked has a channel to give directly to victims.
