Northwest floodwaters recede; cleanup begins
Story By: Associated Press
Source: AP
Published Fri Jan 09, 2009, 04:54 PM MST
Updated Fri Jan 09, 2009, 04:54 PM MST
As floodwaters recede in the Northwest, officials in Washington state are beginning to reopen major highways.
Interstate-5 has reopened. Long lines of freight trucks have been escorted through the reopened areas to see how the roadway reacts to the weight after having its foundations soaked.
Workers are plowing away snow from avalanches to open I-90, which cuts east from Seattle through the Cascades. Flooding continues on some rivers, and residents of low-lying areas are only beginning to cleanout their sodden homes.
Gov. Chris Gregoire toured flooded areas Friday. He estimates there has been $125 million in damage to roads, buildings and other structures.
Although drier weather is in the forecast, flood warnings remain in effect for 10 western Washington counties.
