The United States and Canada are experiencing historic and unprecedented floods that have led to the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents. Heavy rains have caused massive flooding in the U.S. state of Washington, prompting evacuation orders for tens of thousands of people and the declaration of a state of emergency. Governor Bob Ferguson urged residents in threatened areas yesterday to leave their homes immediately and follow local authorities' instructions. It is believed that up to 100,000 residents have been affected by evacuation orders as water levels have risen to record levels. Ferguson stated in a statement that the situation is "historic," with forecasts predicting flood levels to rise more than 61 centimeters above previously recorded levels, leading to the closure of more than 30 major highways to traffic. The National Guard has been deployed to assist in rescue operations in the affected areas, where helicopters and boats have been used to transport stranded residents to safety. After dozens of rivers overflowed their banks, flooding entire towns and vast agricultural lands. It is worth noting that these floods come amid a series of severe storms hitting the Pacific Northwest, amid warnings of continued adverse weather conditions in the coming days.
