SPOKANE COUNTY, Wash. — Melting snow and rain have raised Hangman Creek to its highest level since 1997, leaving those living nearby under a flood warning.
By Monday, the creek had risen 13 feet, flooding the surrounding meadows.
Henry Pierce and Paul Danelo both have property near the creek.
“I can’t remember the exact date that it flooded last, but not for a long time,” Pierce said. He estimated it might be close to 20 years since the last major flood.
Danelo said 20 acres of his property is under water.
“When this happens, you just wait for it to go away and then go after the fences and fix them,” he said.
The rising water has also taken out power lines.
Inland Power said three powerlines in the area were swept away in the flooding, leaving around 80 people without power.
“The poles got taken out because of the rising water going outside the banks and undercutting the poles,” Danelo said.
Some in the area said they’ve taken the opportunity to sit back and admire ‘Mother Nature’ at work.
“It’s just an exciting, periodic force of nature that is inevitably going to happen,” Pierce said.
The National Weather Service said the water is expected to fall below flood levels by early Tuesday morning. People should be careful and watch out for falling trees caused by wet ground.
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