Scott Greenstone

While damage is widespread, so far the only fatality was outside the flood zone.

A kayaker swept over a dam in Seattle by swollen currents.

For NPR News, I'm Scott Greenstone in Monroe.

After days of rain and clouds, mists burned off to blue skies this weekend in Monroe, north of Seattle, allowing responders to take helicopters up and begin to see how far the waters reached.

Democratic Congresswoman Kim Schrier represents part of the flooded area.

She took a bus tour with other officials through soggy dairy farmland.

While damage is widespread, so far the only fatality was outside the flood zone.

A kayaker swept over a dam in Seattle by swollen currents.

For NPR News, I'm Scott Greenstone in Monroe.

In Burlington, just about an hour north of Seattle...

The water levels have begun to recede and some people are returning to their homes assessing damage.

Jocelyn Alm's home was still too submerged to get in, so a friend waited in to look in the windows and told her,

That's her husband, Kenneth.

Officials are saying it's still a little early to tell the extent of the damage statewide, especially with more rain in the forecast Sunday.

For NPR News, I'm Scott Greenstone in Burlington.

Support for NPR comes from NPR member stations and Eric and Wendy Schmidt through the Schmidt Family Foundation, working toward a healthy, resilient, secure world for all.

It's a common misconception.

I think the Seattle area has many drizzly days, but is not so used to a big

big dumping of water during these so-called atmospheric rivers that we are experiencing multiple of right now.

So people around here, you know, many of them have never seen anything like this, even in 1990 when we set the previous records that were now breaking.