Historic flooding forces evacuations across western Washington as Spokane rescue teams assist

SEATTLE — Historic flooding has forced entire towns to evacuate across western Washington, with emergency shelters housing displaced families.

The hardest hit areas are in Skagit and Snohomish counties. Governor Bob Ferguson says the Skagit and Snohomish rivers are at historic flood levels as the banks have overflowed and are flooding homes.

Despite all the damage, Ferguson announced that as of this afternoon, not a single person died as a result of the floods. Officials credit first responders, the National Guard, the Coast Guard and communities across the Pacific Northwest for working together to keep people safe.

Spokane firefighters are among those helping on the front lines. On Wednesday, Spokane's swiftwater rescue team made its way to Washington's west side. The group of 12 fire