Days of unrelenting heavy rain has triggered flooding , rescues and road closures in Washington state, with Gov. Bob Ferguson declaring a statewide emergency and warning that "lives will be at stake in the coming days."

Some residents have already been ordered to higher ground as the state sees some of its worst flooding in decades. Skagit County, a major agricultural region north of Seattle, ordered those within the Skagit River's floodplain to evacuate.

"Catastrophic flooding is likely" in many areas and the state is requesting water rescue teams and boats, Ferguson said on X Wednesday night. He said the National Water Prediction Service was forecasting 18 major floods and 15 moderate floods across the state.

Hundreds of Guard members will be sent to help communities, said G

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