Conconully, Washington’s isolated Okanogan County, experienced a flash storm on Monday that flooded 30 to 40 homes and businesses with a foot of water and dirt.
According to emergency managers, 1.7 inches of rain were recorded in the 36 hours prior to Monday’s flood. It rained heavily for about two hours.
No severe injuries have been reported. Although several campers were temporarily stuck, everyone is said to be well.
At least one house, which was roughly 90% finished, was destroyed.
Salmon Creek’s north fork overflowed its banks, rushing straight down Main Street and into Conconully State Park, where the Fourth of July festivities were in full swing.
The 210-person small village has already begun cleaning up by Tuesday. To shift the wreckage, neighbors brought out backhoes and other heavy machinery. In people’s yards, mud piles reached heights of more than 5 feet.
Despite their situation, the majority smiled warmly as they removed pound after pound of mud off their premises. On the Fourth of July, their independence was on full display, and they all appeared to be bubbling with pride at how their town was handling the minor catastrophe.