On December 11, 2025 the Nooksack River crested at 150 feet, highest in its history. This caused a flood of magnitude in the Nooksack Valley, especially Nooksack, Sumas, Everson, Lynden, and Ferndale. I myself arrived home late last night unpacking from an archaeological excavation i was on the last 10 days. After unpacking the car, i see a piece of paper floating in a puddle. Its an evacuation order for the upcoming flood. Nowhere to go, and not sure if I should, I waited it out as I saw other neighbors doing the same and they were not worried. Afterall, we all survived the 2021 flood and the waters barely made it to our doors. (Though i lost a car parked in the lower part of the parking lot) This one shouldn’t be as bad, so we thought. Streets dry, except puddles. Skies not raining anymore. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Awoke at 4:00 am to sirens blaring about flood waters coming. Streets still dry, no worries. 8:30 am, streets still dry, just water puddles. I go in to grab something, come back out and there the street was already underwater. I contemplate about driving my car up the hill behind me, which has no exits, but before i get my keys, that road too is underwater. Hours crept by and waters came in, our mailboxes underwater, the neighbor’s houses half underwater. We sandbag our doorways, the handful of neighbors in my building look watch. Lumber from the mills float by. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The river is supposed to be at its highest by noon then recede. That it did. But that afternoon, rescue helicopters aplenty making a loud ruckus were above hoovering over a neighbor’s house that was half submerged. We watched as the brave heroes of Sumas lower a rescuer down on a cable, he expertly lands to the side of the house.They lower down a basket, lift up a neighbor. Then a 2nd basic, to load another neighbor up. That helicopter leaves and we ponder, what about the hero? He was still in the house. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A 2nd helicopter hovers above, lowers down another basket, and another neighbor airlifted. Then the pully cable lowered for the hero to come up at least.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Three neighbors were airlifted and rescued along 2nd street in Sumas Washington during hte Nooksack River Flood 2025. Thank you heroes of Sumas!!!<\/p>\n\n\n\n