Carnation Braces for Flooding as Rivers Rise

Residents prepare for town to become isolated again as roads close due to expected flooding.

Mar. 19, 2026 at 5:03am

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The City of Carnation, Washington has opened a sandbag station and announced road closures as rising rivers threaten to flood the area. Residents say the town could become isolated again, with past flooding cutting off access for days. The river is expected to reach moderate flood stage early Thursday, with another rise forecast for Saturday.

Why it matters

Carnation has experienced severe flooding in the past that has isolated the town, disrupting businesses and daily life. This latest round of flooding raises concerns about public safety and the ability of the community to withstand repeated natural disasters.

The details

Swollen rivers and creeks near Carnation have sent floodwater spilling into farm fields and onto roads, leading the city to open a free sandbag station and announce road closures. Employees at Blake's Pizza in Carnation say the town could become "Carnation Island" again, with the last round of flooding in December cutting off access for around four days. The city is bracing for the river to reach moderate flood stage early Thursday, with another rise expected on Saturday.

  • The river is expected to reach moderate flood stage early Thursday (March 20, 2026) at around 5 a.m.
  • The river is forecast to rise again, slightly higher, at around 5 a.m. on Saturday (March 22, 2026).

The players

Avery Heuberger

An employee at Blake's Pizza in Carnation.

Lindsey Schold

The lead manager at Blake's Pizza in Carnation.

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What they’re saying

“It's kind of hard to get anywhere and do anything, so we are just are kind of trapped.”

— Avery Heuberger, Employee at Blake's Pizza

“We might get busier because we might get island-ed in again.”

— Lindsey Schold, Lead Manager at Blake's Pizza

“It was kind of scary. I remember working at night and I got a call from a coworker that said, 'they are going to close the roads, you better leave the store,' and I drove through water and just made it home in time.”

— Lindsey Schold, Lead Manager at Blake's Pizza

What’s next

The city opened a free sandbag station ahead of the flooding and released a map highlighting encroaching road closures. The ladies at Blake's Pizza hope they don't get boxed in this time by flooding, but say they'll be ready to serve customers if the town becomes isolated again.

The takeaway

This latest round of flooding in Carnation highlights the ongoing challenges the community faces with natural disasters, raising concerns about public safety and the ability of local businesses to withstand repeated disruptions to daily life.