Although some houses went under water Thursday in Chehalis, the majority of the Rose City dodged a bullet. Low-lying neighborhoods took on water from Dillenbaugh Creek and the Newaukum River, but the Chehalis River stayed mostly at bay behind a levee around the Chehalis-Centralia Airport. The opposite was true 13 months ago, when the Chehalis went wild, putting the Twin Cities, West Lewis County and Interstate 5 under deep water, sparking one of the largest recovery efforts in state history. Lewis County Sheriff Steve Mansfield said a few homes took on water in the valleys west of Chehalis, but it paled in comparison to the December 2007 event. "That was the focus of all the attention last year and I'm happy to say there is minimal damage out there," Mansfield said Thursday afternoon. Some homes in the city were not so lucky, according to Capt. Rob Gebhart of the Chehalis Fire Department. "Lewis, James and John streets in have water on them. Chehalis Avenue has water over the roadway, plus Prindle Street and Quincy," Gebhart said Thursday night. "Earlier today, Main Street had water - a little water - and Interstate Avenue." Chehalis-Centralia Airport Manager Allyn Roe said Airport Road on the west side of the levee was covered with water, but despite other media reports, the ring around the facility was not overtopped. Roe said water made it into the area from the unprotected south side of the airport, but it was being pumped back into the river. The Twin City Town Center, a strip mall that includes Wal-Mart and Home Depot, apparently was not damaged as of press time Thursday. The Fairway Center on Kresky Avenue was threatened by water, but none made it into any businesses, according to Riverside Fire Authority Chief Jim Walkowski. That strip of businesses was badly flooded in 2007, when Salzer Creek overtopped a levee at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds and ran across the so-called Miracle Mile between Centralia and Chehalis. The thoroughfare was flooded again in this round of inundation, although areas indoors apparently escaped major damage. "Last we heard, it's dry," Walkowski said of the Fairway. "I understand they did a good job of fortifying it this time, as opposed to last time." The Yard Birds Mall was unreachable all day Thursday, although a little water might have made it inside, according to officials at roadblocks. Mansfield said the Emergency Operations Center at the Lewis County Law and Justice Center was aware of 32 rescues, not counting some in Centralia. The whole county was better prepared this time, the sheriff said, although this week's destruction will still hurt. "We're still reeling from last year," the sheriff said. "We still have people whose residences and businesses are still out. I feel bad for the people hanging by a thread and then this slams into them." Dan Schreiber: (360) 807-8239
