The home of a Whatcom County couple, Sarah and Mike, was swept away by the Nooksack River during historic rains in western Washington. They escaped with their animals and the clothes they were wearing but lost all possessions. A friend, Emily Treadaway, launched a GoFundMe that had raised more than half of a $100,000 goal by Dec. 13 to help with urgent needs. State officials declared a state of emergency, ordered roughly 78,000 residents to evacuate, and warned additional heavy rain could worsen flooding.
‘Kind, Hardworking’ Couple’s Home Swept Away by Nooksack River During Historic Washington Floods
gofundmeHouse swept away in floodwaters in Whatcom County, Wash.
A Whatcom County couple identified as Sarah and Mike lost their home after it was swept away by the surging Nooksack River amid days of historic rain in western Washington. Local news footage shared by KOMO News on Dec. 12 captures the house drifting downriver as rapidly rising water tore it free from its foundation.
Friends say the pair escaped in the middle of the night with their animals and the clothes they were wearing, with no time to retrieve personal belongings or important documents. Emily Treadaway, a longtime friend who launched an online fundraiser, described them as “kind, hardworking people” who have always supported their community.
gofundmeHome swept away in floodwaters in Whatcom County, Wash.
GoFundMe support: Treadaway set up a GoFundMe to provide urgent financial help. As of Dec. 13 the fundraiser had already raised more than half of its $100,000 goal to assist Sarah and Mike with immediate needs such as food, clothing and temporary housing. According to the fundraiser, the couple is currently staying in a hotel as they begin to stabilize their situation and plan next steps.
“In the middle of the night, our neighbors Sarah and Mike experienced every homeowner’s worst nightmare,” Treadaway wrote. “They made it out alive with only their animals and the clothes on their backs. Everything else was lost.”
This heartbreaking loss is part of a much larger disaster across western Washington after several days of nonstop rain triggered widespread flooding. Reports from NPR and other outlets described people stranded on rooftops and vehicles submerged. State officials declared a state of emergency and ordered roughly 78,000 residents to evacuate.
gofundmeHome swept away in Whatcom County, Wash.
State response and forecast: Gov. Bob Ferguson urged residents to heed evacuation orders, warning on X that the situation was historic and that water levels could reach about 2 feet above previous records. Forecasters told KUOW that additional rain was expected beginning the evening of Sunday, Dec. 14 and continuing into Wednesday, Dec. 17, raising the risk of more flooding and damage in affected communities.
The loss of the Whatcom County home — captured on video and shared widely — has prompted a local outpouring of support as neighbors and strangers offer assistance while Sarah and Mike rebuild from virtually nothing.
