Coast Guard aircrews rescued four people from a home in Sumas, Wash., on Thursday as historic floods devastate the region. Flooding on Friday could be catastrophic, officials say.

Air Station Port Angeles and Air Station Astoria each hoisted two survivors and transferred them to waiting emergency responders at a nearby landing zone.

The Coast Guard helicopter crews responded when Whatcom County Fire District 14 and U.S. Border Patrol were unable to reach the survivors because of water, 10-feet deep, surrounding the home.

A MH-65 Dolphin aircrew from Air Station Port Angeles arrived on scene and lowered a rescue swimmer to the roof of a porch, where he was able to assist the survivors through a window in the second-story attic. Port Angeles crews hoisted the first two survivors and transported them to the landing zone while the rescue swimmer remained on the rooftop with the two remaining individuals.

An aircrew from Air Station Astoria arrived immediately after, hoisted the remaining two individuals, and recovered the rescue swimmer.

“This is exactly why we train the way we do, day in and day out,” said Scott Giard, Coast Guard Northwest District Search and Rescue Program Manager. “When human lives are at risk, our crews stand ready to respond with skill and precision.”

The Washington National Guard also has been mobilized.

On Friday morning, officials in Skagit County said all residents in the city of Burlington, north of Seattle, should evacuate as the Gages Slough River began to overflow and send water into homes. National Guard troops were going door to door notifying residents to leave and assist with evacuations, the county said on its Facebook page. Officials had hoped dikes and other systems would protect their community from catastrophe.

Washington is under a state of emergency and evacuation orders are in place for tens of thousands of residents. Gov. Bob Ferguson on Thursday urged everyone to follow evacuation instructions as yet another river neared record levels.

About 78,000 residents of a major agricultural region north of Seattle were ordered to evacuate the floodplain of the Skagit River, which was expected to crest Friday morning.

A number of rivers surpassed their flood stages overnight, including the Skagit at the towns of Concrete and Mount Vernon. It crested at more than 37 feet at Mount Vernon, according to weather service data.

The floods were impacting large parts of the state, with several bridges flooded and some major roads inundated or washed out. Some roads had no alternate routes and no estimated reopening time, including a large part of state Route 410.

Contributing: The Associated Press

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