Flood surge forces evacuations, closes roads in Benton City, W. Richland
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- Yakima River rose past banks, projected to crest near 15.8 ft late Friday.
- Benton City issued evacuations; volunteers moved RVs from Beach RV Park.
- Emergency crews posted road warnings and urged motorists to avoid floodwater.
The Yakima River surged past its banks Friday morning but was still hours away from cresting when Freda Vermeer decided to check it out.
She ventured onto the Yakima River Gateway trail near the West Van Giesen Street bridge in West Richland, phone at the ready.
The Yakima rose to the 14.5-foot mark Friday morning at the Kiona marker near Benton City, well above its 11-foot banks. Water lapped the underside of the bridge and drew a steady parade of residents eager to record the moment.
The National Weather Service projected the Yakima would crest at 15.84 feet at about 10 p.m. Friday.
The flood gauge mounted on the bridge over the Yakima River near the submerged walkway at the Yakima River Gateway Park in West Richland on Friday morning was approaching the 7.2-foot mark.
Atmospheric river
The flooding is caused by an “atmospheric river” that dropped massive amounts of rain, causing widespread flooding in Western Washington and in low-lying areas of Eastern Washington, particularly along the Yakima.
At 15.8 feet, the Yakima is expected to reach levels comparable to spring floods in 2011, and its second-highest level since 1996, when the river approached the 21-foot mark.
Vermeer remembered 1996 well.
She lived near Demoss Road, close to the river in Benton City. Her home was deluged with five feet of water, an experience prompting her to move to higher ground, in Richland.
Along the Richland and West Richland sides of the Yakima, rising water spilled into pastures and prompted emergency crews to put out “Water Over Roadway” signs.”
On Jones Road on the Richland side, most drivers ignored the warning and drove slowly through the deeper-than-it-looked water. A FedEx driver confirmed that pickups were making it across, and drove on, saying he had packages to deliver.
Beach RV evacuated
In Benton City, emergency officials focused their efforts on evacuating residents from areas at risk, particularly at Beach RV Park. The 100-foot park slopes downhill toward the river near Second Street and Babs Avenue.
Justin Marshall, who owns and operates Badger Canyon RV with his wife, Sheena, contacted the city early in the week to offer assistance.
The Marshalls spent the next three days moving RVs out of the lower reaches of the park, including many who hadn’t moved in 10 years.
By Friday morning, they had helped move about 20 vehicles, even after Benton PUD cut power to the park, immobilizing vehicles. Marshall described pulling trailers with slides extended because they couldn’t be retracted.
Emergency crews understood and didn’t object.
“I wouldn’t recommend it to my customers,” he said.
Free towing
He offered his services for free, knowing that some residents would worry about the expense. One owner told Marshall he had nowhere to go, so he towed the trailer to his own business, hooked up to power and provided water and other necessities.
Marshall said he would return to his business, but said the crisis isn’t over. When the water recedes, he plans to tow all the evacuated trailers back to their original spots.
Zach Prindle, Benton City’s building inspector, credited volunteers like the Marshalls for the orderly evacuation, which accelerated on Friday morning when water began rising.
Prindle said the city, police, fire and Benton County Emergency Services stand read to assist anyone who needs help. By Friday morning, there hadn’t been significant issues.
The community, he said, knows how to deal with a flood every decade or so.
Residents are advised to remain mindful of flood conditions, heed warnings and to call for help if they need it.
Motorists are encouraged to avoid driving through floodwaters, which can be deceptively deep. Six inches of rushing water can knock a pedestrian off their feet. A foot can carry away a car.
A Maserati?
Prindle reported watching in amazement as someone drove a Maserati through the water near the Beach RV.
“I didn’t expect that, but he made it through,” he said.
-Freelance photographer Scott Hunt of Richland contributed to this report.
This story was originally published December 12, 2025 at 3:17 PM.