Van Giesen into W. Richland partly reopens, but flooding is ‘not over’
A single lane of Van Giesen Street in each direction reopened Monday morning between Richland and West Richland, as residents began cleaning up from a weekend of flooding along the lower Yakima River.
An estimated 160 homes and RV lots were affected by the floodwaters, said emergency officials.
Rain runoff caused by an atmospheric river weather condition mixed with melted mountain snow to swell the Yakima River late last week and trigger the worst flooding in nearly 30 years. Floodwaters are now receding, but more rain is forecast.
On the 2700 block of Van Giesen, a box culvert was clogged with a swarm of logs and wood trimmings that reportedly floated from a nearby business, threatening to back water up and flood one family’s home. Multiple bus routes also were delayed in the Richland School District.
In Benton City, more than 110 families living in the Beach RV Park were urged to evacuate, though not everyone left. Just one family used the American Red Cross’ emergency shelter opened at Central Church in Richland. Many others were able to pull their RVs to higher ground.
Deanna Davis, emergency management manager at Benton County Emergency Services, said the flood was more severe than anticipated, but that “this event is not over.”
There’s still a risk of a smaller flooding later this week as another atmospheric river hits the Pacific Northwest on Tuesday and Wednesday. The lower Yakima River region remains in a flood watch by the National Weather Service until “further notice.”
A NOAA river gage along the Yakima River in Kiona is forecasting minor-stage level flooding late Thursday and into Friday. Monday morning forecasts reported the river to crest at about 14.1 feet by 10 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19.
The warning level on the lower Yakima is at 11 feet. Minor flooding with minimal property damage is at 13 feet, and moderate flooding with some infrastructure damage is at 14.5 feet.
The record of a 21.6-foot crest along that portion of the river was set in 1933.
What was the toll on businesses, homes?
Davis said her agency is beginning damage assessments and has started to gather information from homeowners and businesses from within the impacted areas. It’s currently unclear how much damage the flood did to infrastructure, homes and wells, and businesses.
Benton County Emergency Services has a form on its website to report damage, or anyone affected can call 509-628-0303 to report damage. Reporting damage does not guarantee that homeowners or businesses will receive compensation for uninsured losses, but it could help justify a request for disaster assistance programs from state and federal resources.
Davis said the best thing people can do as they start cleaning up their properties is to document every detail of the flood’s impact in a safe and secure manner.
“Flood waters can contain sewage, chemicals, bacteria and debris, and can pose a serious health risk,” Davis said. “We’re encouraging people to stay out of the floodwaters as much as possible.”
Floods can also contaminate private wells with harmful materials and overwhelm septic systems. Benton-Franklin Health District offers free water quality testing for families impacted by flooding, and urges homeowners not to drink from their well if it’s been flooded.
Davis is also cautioning residents from driving through inundated roadways. Just 6 to 12 inches of rain is enough to sweep a moving car off the roadway, and drivers should remain skeptical about plowing through bodies of water.
“There’s still roads closed within the county and within Richland, and we encourage people to not drive through flooded roadways,” she said.
Here are the roadways in Benton County that remained closed Monday:
- Richland: Kingston Road, Jones Road, Bronco Lane, Buckskin Road and Gomer Road.
- Benton City: A small section of 2nd Avenue between Ab by and Alma (closed due to road integrity issues.)
- Unincorporated county: 46th Avenue, Ranch Road, Pederson Road and Weidle Road.
No flood-related injuries have been reported by law enforcement officials in Benton County.
This story was originally published December 15, 2025 at 12:54 PM.
