Brandon Rakes, airport operations coordinator at Chehalis-Centralia Airport (KCLS) south of Olympia, Washington, knows just how bad recent flooding in his state threatened his airport.
“We dodged a bullet with this one.”
Rain Falls, Rivers Rise, and Pilots Head to the Rescue
Volunteers scramble to protect aircraft from potential flooding in southwest Washington State.
Key Takeaways:
- Chehalis-Centralia Airport (KCLS) narrowly avoided severe flooding despite its vulnerable location at a river confluence and widespread heavy rainfall in Washington state.
- A community effort saw volunteers move 58 aircraft to higher ground on an airport berm, and the airport's protective levee held, preventing hangars from being inundated.
- While KCLS sustained only minor damage to some exterior lighting, the broader region faced significant flooding that disrupted major transportation routes and required aerial assessment by state patrol pilots.
Key takeaways sponsored by Aviator Pro | Start Your Training ->
See a mistake? Contact us.
