Skagit County, wrapped around "the Magic Skagit" river, is facing the reality of years of development and its "reclaiming" of miles of natural flood plain, swamps, and what originally was nothing but soggy tidal marshes, so the word "luck" is overheard in every conversation up here, this week. We suffered the flooding of low-lying areas, level 2 "normal" washing out of communities who "live with it", considered standard fare now during most winters, but on this past Sunday, "sheer fright" would have been the overall description of most with any vested interest in this area.
Those "economic development" cheerleaders you've mentioned have their blocs working overtime up here too, defying scientific warnings of the tragedy that will occur in our valley with the swoosh of one Pineapple Express bearing our county's number. We have the raised-bed, hardened site for the controversial Wal-Mart Supercenter, sitting within feet of one our most crucial dikes of the county, just waiting for the objectors to tire of their protests, so construction can begin again and move forward.
Funny thing tho, just as you've said the problems and "common sense" solutions were obvious years ago in Lewis County, our planners have been "aware" since at least the Depression Era, but choose to out-talk and flat-out ignore warnings and advice from wise old-timers, environmentalists, and the increasingly loud voice of our river.
Here's one view of where our county sits, in relation to "disaster" awareness, from earlier this year:
Awash In Troublehttp://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/pacificnw02182007/2003572246_pacificpflood18.html