The worst of the flooding in Western Washington may have eased, but as the swollen rivers recede, the long and dirty work of recovery and cleanup begins.
For Sandy Frohning and her son, who run a small dairy farm on the banks of the Skykomish River, flooding is nothing new.
Click to Gallery
Floods devastate Washington's rural areas, leaving heavy cleanup work
Floods devastate Washington's rural areas, leaving heavy cleanup work
Floods devastate Washington's rural areas, leaving heavy cleanup work
Floods devastate Washington's rural areas, leaving heavy cleanup work
"We've been through a lot of floods. This is not our first rodeo. But this is probably the most tree damage and mud we've ever had," Frohning said.
The water rose more than two meters, swamping their fields and basement, and threatening this family's livelihood.
They were able to move their cows to higher ground just in time. But when the water finally dropped, it left behind thick mud, debris, and a lot of work.
For two days in a row, neighbors and even strangers showed up to help.
"Just like anybody in need, when there's something that happens, you want to show up for them. There is so much cleanup that has to be done," said Brett Devries, a cleanup volunteer.
With the stalls cleared out, they were able to bring the cows back - letting Frohning breathe a sigh of relief.
"We know without a doubt that we don't stand alone. The burden is shared. That makes all the difference," she said.
The historic flooding brought devastation to rural communities across Western Washington - inundating properties and forcing thousands to evacuate.
Floods devastate Washington's rural areas, leaving heavy cleanup work
Floods devastate Washington's rural areas, leaving heavy cleanup work
Floods devastate Washington's rural areas, leaving heavy cleanup work
Floods devastate Washington's rural areas, leaving heavy cleanup work
