American Notes WASHINGTON

Rain is no stranger to western Washington, but the record-breaking downpours that battered the state over Thanksgiving weekend were something else. Seattle was bombarded with 3.56 in. of rain in one 24-hour period. One man was swept to his death, and more than 2,000 people were driven from their homes as at least 16 rivers overflowed their banks.

A seven-lane bridge linking Seattle to its eastern suburbs across Lake Washington was closed twice after the collapse of an adjacent 50-year-old pontoon bridge. The 110,000 commuters depending on the link were forced to clog an alternate bridge or detour 30 miles. Property losses are expected to rise well above $100 million. Said Governor Booth Gardner: "My state is falling apart on me."