Washblog

"The levees were there to protect the community as it was developing but primarily to protect the (Chehalis-Centralia) Airport following World War II," Hammond said. "We want to get going now with the corps, when they still remember what they saw in December."

Vancouver Democrat Bill Fromhold, who is chairman of the committee, expressed concerns about commercial development in the area, referring to the Twin Cities Town Center in Chehalis.

"My first question is, why do we build commercially in that area on I-5?" Fromhold asked, adding, "It seems to flood a lot there."

After the hearing, Fromhold said, "It doesn't make sense to me to build in a 100-year flood plain. But it's not that I'm unsympathetic to the need for the county to develop. Local government needs to be cautious about where they do building -- in every county, not just that one."

Averill said the history of the county cannot be changed and development did not play a big role in the urban aspect of the flood.

"Building in the floodplain occurred when the railroad came into Lewis County, and when they built the interstate, it moved down with the railroads," Averill said. "Most of the criticism that came from the press is from the (Twin Cities) Town Center. I would point out to you that there was a levee around the airport and those buildings were inside those levees. In all previous rains, the levee held the water out of there." (chronline.com)