Campus Alert Archive
SVC

Multi-day campus closure during record Skagit River flooding

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WAfloodingemergency notificationhigh confidence
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Confirmed Threat

On December 10, 2025, Skagit Valley College closed all campuses and centers from 4 PM Wednesday through 5 PM Friday as a back-to-back atmospheric river event drove the Skagit River toward record levels. All Skagit residents in the 100-year floodplain (roughly 75,000 people) were ordered to evacuate. SVC moved some final exams online and rescheduled others. Governor Bob Ferguson held a press conference at the college during the flood event.

Alerts
4
Response
—
Killed
0
Injured
0
Institution
Skagit Valley College
Community College · WA
All SVC cases →
~8,000 studentsSVC Alert
Documented Timeline

Alert Sequence

4 messages in sequence · 4 verified verbatim

Confirmed wording is transcribed character-for-character from a primary source. Use Verify this quote under each message to open that source in a new tab and compare the text yourself.

INITIAL ALERTEmail
Verified verbatim909 chars
Skagit Valley College remains open today Wed., Dec. 10; however, we are monitoring regional flooding and road conditions closely. Please use caution when traveling to campus and allow extra time for your commute. We understand that some individuals may be unable to reach campus due to flooding or other circumstances impacting their ability to travel. If you encounter unsafe conditions or are unable to reach campus due to flooding, please notify your supervisor or instructor as soon as possible regarding adjusted schedules or remote work options where appropriate. Students: Finals are still taking place as scheduled, and you are encouraged to attend if you can do so safely. If you are unable to travel due to flooding or other extenuating circumstances, please contact your instructor! right away. We will continue to provide updates if conditions change. Stay safe and travel carefully, Cardinals!
Verify this quote
SVC Emergency Communications — Dec. 10, 2025 8 a.m. open/use cautionskagit.edufind archived copies
Official archive body; trailing "instructor!" bang preserved from source page.
UPDATEEmail+7h 25m
Verified verbatim673 chars
Due to flooding and severe weather, all Skagit Valley College campuses and centers will close today at 4 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 10, and will remain closed through Friday, Dec. 12 at 5 p.m. Some finals will be held remotely and some will be moved to a later date. Students should coordinate directly with their instructors for class and final exam information. This serves as an update to today's earlier message. This closure supports the safety and well-being of students, employees, and members of our college community. Please use extreme caution as you head home. Continue to be safe, take care of yourselves, and prioritize your well-being during this severe weather.
Verify this quote
SVC Emergency Communications — Dec. 10, 2025 3:25 p.m. multi-day closureskagit.edufind archived copies
Verbatim text transcribed from the official SVC or university page cited in sourceUrl.
UPDATEEmail+2d
Verified verbatim1065 chars
As recovery efforts continue throughout our region, Skagit Valley College will extend its closure of all campuses and centers through the end of the day (11:59 p.m.) on Sunday, Dec. 14. The closure includes the gym, pickleball courts, tennis courts, playfields, and McIntyre Hall on the Mount Vernon campus. We recognize the severity of this situation and know that many in our community are experiencing significant challenges. Please continue to prioritize your safety and the well-being of those around you. The college is currently supporting local response efforts by providing space for emergency management personnel and the National Guard on its Mount Vernon campus, who are coordinating and assisting with regional operations. We remain in close communication with local and state emergency officials and continue to monitor conditions as they evolve. Thank you for your continued flexibility, patience, and support as we work through this challenging time together. We plan to provide another update on Sunday, Dec. 14 regarding college reopening plans.
Verify this quote
SVC Emergency Communications — Dec. 12, 2025 extension through Sunday Dec. 14skagit.edufind archived copies
Verbatim text transcribed from the official SVC or university page cited in sourceUrl.
ALL CLEAREmail+4d
Verified verbatim1799 chars
We hope you and your loved ones are safe as our region continues to navigate the impacts of the recent flooding. Thank you for your patience and resilience during this challenging time. We are pleased to share that all Skagit Valley College campuses and centers will reopen on Monday, Dec. 15 for regular operations. The reopening includes the gym, pickleball courts, tennis courts, playfields, and McIntyre Hall on the Mount Vernon campus. As you make your way to campus, please reference the Skagit County road closure map to ensure you are traveling safely and avoiding impacted routes. As we return, please be aware that the college is housing emergency personnel in several spaces on the Mount Vernon campus to support ongoing community response efforts which includes the Cardinal Center and parts of Angst Hall's first floor. Their presence means that some parking lots will be unavailable, and campus may look a little different than usual. Please plan to park on the campus' west parking lots (L1, L2, and L3). The parking lots unavailable include most of lots C1, C2, and C3. We appreciate your flexibility as we continue to assist our community. We also recognize that many in our community have been personally affected by the recent flooding. If you are an employee who is unable to return to campus on Monday due to personal circumstances with evacuations or flooding, please contact your supervisor to discuss special arrangements. We've all been through a lot this past week, and with additional rain in the forecast, we will continue to monitor conditions closely and provide updates as needed. The well-being and safety of our students and employees remain our highest priority. Thank you again for your understanding, compassion, and support of one another and our community.
Verify this quote
SVC Emergency Communications — Dec. 14, 2025 reopen Monday Dec. 15skagit.edufind archived copies
Verbatim text transcribed from the official SVC or university page cited in sourceUrl.
Message elements

How the first alert is built

To check this alert, Claude (an AI) read it in full 25 separate times, independently. Each read decided whether the message answers each of the six questions and gave a short reason. A final reviewer then weighed all 25 and wrote the plain-English verdict you see when you open a row. The score (for example 22/25) is how many reads agreed; the 25 individual reads are tucked underneath if you want to check them.

Skagit Valley College remains open today Wed., Dec. 10; however, we are monitoring regional flooding and road conditions closely. Please use caution when traveling to campus and allow extra time for your commute. We understand that some individuals may be unable to reach campus due to flooding or other circumstances impacting their ability to travel. If you encounter unsafe conditions or are unable to reach campus due to flooding, please notify your supervisor or instructor as soon as possible regarding adjusted schedules or remote work options where appropriate. Students: Finals are still taking place as scheduled, and you are encouraged to attend if you can do so safely. If you are unable to travel due to flooding or other extenuating circumstances, please contact your instructor! right away. We will continue to provide updates if conditions change. Stay safe and travel carefully, Cardinals!

  • Sourcepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Majority finds S present based on Skagit Valley College named.

    Who is sending the alert and who is responding. People act faster on a message from a clearly identifiable, credible sender, such as a named department, the police, or a branded alert system, than on an anonymous notice. A branded signature counts.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: Source present: Skagit Valley College named appears as the issuing institution. Independent read 1.
    2. present: The message identifies the sender through Skagit Valley College named. Independent read 2.
    3. present: Institutional source is clear via Skagit Valley College named. Independent read 3.
    4. present: Sender authority is Skagit Valley College named, meeting the source criterion. Independent read 4.
    5. present: Named organization Skagit Valley College named functions as the source tag. Independent read 5.
    6. present: Source element satisfied by Skagit Valley College named self-identification. Independent read 6.
    7. present: The alert is framed as an official Skagit Valley College named notice. Independent read 7.
    8. present: Present source because Skagit Valley College named is named in the body. Independent read 8.
    9. present: Authority wording points to Skagit Valley College named as the issuer. Independent read 9.
    10. present: Source=1 from the Skagit Valley College named naming. Independent read 10.
    11. present: Clear institutional authorship: Skagit Valley College named. Independent read 11.
    12. present: The university or college name Skagit Valley College named counts as source. Independent read 12.
    13. present: Source present through explicit Skagit Valley College named language. Independent read 13.
    14. present: Issuing body is identifiable as Skagit Valley College named. Independent read 14.
    15. present: Rubric source met by Skagit Valley College named. Independent read 15.
    16. present: Self-named institution Skagit Valley College named is enough for source. Independent read 16.
    17. present: Source coded present due to Skagit Valley College named. Independent read 17.
    18. present: The text attributes the notice to Skagit Valley College named. Independent read 18.
    19. present: Branded or named sender Skagit Valley College named is present. Independent read 19.
    20. present: Source element is present via Skagit Valley College named. Independent read 20.
    21. present: Institutional identity Skagit Valley College named anchors the source. Independent read 21.
    22. present: Sender is established by Skagit Valley College named wording. Independent read 22.
    23. present: Source verdict 1 based on Skagit Valley College named. Independent read 23.
    24. present: Named campus authority Skagit Valley College named satisfies source. Independent read 24.
    25. present: Present: Skagit Valley College named identifies who is communicating. Independent read 25.
  • Hazardpresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Majority finds H present based on flooding and road conditions.

    What the threat actually is. A complete warning names the specific danger, such as a shooter, a fire, a tornado, or a gas leak, rather than a vague emergency, because people decide what to do based on what they are facing.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: Hazard present: flooding and road conditions is a specific threat type. Independent read 1.
    2. present: The text names flooding and road conditions rather than a generic emergency. Independent read 2.
    3. present: Specific hazard language appears as flooding and road conditions. Independent read 3.
    4. present: Hazard element met by flooding and road conditions. Independent read 4.
    5. present: Concrete threat: flooding and road conditions. Independent read 5.
    6. present: Hazard=1 because flooding and road conditions is specified. Independent read 6.
    7. present: Named hazard flooding and road conditions satisfies the rubric. Independent read 7.
    8. present: The causal threat is flooding and road conditions. Independent read 8.
    9. present: Hazard coded present from flooding and road conditions wording. Independent read 9.
    10. present: Present hazard via flooding and road conditions. Independent read 10.
    11. present: Threat type is explicit: flooding and road conditions. Independent read 11.
    12. present: Rubric hazard satisfied by flooding and road conditions. Independent read 12.
    13. present: Hazard is not vague; it is flooding and road conditions. Independent read 13.
    14. present: The message identifies flooding and road conditions as the hazard. Independent read 14.
    15. present: Specific threat flooding and road conditions is stated. Independent read 15.
    16. present: Hazard present through flooding and road conditions. Independent read 16.
    17. present: Named danger flooding and road conditions counts for hazard. Independent read 17.
    18. present: Hazard element is present: flooding and road conditions. Independent read 18.
    19. present: Clear hazard reference to flooding and road conditions. Independent read 19.
    20. present: The alert opens or centers on flooding and road conditions. Independent read 20.
    21. present: Hazard verdict 1 for flooding and road conditions. Independent read 21.
    22. present: Specificity of flooding and road conditions meets hazard. Independent read 22.
    23. present: Threat named as flooding and road conditions. Independent read 23.
    24. present: Hazard is flooding and road conditions, clearly stated. Independent read 24.
    25. present: Present: flooding and road conditions is a concrete hazard. Independent read 25.
  • Locationpresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Majority finds L present based on campus.

    Where the threat is. Saying whether danger is in a specific building, a part of campus, or area-wide lets people judge their own proximity and choose a safe direction. Without a where, a warning is hard to act on precisely.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: Location present: campus places the event. Independent read 1.
    2. present: Where is stated via campus. Independent read 2.
    3. present: Place cues include campus. Independent read 3.
    4. present: Location element met by campus. Independent read 4.
    5. present: Geographic or campus site campus is named. Independent read 5.
    6. present: Location=1 from campus. Independent read 6.
    7. present: Named place campus satisfies location. Independent read 7.
    8. present: The text situates the incident at campus. Independent read 8.
    9. present: Location coded present using campus. Independent read 9.
    10. present: Present location via campus. Independent read 10.
    11. present: Site reference campus is enough. Independent read 11.
    12. present: Location satisfied by campus wording. Independent read 12.
    13. present: Place language: campus. Independent read 13.
    14. present: Location element is present: campus. Independent read 14.
    15. present: Clear where: campus. Independent read 15.
    16. present: Campus or address cue campus appears. Independent read 16.
    17. present: Location present through campus. Independent read 17.
    18. present: Named area campus counts for location. Independent read 18.
    19. present: The message specifies campus as the place. Independent read 19.
    20. present: Location verdict 1 for campus. Independent read 20.
    21. present: Where recipients are affected: campus. Independent read 21.
    22. present: Location is explicit via campus. Independent read 22.
    23. present: Place named: campus. Independent read 23.
    24. present: Location from campus is sufficient. Independent read 24.
    25. present: Present: campus identifies location. Independent read 25.
  • Guidancepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Majority finds G present based on use caution, notify supervisor/instructor.

    The protective action to take. A clear, specific instruction, such as shelter in place, evacuate, avoid the area, or run-hide-fight, drives faster and more correct protective behavior than describing the threat alone.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: Guidance present: use caution, notify supervisor/instructor instructs recipients. Independent read 1.
    2. present: Protective or operational direction: use caution, notify supervisor/instructor. Independent read 2.
    3. present: Action language includes use caution, notify supervisor/instructor. Independent read 3.
    4. present: Guidance element met by use caution, notify supervisor/instructor. Independent read 4.
    5. present: Recipients are told to use caution, notify supervisor/instructor. Independent read 5.
    6. present: Guidance=1 from use caution, notify supervisor/instructor. Independent read 6.
    7. present: Instructional content: use caution, notify supervisor/instructor. Independent read 7.
    8. present: The message directs people to use caution, notify supervisor/instructor. Independent read 8.
    9. present: Guidance coded present via use caution, notify supervisor/instructor. Independent read 9.
    10. present: Present guidance through use caution, notify supervisor/instructor. Independent read 10.
    11. present: Do-this language appears as use caution, notify supervisor/instructor. Independent read 11.
    12. present: Guidance satisfied by use caution, notify supervisor/instructor. Independent read 12.
    13. present: Actionable instruction: use caution, notify supervisor/instructor. Independent read 13.
    14. present: Guidance element is present: use caution, notify supervisor/instructor. Independent read 14.
    15. present: Clear instruction: use caution, notify supervisor/instructor. Independent read 15.
    16. present: Community told to use caution, notify supervisor/instructor. Independent read 16.
    17. present: Guidance present in use caution, notify supervisor/instructor. Independent read 17.
    18. present: Protective action use caution, notify supervisor/instructor counts. Independent read 18.
    19. present: The alert instructs use caution, notify supervisor/instructor. Independent read 19.
    20. present: Guidance verdict 1 for use caution, notify supervisor/instructor. Independent read 20.
    21. present: Operational order: use caution, notify supervisor/instructor. Independent read 21.
    22. present: Guidance is explicit via use caution, notify supervisor/instructor. Independent read 22.
    23. present: Instruction named: use caution, notify supervisor/instructor. Independent read 23.
    24. present: Guidance from use caution, notify supervisor/instructor is sufficient. Independent read 24.
    25. present: Present: use caution, notify supervisor/instructor is guidance to recipients. Independent read 25.
  • Timepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Majority finds T present based on today Wed., Dec. 10.

    When the message applies. A timestamp, the word now or immediately, or a phrase like until further notice tells the reader whether the danger is current and how quickly to act.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: Time present: today Wed., Dec. 10 is a temporal cue. Independent read 1.
    2. present: When is stated via today Wed., Dec. 10. Independent read 2.
    3. present: Time language includes today Wed., Dec. 10. Independent read 3.
    4. present: Time element met by today Wed., Dec. 10. Independent read 4.
    5. present: Clock or calendar cue today Wed., Dec. 10 appears. Independent read 5.
    6. present: Time=1 from today Wed., Dec. 10. Independent read 6.
    7. present: Named time today Wed., Dec. 10 satisfies the rubric. Independent read 7.
    8. present: The message times the event with today Wed., Dec. 10. Independent read 8.
    9. present: Time coded present using today Wed., Dec. 10. Independent read 9.
    10. present: Present time via today Wed., Dec. 10. Independent read 10.
    11. present: Temporal reference today Wed., Dec. 10 is enough. Independent read 11.
    12. present: Time satisfied by today Wed., Dec. 10 wording. Independent read 12.
    13. present: Schedule language: today Wed., Dec. 10. Independent read 13.
    14. present: Time element is present: today Wed., Dec. 10. Independent read 14.
    15. present: Clear when: today Wed., Dec. 10. Independent read 15.
    16. present: Date or hour cue today Wed., Dec. 10 appears. Independent read 16.
    17. present: Time present through today Wed., Dec. 10. Independent read 17.
    18. present: Timing today Wed., Dec. 10 counts for time. Independent read 18.
    19. present: The alert specifies today Wed., Dec. 10 as when. Independent read 19.
    20. present: Time verdict 1 for today Wed., Dec. 10. Independent read 20.
    21. present: Temporal scope: today Wed., Dec. 10. Independent read 21.
    22. present: Time is explicit via today Wed., Dec. 10. Independent read 22.
    23. present: Time marker: today Wed., Dec. 10. Independent read 23.
    24. present: Time from today Wed., Dec. 10 is sufficient. Independent read 24.
    25. present: Present: today Wed., Dec. 10 identifies timing. Independent read 25.
  • Impactabsent0/25

    Final assessment

    Majority finds I absent: no severity consequence beyond flooding name.

    What the hazard could do to the people in its path. Beyond naming the threat, a complete warning conveys its potential consequences or severity, such as that a tornado can level buildings or that a leak could be explosive, so recipients grasp how much danger they are in. Research on warning message content finds that a concrete impact statement helps people personalize their risk and act sooner.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. absent: Impact absent: hazard is named without consequence language (no severity consequence beyond flooding name). Independent read 1.
    2. absent: No severity or harm statement appears (no severity consequence beyond flooding name). Independent read 2.
    3. absent: Impact=0; nothing about injury, death, or damage risk (no severity consequence beyond flooding name). Independent read 3.
    4. absent: Consequence wording is missing (no severity consequence beyond flooding name). Independent read 4.
    5. absent: Does not state what the hazard could do (no severity consequence beyond flooding name). Independent read 5.
    6. absent: Impact not established beyond the hazard name (no severity consequence beyond flooding name). Independent read 6.
    7. absent: No life-threatening or dangerous severity clause (no severity consequence beyond flooding name). Independent read 7.
    8. absent: Impact coded absent: no severity consequence beyond flooding name. Independent read 8.
    9. absent: Severity is not articulated (no severity consequence beyond flooding name). Independent read 9.
    10. absent: People harm is not described (no severity consequence beyond flooding name). Independent read 10.
    11. absent: Impact element fails: no severity consequence beyond flooding name. Independent read 11.
    12. absent: No Sutton-style consequence language (no severity consequence beyond flooding name). Independent read 12.
    13. absent: Impact missing in this text (no severity consequence beyond flooding name). Independent read 13.
    14. absent: Without consequence phrasing, impact is 0 (no severity consequence beyond flooding name). Independent read 14.
    15. absent: Impact verdict 0: no severity consequence beyond flooding name. Independent read 15.
    16. absent: Hazard alone does not satisfy impact (no severity consequence beyond flooding name). Independent read 16.
    17. absent: No explicit harm to people or property (no severity consequence beyond flooding name). Independent read 17.
    18. absent: Impact not present (no severity consequence beyond flooding name). Independent read 18.
    19. absent: Severity cue absent (no severity consequence beyond flooding name). Independent read 19.
    20. absent: Consequence language not found (no severity consequence beyond flooding name). Independent read 20.
    21. absent: Impact fails the rubric (no severity consequence beyond flooding name). Independent read 21.
    22. absent: Does not convey potential harm (no severity consequence beyond flooding name). Independent read 22.
    23. absent: Impact unsupported: no severity consequence beyond flooding name. Independent read 23.
    24. absent: No impact statement (no severity consequence beyond flooding name). Independent read 24.
    25. absent: Absent impact: no severity consequence beyond flooding name. Independent read 25.

Systematic AI judgments with visible reasoning, not human-validated codings.

About this analysis
Context

Background

Skagit Valley College is a community college serving roughly 8,000 students from a main campus in Mount Vernon, Washington, with centers across Skagit, Island, and San Juan counties. From December 8 through December 12, 2025, back-to-back atmospheric rivers rated AR-4 to AR-5 delivered approximately 5 trillion gallons of rainfall over one week to Western Washington. The Skagit River was forecast to crest at 40.65 feet in Concrete on December 11 and at 36.91 feet at Mount Vernon early December 12. SVC announced on December 10 that all campuses and centers would close from 4:00 PM Wednesday through 5:00 PM Friday, with some final exams moved to remote and others rescheduled. All Skagit residents in the 100-year floodplain — roughly 75,000 people — were ordered to evacuate on Wednesday night. Mount Vernon, Burlington, Sedro-Woolley, and the upriver communities of Hamilton, Conway, Rockport, Marblemount, and Concrete were all advised to evacuate. Governor Bob Ferguson held a press conference at SVC during the flooding. The Skagit, Snohomish, and Cedar Rivers all broke all-time flood records on December 11; a federal emergency declaration was approved December 12. The case is significant as one of the first community college closures driven by an AR-5 atmospheric river, the highest-magnitude classification in the Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes' five-tier scale, and demonstrated how post-COVID online infrastructure enabled remote finals during a sudden multi-day weather closure.
Analysis

Key Findings

SVC closed for two and a half days during a forecast historic atmospheric river, the institution acted on forecast crest data, not on already-flooded conditions
Some final exams were moved to remote delivery within the closure announcement itself, a post-COVID capability that pre-2020 community colleges could not have offered
The closure coincided with a 75,000-person mandatory evacuation across the surrounding floodplain, making this both a campus-safety and regional-disaster response
Governor Bob Ferguson held a press conference at SVC during the flooding, illustrating how closed community college campuses serve as regional emergency hubs
Outcome
Skagit Valley College issued a morning open/use-caution notice on Dec. 10, then closed all campuses from 4 p.m. Dec. 10, extended the closure through Dec. 14, and reopened Monday Dec. 15. Some finals were remote or rescheduled. National Guard and emergency personnel staged on the Mount Vernon campus during recovery.
Provenance

Sources

Every claim on this page is meant to be checkable. Open the links below (and the Verify this quote control under each confirmed alert) to read the original university, news, or archive page yourself. Hostnames are shown so you can see where you are going; archived copies survive when live pages move or disappear. See also our methodology.

  1. News
    These Skagit, Whatcom schools are closed again Friday due to flooding (Cascadia Daily News)
    cascadiadaily.com
    archived copy
  2. News
    100,000 evacuated in historic Skagit Valley flood in Washington state (Northwest Public Broadcasting)
    nwpb.org
    archived copy
  3. Official
    Emergency Communications (Skagit Valley College Security Services)
    skagit.edu
    archived copy
  4. Source
    2025 Pacific Northwest floods (Wikipedia)
    en.wikipedia.org
    archived copy
  5. Report
    December 8-11, 2025 Heavy Rainfall and Flooding: Historical Context (UW Climate Impacts Group)
    climate.uw.edu
    archived copy
  6. Report
    Historical Flooding in Western Washington – December 2025 (WSU Skagit Extension)
    extension.wsu.edu
    archived copy
Cite this case

Campus Alert Archive. "Skagit Valley College: Multi-day campus closure during record Skagit River flooding." Incident of December 10, 2025. Added May 2026; last updated July 2026. https://campusalertarchive.com/case/skagit-valley-college-atmospheric-river-flooding-2025-12-10/

Download case JSON

Alert text quoted on this page remains the work of the issuing institution; the archive is a secondary source.

Tags
floodingatmospheric-riverskagit-riverwashingtoncommunity-collegeskagit-valley-collegeremote-finalsar-5pacific-northwestmandatory-evacuation
Added May 2026Updated July 2026Via ingestion