Pacific's Devastating Floods Leave Families Like the Wiks With Nothing
Heavy flooding struck Pacific, Washington, after the White River breached aging levees in late 2022. The disaster forced over 100,000 people to evacuate, left hundreds in need of rescue, and claimed at least one life. Among those affected were Jessica Adams and Kevin Wik, who had only recently returned home with their premature twins before the waters rose again. The floods came as part of a series of atmospheric rivers that dumped record rainfall on Western Washington. Climate change has made such events more intense and frequent, officials noted. When the White River overflowed, it overwhelmed Pacific’s flood defences, submerging entire neighbourhoods. City leaders later confirmed the levees were holding, but the damage had already spread.
An estimated 4,000 homes were damaged, with Pacific among the hardest-hit areas. Many residents, including the Wik family, lacked flood insurance. Their home on White River Drive was inundated just months after they had finally come back from Seattle Children’s Hospital. Jessica and Kevin had spent two and a half months there with their twins, born prematurely in October. Their son, Jaxson, was cleared to return in December, but their daughter, Maxine, remained in hospital with a rare, often-fatal heart condition. Now, the couple faces a new struggle. Their house is ruined, debts are piling up, and government aid has been slow to arrive. Some neighbours have yet to return, while others question whether they ever will. For Jessica and Kevin, the dream of a peaceful life in Pacific feels shattered—if it was ever truly possible at all.
The floods left Pacific with deep scars, both physical and financial. Homes remain damaged, families are displaced, and recovery has been uneven. For those like the Wiks, the road ahead is uncertain, with no clear path back to the life they once knew.
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