Yikes--the 6,000 Orting, Wash., and 20,000 Orting Valley residents have been asked via reverse-911 systems to leave their homes and find higher ground this afternoon. Tomorrow, Orting may be underwater. According to Lights & Sirens, Orting hasn't been evacuated like this in twenty-two years. Because the flooding situation is so dangerous, sandbag operations to try to alleviate the damage have ceased and most schools in the area have closed early. Good luck and godspeed to our brave neighbors in Pierce County. more ›

• West Seattle Blog has the latest update on Nickelsville. WSB also pointed us to a Nickelsville Google Group where residents and supporters are posting updates and minute-to-minute news.
• MyBallard has photos of hygiene stations planned for neighborhood homeless car camps. Maybe Mayor Nickels could talk to some Ballard community activists about options for homeless residents, at least Ballard seems to be dealing with the issue in a humane way.
• The most interesting meta post we've seen in an eternity: the strange (and occassionally yucky) search terms that lead folks to Tacoma's crime blog, Lights & Sirens.