AP/Wideworld A blusterly, rain-filled December gale sweeps off the Pacific Ocean, bringing death and destruction to coastal Oregon and Washington.

A severe winter storm with winds up to 100 mph slammed into Oregon and Washington Dec. 3, causing at least five deaths and dumping up to 10 inches of rain.

In Washington state, Interstate 5 is under 10 ft of water and closed for a 20 mile stretch at the Chehalis River, located about half-way between Seattle and Portland. In Oregon all major routes between the Willamette Valley and the Pacific coast are closed due to fallen trees and flooding. The governors of both states declared a state of emergency yesterday.

No cost estimates on the damage will be available until waters recede, says Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire (D).

Other areas heavily affected by the storm in Washington are Grays Harbor and King Counties.

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The Chehalis River, which is causing the flooding along I-5, crested there at noon Dec. 4.

Washington Secretary of Transportation Paula Hammond said in a news conference that state engineers would begin inspections once the waters recede.

The state is still trying to confirm whether or not flooding in the Chehalis River-I-5 area was exacerbated by a breach in nearby dikes. The fear is that the water won't be able to recede behind the dikes, and the state will have to pump the water out of downtown Chehalis and Interstate 5. “That is being investigated right now,” says Alice Firman, WSDOT public information officer.

The city of Woodinville, located about 15 miles northeast of Seattle in King County, is also flooded. The downtown retail area and local roads were opened at 11:00 a.m. this morning, says Justina Tate, Woodinville assistant city manager. “Right now we have a lot of debris and are assessing damages.”

In Oregon, downed power lines, mudslides and flooding closed portions of four state highways and portions of Interstate 101 along the Oregon Coast. Forty-five miles of Highway 26, which runs from Portland to the Pacific Ocean is closed. “Inspectors here are also waiting for waters to recede before damage can be assessed,” says Shelly Snow, ODOT public information officer.