More than 30,000 Washington residents have fled their homes due to flooding caused by deep snow melting in warm, rainy conditions. Many horse owners are evacuating their horses or moving them to high ground.

Josie Owens of Carnation had to make a decision as to which of the 30 horses in her care to send to Evergreen Fairgrounds in Monroe for safekeeping, and which to keep at home.

Some of Owens’ horses riding out similar conditions in November 2006.

“We do have an indoor arena that was built up with truckloads of fill so that it is the highest indoor thing on the property,” said Owens. “We also have ‘critter pads’–outdoor paddocks on a manmade plateau created expressly for animal evacuation.”

By Thursday morning, Owens said she was unable to get to the horses, knee-deep on the critter pads, to feed them. The lower level of her home was flooded, so she retreated to the upper level with six dogs and four cats.

“I have never been so scared,” said Owens.

A friend was able to feed the horses via canoe Thursday afternoon