Rain-soaked snow sinks boats at Olympia marina

Heavy rain caused havoc after heavy snowfall in Olympia bringing down a marina cover and sinking several boats Monday evening. The people at the West Bay Marina said they tried to prevent it, but the storm was just too much for them.

"It's crazy," said boat owner Larry King. "I've never seen anything like it."

It was a close call for King and his big boat moored just feet from where the heavy rain-laden snow brought down several of the metal rooftops covering the slips. "The cover next to us dropped on the boats and I was concerned with mine so I pulled her out of the cover and got her safe to the other side," said King.

Marina operators knew of the dangers from snow and rain mix and had cleared off that rooftop earlier in the storm. "We had shoveled it and the snow built back up enough and then it rained on it and probably seven or eight inches of snow and four hours of rain," said marina manager Neil Falkenburg.

Now, the problem is figuring out how to safely remove the marina covers without damaging other boats and then get the salvage crews to come out and bring sunken boats to the surface.

The rain soaked snow also brought down trees. One fell onto several cars at an Olympia apartment complex where people are unable to drive out because of the deep snow.

Another huge branch cracked off a large tree and down onto utility lines.

"I feel bad for the tree," said Leila Hammerstein who lives nearby. "But I think it's going to survive. I kind of like the snow."

But a lot of people are getting tired of it.

"It's crazy," said Rollo Frans. "Snowmaggedon." He said it is hard to get around and with the rain turning the snow into ice patience is growing thin. "Actually I went from enjoying it to now I wish it would go away."

The snow was enough to close the state legislature Monday, but Tuesday it was back open with a full slate of committee meetings and public hearings.