SEATTLE -- Heavy rains that have caused many rivers in Western Washington to spill over their banks are finally starting to taper off, but residents in many areas are still dealing with flooded homes and roads.

Friday and the weekend will bring mostly dry weather throughout the area, which should keep rivers receding and help dry out areas saturated by repeated rains.

Although flood crests are moving downstream, flood warnings remain in effect Thursday for the Skokomish, Snoqualmie, Snohomish, Puyallup, Nisqually and Cowlitz rivers.

There have been no reports of serious injuries or significant damage from this week's flooding in Western Washington, although many roads have been closed and dozens of houses have been evacuated. (See links to road closures here Several school districts delayed classes or altered bus routes due to road flooding. (See full school list.)

While residents in parts of Snohomish County were still cut off by the flooding Skykomish River, many homeowners along the Snoqualmie River in King County were breathing a sigh of relief Thursday as the river began to recede.

On Wednesday, officials in King, Pierce and Snohomish Counties declared states of emergency to deal with rapidly-rising rivers.

Evacuations were urged along many parts of the Snoqualmie, Skykomish and Puyallup rivers when waters began spilling over the banks hours before the rivers crested.

Law enforcement and fire crews in Gold Bar helped a family of four escape from rising waters surrounding their home, while fire crews near Startup assisted a family living near the Skykomish River evade flood waters.

East of Monroe, in Sultan, Don Marshall borrowed a friend's red kayak and paddled around some flooded houses by the U.S. Highway 2 bridge near the confluence of the Sultan and Skykomish rivers. Sandbags were placed around some downtown businesses, and a stream of residents and business owners filled sandbags from a pile of sand on Main Street.

"We do it every year. Everybody sticks together, starts bagging bags," said resident Timothy Bryant.

But despite all the efforts, even the aged pros couldn't keep up with the rivers rising at such a rapid pace. When all was said and done on Wednesday night, some residents found their basements knee-deep in water.

"This isn't normal; this is about every five to ten years. It's serious," Bryant said.

"Sad, muddy, floody Jacuzzi," said Chuck Estes of the water in the basement of his feed store.

Still, Estes said, the damp conditions Wednesday night were an improvement from the afternoon when cars were being swallowed by raging floodwaters and boats appeared to be the only way to get around town.

Residents along the Skykomish in Snohomish County came together to fill sand bags to help protect homes and businesses close to the river, and many considered it just a normal fall activity.

Jason Reiner and his father manage a 300-acre farm near Monroe. He says trying to predict what a flood will do is fruitless.

"I've lived here my whole life and there's been tons of (floods)," he said. "Every single one is different. Every time you think you know something or you can predict what's going to happen, you're proven wrong."

In Pierce County, officials declared a state of emergency for severe flooding on the Puyallup, Nisqually and Carbon rivers. Wednesday morning, their emergency operations center sent out a notice to 200 residents south of Orting near the Carbon River encouraging them to evacuate due to rising river levels.

Becky Newell was one of those 200 leaving her home along the river bank.

"I'm not afraid of my house getting a little water in it," she says, but she is concerned about river debris jumping the dikes. "And if (the shoreline) breaks down too far, I won't be able to get out the road."

As locals hustled to keep up with the rising rivers, resident John Herrington appeared fatigued, having to once again go through the drill that has become very familiar over the years.

"We've talked about a flood wall," he said. "But some of the people don't want to do that because it will interfere with their view. I'd as soon not have so much of the view if it'll keep the water out of my house."

In Cosmopolis, a small dam failed, flooding several streets and nearby homes with several inches of water. The dam at Mill Creek Park gave way after it was weakened by a falling tree. The city has hired a contractor to make repairs.

In Carnation, about 1,000 customers of Puget Sound Energy lost power for about an hour on Wednesday night after a toppling tree limb brushed a power line and caused the power switches to flip.

Just east of Enumclaw, a huge landslide dumped debris onto State Route 410 at Greenwater River at milepost 41 and shut down the roadway in both directions around 6 p.m.The Department of Transportation said the landslide, which is 20 feet tall and 100 feet wide, will not be cleared off until the morning. DOT officials said the landslide hit several cars. However, officials do not believe any cars were trapped under the debris.

In Grays Harbor County, The WSDOT reports water has covered several highways in the Aberdeen area: Highway 12 at Aberdeen, Highway 101 near Artic and also in places on Highway 8 and 108.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.