BURLINGTON, Washington, Dec 12 (Reuters) - Residents and emergency crews in towns along the rain-engorged Skagit River in western Washington state braced on Friday for potential levee failures while National Guard troops assisted in evacuations after days of severe flooding in the Pacific Northwest.

Floodwaters began to recede on Friday after historic inundation in Washington state, but the areas hardest hit by flooding could face another wave of atmospheric river next week, and more inundation is looming.

"The only clothes I got is just my pajamas," 7-year-old Jocelyn Rosas told CBS News' Carter Evans, as flooding devastated parts of Washington state.

After thousands of residents in some Washington towns were evacuated, the federal government approved a request to seek emergency financial aid.

An atmospheric river-fuelled storm is soaking Western Washington and other parts of the Pacific Northwest, bringing heavy rain and snowfall that’s resulted in flooding, road closures and emergency evacuations.

A foot and a half of rain pushed the water levels of at least four rivers in Washington, including the Skagit River, to hit record highs, surpassing some of their previous records set over 35 years ago.