January 2, 2009

Pacific storm brings threat of floods and mudslides to Oregon
Mudslides close U.S. 26, drivers warned of slide chances on I-84

     PORTLAND (AP) — Another Pacific storm is pasting northwest Oregon.
Rainfall that could range up to 7 inches in the Coast and Cascade ranges is threatening to flood rivers already running high with moisture from the snowstorms that socked the region last month. And higher temperatures are turning more snow to water, the National Weather Service said Thursday.
     The agency says it expects minor flooding along the Willamette River from Oregon City to Lake Oswego.
     The river is expected to rise slightly above flood stage Friday morning. But the weather service says that won’t last more than a few hours.
     It says that historically, such flooding affects a park and golf course.
     The weather service says there has been minor flooding of several Coast Range streams: the Nehalem, the Wilson, the Trask, the Nestucca and the Siletz.
     And it says the region can expect urban floods and standing water.
     State geologists said the combination adds up to landslide weather and one occurred late Thursday. All lanes of U.S. 26 were closed at milepost 35, near Alder Creek, the Oregon Department of Transportation said.
     Two vehicles were on the east end of the slide area, but no injuries were reported. The slide debris — mud and trees — is an estimated 2 feet deep and up to 100 yards in width.
     The National Weather Service said the storm brought high winds and seas to the Oregon coast, with gusts measured up to 60 mph Thursday and waves that might rise 25 feet.
     The Oregon Department of Transportation reported that water reaching 16 inches high closed Oregon 22 about four miles west of the junction with Oregon 18. High water also closed U.S. 101 between Seaside and U.S. 101’s junction with U.S. 26.
     The Nehalem River is expected to crest at 24.9 feet, about 11 feet above flood stage, about 10 a.m. Friday, said Sheriff Todd Anderson of Tillamook County.
The county opened a shelter at the Tillamook County Fairgrounds and warned residents and businesses in flood areas to evacuate.
     In Vernonia, where some victims of the December 2007 floods are still living in FEMA trailers, city officials were alerting people where shelters could be found — if necessary.
     “Anytime there’s a flood warning that comes out, everybody gets a little nervous,” Police Chief Michael Kay said. “Our main is goal was to be as prepared as possible, so if it did start to flood we could immediately start helping our residents.”
     Meanwhile, the National Weather Service issued a high wind warning for Central Oregon through 10 a.m. Friday.
     The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office got scores of calls because of wind damage. Scott Jordan, who lives east of Bend, told KTVZ-TV he saw a “twisting, dust-devil looking cloud” take down four of his big trees.
     “I hit the deck until it passed over me,” he said.
     Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort shut down Thursday afternoon because of a power outage. The lifts could have run on backup power, but electricity was spotty in the lodges.
     “Without steady power in the lodges it was a better call sending people home to watch football,” said an announcement on its Web site.