Interstate 84, Hwy. 12 still closed as water recedes, crews search for people still stranded
Roads remain closed and people stranded after water submerged roads and forced evacuations east and south of the Tri-Cities.
Rain and melting snow from the Blue Mountains busted rivers and creeks out of their banks in Walla Walla and Umatilla counties late Thursday and early Friday.
Most of the rivers and streams in the area have crested, but areas were expected to remain flooded through Saturday, said National Weather Service station in Pendleton.
While the waters may be dropping, the damage left behind may take weeks to fix.
Helicopters flew over northeast Umatilla County along Mill Creek and Gibbon Roads looking for people stranded in their homes, the Umatilla Flood Joint Information Center said Saturday.
They found 16 people in the Bingham Road area and five people in the Mill Creek area.
They wanted people to make sure they had enough food and water to last for several weeks.
Rescue crews were in the air and on the ground trying to contact people in the area. Helicopter crews were suggested people wave their arms in the air to let the crews know that they need help.
Roads have been damaged in the area for an indeterminate amount of time.
“Local law enforcement and emergency rescue crews want local residents to know that we are with you through this and will do all we can to make contact and provide assistance,” the center said. “You may be cut off, but you are not along in this situation.”
Rescue crews evacuated 26 people on Friday, mostly from the Umatilla River Road and Bingham Road area and Mill Creek Road.
A six-mile stretch along Interstate 84 south of Hermiston remains closed after irrigation ditches next to the road flooded. A detour has been set up to take people around the damaged area.
Drivers are encouraged to check Oregon DOT’s TripCheck.com for updates on road conditions or call 511 or 800-977-6368. Outside of Oregon, call 503-588-2941
.
Pendleton declared a emergency Friday morning, after flood waters pushed 100 people from their homes.
A substantial area of Milton-Freewater along the Walla Walla River was evacuated Friday. Flood damage work was being done after the levee was breached and people were evacuated.
Seventeen people staved in the American Red Cross shelter in Pendleton and another eight were at the Walla Walla shelter.
Walla Walla County
The floodwaters that filled rivers and closed roads are slowly sinking back after reaching their peak.
Highway 12 remains closed between Wallula Junction and about 13 miles outside of the city after water covered roads and flooded farms in the county.
There has not been any estimate for when the road will open again. A detour has been set up along Highways 124 and 125.
Several other roads remain closed throughout rural Walla Walla.
The Walla Walla Army Corps of Engineers said the flow in Mill Creek had dropped to about 2,000 cubic feet per second from nearly double that at the flood’s height.
An evacuation is still in place for Mill Creek Road to the Oregon border, the Walla Walla County Emergency Management Department said.
The Red Cross Shelter at the Walla Walla Fairgrounds Pavilion is remaining open. People can bring their livestock to the fairgrounds and the Blue Mountain Human Society is accepting cats and dogs that need shelter.
Highway 12 outside of Waitsburg has been opened.
People are still being advised to stay away from the water at its highest points.
This story was originally published February 8, 2020 at 12:13 PM.