February 8, 1996
Web posted at: 10:20 a.m EST
From Correspondent Don Knapp and wire reports
PACIFIC NORTHWEST (CNN) -- Floodwaters fed by heavy rains and melting snow in the Pacific Northwest kept rising early Thursday, and there was more rain in the forecast.
"The worst may still be ahead of us," Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber said Wednesday as he issued a warning to people who live along the Willamette and lower Columbia rivers. The Willamette flows through farmland and Oregon's major cities from Eugene to its confluence with the Columbia River in Portland.
The Columbia, already one foot above flood stage at Vancouver, Washington, was expected to rise five feet by Thursday morning.
Swollen rivers in Clackamas County, near Portland, were still rising, sheriff's Deputy Nick Watt told CNN Thursday. (204K AIFF sound or 204K WAV sound) A state of emergency was declared in 11 Oregon counties.
Since Monday, Portland has received 5 inches of rain; Eugene, to the south, 8.4 inches; and Salem, 6.81 inches.
"In some areas over the last few days, almost a foot of rain has fallen," said CNN Senior Meteorologist Valerie Voss. She predicted that western sections of Oregon could expect another inch of rain on Thursday. (162K AIFF sound or 162K WAV sound)
She also forecast heavy rain in sections of Washington state, Idaho and Montana. (128K AIFF sound or 128K WAV sound) Thousands of people have been evacuated in the four states. Flood warnings were issued for 15 rivers in Washington state.
Meanwhile, Interstate 90 across Snoqualmie Pass and U.S. 2 over Stevens Pass, the two major highways linking eastern and western Washington, have reopened after nearly two full days of avalanche-related closures.
In northwestern Oregon, every river and stream is at or above flood stage.
"It's been scary," said Dave Fisher as he watched the Clackamas River rise near Portland. Portions of Interstates 5 and 84 were closed as were hundreds of other roads in the region. The powerful waters washed an east Portland house into the Columbia River late Wednesday night. A man trapped inside was rescued, but his wife was missing.
Also Wednesday, Army National Guard helicopters rescued 35 people and two dogs from an area of the Columbia River Gorge cut off by a massive rock and mudslide along Interstate 84 west of Cascade Locks.
A 9-year-old girl was swept to her death in the Willamette Valley town of Scio, about 80 miles south of Portland. Authorities said Amber Bargfreele had gone out to check the mail when she was overwhelmed by water.
Also in Scio, neighbors came to the rescue of horses trapped in the rising waters of the Santiam River. Two of the horses were injured and bleeding after trying to kick down fences that trapped them. Rescuers took them to higher ground on neighboring farms.
Just to the north in Marion County, Oregon, officials evacuated about 3,000 people along the flooded North Santiam River.
"My motor home is ready to wash away," said resident Janet McCall, drenched from the rain. The Red Cross set up 31 emergency shelters around the state.
The Willamette, which runs through downtown Portland, was just below flood stage at 19 feet on Wednesday night. Forecasters said it could reach 28 feet within 24 hours, possibly spilling over a downtown seawall. City officials expected water to flood most downtown building basements.
A huge logjam that broke loose on the Willamette created a navigational hazard and temporarily closed some bridges was photographed on time-lapse video by CNN Portland affiliate KOIN.
The coastal town of Tillamook was virtually isolated because of road closures, and some parts of the town were under six feet of water. Some of the rescue boats were snagging their propellers on underwater cars.
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