Harney County anticipates another round of flooding amid ‘historic’ rainfall, snowmelt

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – A few weeks after “historic” levels of rainfall and snowmelt led to flooding in Southern Oregon’s Harney County and the Burns Paiute Reservation, officials warned residents on Monday of renewed flooding expected to strike the area.

As of 3 p.m. Monday, Harney County Sheriff’s Office said floodwaters continued to recede over the weekend, with properties around North Broadway Avenue becoming accessible again while other neighborhoods in Eastern Burns near the Silvies River are still experiencing standing water.

Because of additional snowmelt, forecasts show the Silvies River is expected to reach flood stage on Tuesday, the Sheriff’s Office said, warning residents to remain alert and prepared for potential evacuation orders — even in areas where water has receded.

When the flooding began on March 17, the onslaught of rainfall and snowmelt overwhelmed rivers, streams and wastewater systems, according to the Oregon Office of Emergency Management.

With river levels expected to rise, emergency managers are resuming sandbag operations on Monday to ensure availability for residents at the City of Hines Public Works.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, drinking water in the City of Burns is safe as public work crews address the city’s sewer system, which remains impacted by flooding.

Health officials are continuing to highlight serious health risks associated with floodwaters, which comes after the Sheriff’s Office warned community members to avoid floodwater after E. Coli was detected.

The Harney County Sheriff’s Office also highlighted efforts to reinforce the Dike D levee — which runs from Foley Drive to Silvies River — are expected to be completed Monday thanks to a partnership between the Army Corps of Engineers and local contractors.

Tuesday’s anticipated flooding comes after Oregon Governor Tina Kotek declared a state of emergency for the area on April 1 because of overflowing waterways, which damaged homes and businesses and created obstacles for emergency services to reach people in need.

As reported by The Associated Press April 3, more than 1,200 people were under the highest level of evacuation orders and 18 people were in shelters for displaced residents. According to AP, about 7,400 people live in Harney County.