Heavy rains and melting snow have resulted in record-breaking floods in southeast Washington and northeast Oregon in the last few days. Some of the most severely-affected cities include Walla Walla, Dayton, Pendleton, and Milton-Freewater. The flooding has left several homes and businesses in destruction, over 40 people injured, and one dead. Rivers and tributaries in the affected regions have overflowed their banks causing road and highway closures. A state of emergency has been declared in Walla Walla and Columbia counties in Washington; and in Umatilla, Union, and Wallowa counties in Oregon. Dangerous conditions have caused mandatory evacuations in these areas. Even though the floodwaters are receding, residents are advised not to return home as yet.
Emergency shelters for evacuees have been set up in Washington and Oregon. Many volunteer groups are stepping in to assist with the Recovery Efforts. They filled sandbags at Koncrete Industries on February 7th, Friday morning. Among them were 100 students from Walla Walla Valley Academy who helped out. Members of the Milton SDA Church in Oregon also aided in filling sandbags, housing evacuees, and serving a community meal on Sabbath, February 8.
Eighty Walla Walla University students from the Center for Humanitarian Engagement (CHE) filled over 30,000 sandbags. Another crew of volunteers from Walla Walla, College Place and Milton-Freewater, including Walla Walla University students and Lightfoot’s Towing, helped a couple install sandbags on their property to protect their home from the Walla Walla River flooding. Two of the volunteers, Tanner Simmons and Becca Daniel, were evacuated from their home in Milton-Freewater and spent the day volunteering to help others.
Let us keep those who have been affected by this flooding in our thoughts and prayers.
