Salem avoids the worst storm weather, but not all escape

Lyndsey and Jerry Houser were jolted awake at 5 a.m. Sunday morning to find their house rumbling. Having lived in California, they thought it was an earthquake.

But then, the rumbling stopped. It was dark, but the Housers go out of bed to see what was going on.

Cindy Kimball, a neighbor, was already outside with a flashlight in hand. They told the Housers that a tree had fallen on their house.

For the past week, Oregon has been experiencing relentless downpours, high winds and snow in some areas. The rain has caused flooding and mudslides that damaged or closed highways. Rain and high water dangers are expected to continue into next week.

On Thursday, Gov. Kate Brown ordered 13 counties, including Marion and Polk, be put in a state of emergency because of the storms. The Salem-area avoided the worst of the weather, but like the Housers, not all escaped unscathed.

Because the Willamette River and North Santiam River are dam controlled, Marion County wasn't subjected to the flooding that other counties were, said Ed Flick, Marion County's emergency manager. However, a flood advisory was issued Sunday for the Pudding River by the National Weather Service. The river is already above flood levels, and expected to crest by Monday evening. Low-level agricultural areas may already be flooding.

High water reported on area roads, sand bags available

Highway 22 closed after sinkhole erodes both lanes

Last week, flood warnings were also issued for parts of Salem and several streets were closed because of high water. Parts of Highway 22 were also closed after a large sinkhole developed in the roadway. Two were killed by last week's deluge: A woman in Portland died after a tree fell into her house and a passenger drowned after a motorist went around a 'Road Closed' sign into high water near Clatskanie. The federal government announced last week it would give Oregon $1 million for repairing roads damaged in recent storms.

Though flooding has occurred, it could be worse; the 13 dams on the Willamette River Basin have saved an estimated $20 billion in flood damage since their completion, according to the Army Corps of Engineers. Rain still poured down last week, soaking the ground and making it easier for high winds to take down trees, like the Housers'.

Lyndsey Houser said when the tree first came down on her house she and her husband, "were dazed, just running around."

As they inspected the house, the Housers found cracks in a bedroom ceiling. Chunks of plaster had fallen onto the floor. The 80-foot white oak that fell onto the house was visible from the window.

"I guess this will be one expensive gutter cleaning," Jerry Houser said.

A tree trimmer estimated the tree removal will cost up to $3,500. Then, there's the damage to the house. The tree also knocked down a wishing well in the Houser's backyard.

gfriedman2@statesmanjournal.com, (503) 399-6653, on Twitter @gordonrfriedman or Facebook.com/gordonrfriedman