Rescue Efforts Underway in Oregon Town of Vernonia

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Salem-News.com

(VERNONIA, Ore. ) - The U.S. Coast Guard and the Oregon National Guard have helicopters and boats in the Oregon town of Vernonia plucking residents off roof-tops and rescuing stranded people after the Nehalem River swelled overnight.

The Coast Guard says they have 8 aircraft in the area and have rescued more than 200 people so far. hundreds of homes are flooded, as well as schools and businesses. Highways 26 and 47 in and out of the city are closed.

The town has about 2,340 residents.

An Oregon National Guard spokesperson says members of the 125th STS Squadron are using Zodiac boats to rescue residents trapped in their homes by the high water.

The Coast Guard has responded with two HH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crews from Air Station Astoria, in Warrenton, Ore., three HH-65C Dolphin helicopter crews from Air Station Port Angeles, Wash., two HH-65 Dolphin helicopter crews from Air Station North Bend, and a C-130 from Coast Guard Air Station Sacramento, Calif.

Three Coast Guard 25' response boats and nine crews from Maritime Safety and Security Team 91101 homeported in Seatle are on standby to assist as requested. Boat assets will also be arriving from California Tuesday.

There are four major flooding areas in Washington and Oregon which include; Vernonia, Ore., Tillamook, Ore., Pe Ell, Wash., and Belfair, Wash.

Salem-News.com will have more on this story as soon as it becomes available.