Tension Rises With Water as More Rain Falls

Sierra Witte says family business took it hard in '96 flood Photo By: Tim King

(Salem) - More rain, more water, Salem has been getting drenched in recent weeks, and the end is not in sight. Roads all around the mid valley are closed because of flooding river and creek waters. Law enforcement officers like Jim Krieger with the Marion County Sheriff`s Office, say they are becoming increasingly frustrated with people who don`t realize the impact their vehicles have on the roads that are inundated with water.

"It goes far beyond the water running over the roadway, it goes to the structural stability of the road itself. Taxpayer dollars are involved in maintaining the roads, and then there is the safety aspect." One of the worst areas according to Krieger, is River Road between Salem and Independence.

"There is a sign three and a half miles down River Road telling them it is closed. There is a series of three signs, the last one being an arm going across your lane of travel." He says motorists have to pass those repeated warnings to reach the flooded area. If they do pass that last sign and keep driving toward the water, the odds are good that a deputy like Jim Krieger is going to be waiting there. He says the fines start at $97.

One reason they're taking it so seriously may be the two different motorists that were washed off the roadway just over a week ago near River Road. In one case, a young man`s choice to cross high water nearly cost him his life. Salem firefighters had to enter the floodwaters to deliver the man to safety.

While police worry about motorists crossing high water and getting swept away, business owners in Salem wonder how far Mother Nature is willing to go with the latest round of storms.

Sierra Witte and her family own and operate the kitchen store Reface It, on State Street near 22nd Street NE. Their business, along with several others nearby, looks sort of like a combat zone with sandbags lining the perimeter. Those sandbags could end up being the only thing between their businesses and the rising waters of Mill Creek. She says Salem goes most years without seeing such dramatic levels, "It doesn`t happen very often. We`re a little more nervous than other people probably, because it is our livelihood."

Salem residents learned in 1996 that the city can indeed go underwater. "Cars driving down State Street were a real problem. We were getting two-foot waves going through our store! It was really bad."

Witte is hoping she doesn`t see a repeat of that memorable year, "Last week it only made it to about the yellow line on State Street. It didn`t come all the way across, it was only about half way."

The business owners along State Street in Salem say they`ll weather the storm. More sandbags may be necessary, and even some clean up work, but they say the businesses of Oregon`s capitol city will survive.

Cops cruising the flooded zones say they hope local drivers do the same.