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One more time -- The rain continues to fall in Marion County, creating flooding conditions, dangerous roadways and hazardous water conditions. Emergency crews have worked feverishly to provide service to those in need. Currently, the City of Turner has been the hardest hit.

Earlier this morning the Marion County Commissioner Sam Brentano, acting as the Emergency Management Board Designee, approved order #12-9 declaring a local state of emergency in Marion County. The full board will ratify the declaration at their next meeting. A copy of the order is attached to this release.

The declaration provides flexibility in managing resources while responding to current conditions. Commissioner Sam Brentano said, "The County is experiencing some of the same conditions as in the flood of 1996. We are anticipating similar types of damage and this allows us to get the process started for requesting additional assistance." He continued, "We know that the cities of Turner, Aumsville and Stayton are already experiencing significant issues and there are indications of problems developing near Woodburn and St. Paul as well."

The emergency declaration will be forwarded to the state Office of Emergency Management for consideration by the Governor.

Marion County Emergency Officials, operating from a Unified Command Post at City Hall, are now asking all residents of Turner to evacuate to higher ground. This is a voluntary evacuation request. Rising flood waters have created unsafe conditions for all residents. Northwest Natural is in the process of turning gas off to the entire City of Turner. Sandbags are still available at Turner City Hall. Residents are encouraged to seek shelter with relatives or friends. You can also receive assistance at any flood shelter established by the Red Cross. One such facility is located in the City of Aumsville at the Bethel Baptist Church, 645 Cleveland St., phone: 503.749.2128

Marion County Sheriff’s Office buses are staged at City Hall for any resident needing transportation.

Earlier in the day, the City of Turner evacuated 50 families from flooded areas of the city. 90 elderly evacuees were originally placed at the Aldersgate Retreat Center, but the rising water has now closed that facility. Those seniors are being transported to nearby Corban College where they’ll be temporarily housed in the gym for shelter. As conditions deteriorated, it became clear that a complete evacuation was necessary.

The city of Aumsville is also being affected by the rains and high water. Aumsville City Administrator Maryann Hills, has reported that some areas the Aumsville sewer system is at capacity with storm water runoff. Water drains and toilets are affected, but Ms. Hills emphasized that the drinking water is NOT compromised. If your household drains are not running properly, you can seek temporary shelter at the flood shelter operating in the Bethel Baptist Church.

The City of Aumsville is providing portable toilets at the church, the Aumsville Elementary School Gym and the Aumsville Community Center, 555 Main Street.

The Aumsville Community Center will also be open today for residents to gather and avoid the weather. Coffee will be available.

In addition to the locations posted earlier, several Stayton High School athletic teams are at Knife River Sand & Gravel loading sand bags. If you need FILLED sandbags, they are available without cost from Knife River, 41816 Stayton/Scio Road in Stayton, OR 97383

As of 1:50pm, the following road closures are in effect:

Gallon House from Downs Road NE to Hobart Road NE Croisan Creek Road SE from Kuebler Blvd SE to River Road SE McElhaney Road SE at cascade Highway Mt. Angel Highway at Hobart Road NE Elliott Prairie Road NE at High Water Gates 3800 block of Victor Point Road Talbot Road at High Water Gates Ogle Road S at 70th Avenue SE

Road Closures are regularly updated at: www.co.marion.or.us

The Philomath School District has canceled all evening sports and other activities tonight.

The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announced today the closure of all refuges in the Willamette Valley National Wildlife Refuge Complex due to flooding and high water. This closure includes Ankeny, Baskett Slough and William L. Finley national wildlife refuges. The closure will continue until water recedes and staff and visitors can safely return.

Corvallis Gazette-Times
Emergency management officials were keeping a close eye on rain-swollen waterways, especially the Marys River, which was above flood stage Wednesday.
“That’s predicted to stay above major flood stage for the next day or day and a half,” said Benton County Public Works Director Roger Irvin.
Several roads were closed in the Philomath area because of high water spilling out of the Marys, including Chapel Drive and 13th Street. Sections of Greenberry and Bellfountain roads were also closed, and numerous other rural roads around the county had areas of high water.
Irvin said motorists should be cautious about driving through high water but that the major trouble spots would be sucrely blocked off.
“We would close it if we considered it to be dangerous,” Irvin said.
Despite the relentless rainfall, however, Irvin said county officials thought the worst of the flooding might be passing Wednesday.
“At this point we’re not expecting any significant increaes of what we have now,” Irvin said.
“Based on the predictions from NOAA, it looks like everything has plateaued. This rain we’re having will keep everything high, but we’re not expecting any significant increase.”
South Corvallis, which was cut off from the rest of the city during the flood of 1996, should remain accessible this time around, Irvin added.
“There’s been improvements to the drainage through south Corvallis since ’96,” he said.