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Tillamook County Wellness online this week
Headlight Herald
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2021
TILLAMOOK, OREGON • WWW.TILLAMOOKHEADLIGHTHERALD.COM
VOL. 133, NO. 45 • $1.50
Tillamook County hit with first flood of season Single shot fired inside travel trailer, woman arrested “Tillamook County emergency responders have been very busy,” said Tillamook County Sheriff Joshua Brown. “Early this morning (Friday) a major rescue operation was undertaken at the Neskowin RV Park in south County.” Before daylight, Nestucca Fire Chief Jim Oeder was returning from a flooding assist call up off of Slab Creek Road when something caught his eye. “As I was driving by the (Neskowin) RV Park something looked funny,” said Oeder. “I could tell the driveway was already flooded.” The chief investigated and learned many of the park residents and guests had already started to self-evacuate and were moving trailers and vehicles to higher ground. He immediately began making calls for assistance from other emergency agencies. “More than 50 residents of this park were becoming completely isolated due to rising flood waters,” said Sheriff Brown. “Boats from Tillamook County Sheriff’s Office and Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office were brought in, but due to conditions and hazards, they were unable to successfully deploy.” Emergency responders did learn of an old dirt road meant for evacuation leading into the park. Rescuers used trucks and the TCSO UTV to evacuate residents and emergency personnel that had gotten trapped by water while assisting people. “After we exhausted all of our capabilities, I asked for air assets from the US Coast Guard,” said Oeder, whom by now was the designated incident commander of the rescue operation. “They sent
Tillamook County Sheriff’s Office photo of Neskowin RV Park flooded Friday Nov. 12. two helicopters - a Dolphin out of Newport and a Jayhawk out of Astoria.” The Coast Guard helicopters were able to land on higher ground near the RV park’s basketball courts and pick up evacuees. “They made four landings before water covered their landing zone. They rescued 12 people,” said Oeder. “At this point, no one else wanted to be evacuated out of the park, and with the loss of the landing zone, we ceased air operations.” Nestucca Valley School District provided buses and the elementary school for transportation and housing of evacuees. Tillamook Transportation also provided a bus and Cloverdale Veterinarian Clinic provided animal carriers for pets. “In other parts of Tillamook County, there were travel trailers seen floating down the Trask River, and numerous roadways were closed,” said Brown. “Hwy 101
from Rosenberg Builder Supply to Fred Meyer was closed, flooding at Misty River RV park on the Wilson River prompted evacuations, and many roads throughout the county have water over the roadway and could soon be closed due to flooding.” Weather reports indicate that rain will be continuing at least through Monday, and with high tides, more flooding is anticipated. “You can expect flooding on normally flood-affected roads, and also those that flood during King or High tide events,” said Oeder. “Stay off the roads that flood, and if you don’t need to go anywhere, please stay home.” TCSO also wants to remind you that flooded roads are even harder to see at night - and even a few inches of water across a roadway can stall a vehicle or cause it to float into dangerous current. TCSO is proud of the partner-
ships with all of the first responder agencies, individuals and businesses in our community that come together to help those when there is a need. “It doesn’t even surprise me anymore,” said Brown. “When people in Tillamook County are in need of assistance in events like this, everyone comes together.” TCSO will be bringing more stories and information regarding this flooding event when possible and we will strive to highlight those people that stepped up when it was needed most. “This type of incident shows how well we all work together and how we come together to give the best response possible for those needing it,” said Oeder. No major injuries were reported today due to the flooding. OSP, ODOT and Tillamook Ambulance also responded to the Neskowin RV Park incident.
Seattle women rescued from Cape Meares Lake after car hydroplaned into water
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ate Friday evening after visiting family and friends in Cape Meares, Seattle area resident, Donelle Bart, braved the elements to return to her hotel in Tillamook where she was staying for the weekend. When she hit some standing water on the road, she said her vehicle started to hydroplane and ended up in Cape Meares Lake. As Joel Baker, a resident of Cape Meares was traveling into his business, Kitty’s Restaurant and Lounge to help with closing procedures, he saw the vehicle and called 911. According to Bart, she also called her friends from her sinking vehicle and Rachel Beard and Benjamin Fistch responded quickly, living close to where Bart crashed. Fistch grabbed an air mattress and he and Beard swam out to the vehicle prior to emergency crews arrival and rescued the women. TCSO Report
Saturday morning, the TCSO Dive team and Marine Patrol were able to locate and remove a car that had driven into Cape Meares Lake on Thursday night. No one was injured and the single occupant/driver was assisted from the car by witnesses of the crash. “Apparently the car hydroplaned in deep water on the road, and entered the lake,” said Deputy Billy Cloud, TCSO SAR coordinator and dive team member. “We had hoped to dive on it yesterday but was unable to due to the flooding operations in the county.” Dive team members Cloud and Deputy Chris Barnett were aided by Marine Deputies Dennis Greiner and Kelly Awe. After divers attached the cable, the vehicle was pulled from the water and towed from the scene by Menefee’s Towing.
TCSO Dive Team and Marine Patrol work to remove Donelle Bart’s vehicle from Cape Meares Lake Saturday morning. Photos by TCS Deputy Tom Mayne.
HWY 101 in Tillamook flooded and road crews had to close Main Street in Tillamook from 1st Street to Wilson River Loop Road Friday morning as water rose across the road. Wilson River Loop Road was also beginning to flood and flaggers directed traffic to one lane. HYW 6 heading east out of Tillamook also flooded and closed, crews redirected those traveling out of town to use 3rd Street. According to a ODOT spokesperson on the scene, the worst of the flood was around 10 a.m. when the rivers overflowed, drivers were told to expect road closures until later in the afternoon when high water subsided. Photo by Joe Warren
Weather conditions call for awareness of potential hazards
Oregon’s Office of Emergency Management advised residents last week to be aware – and prepared – for potential hazards due to heavy rains forecasted across the state. According to the National Weather Service, expected rainfall amounts from 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 10, through Friday, Nov. 12, caused potential flooding of creeks and rivers in northwest Oregon, especially along the coastal terrain and Cascades. Rain amounts were possibly high enough to cause flooding Thursday and Friday. Heavy rain can trigger debris flows and landslides in steep terrain, and the risk is higher in wildfire burn areas. There is potential for debris flows in the burned areas of the Cascades, including the Riverside, Beachie Creek and Lionshead fire sites. Eagle Creek and Holiday Farm fire areas may also be potentially impacted. The public can remain safe using basic preparedness actions, including staying informed, being aware of surroundings, having a plan for emergencies and being prepared with an emergency kit.
mediately.
Stay informed Monitor the weather forecast for watches, warnings or advisories at https://www.weather.gov. Sign up for local emergency alerts at https://oralert.gov. If told to evacuate, do so im-
Know the signs of landslides Look for changes in landscape like leaning trees, land movement, or a trickle of falling mud or debris.
Drive with caution Be aware of the latest road conditions before driving by checking http://tripcheck.com. Be alert when driving; embankments along roadsides may fail, sending rock and debris onto the road. Turn on lights, increase following distance and slow down. Don’t drive through flood water; just 6 inches of fast-moving flood water can knock over an adult, and a foot of rushing water can carry away most cars. Heed flood watches and warnings A Flood Advisory is issued when a specific weather event that is forecast to occur may become a nuisance: Be aware. A Flood Watch is issued when conditions are favorable for flooding to occur: Be prepared. A Flood Warning is issued when flooding is imminent or already occurring: Take action.
n See HAZARDS, Page A3
Photo of scene courtesy of the Tillamook County Sheriff’s office.
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Staff
illamook County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO) deputies and officers from Tillamook Police Department (TPD) and Oregon State Police (OSP) responded to a report of shots fired at 6:45 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 10, in the 100-block area of Bluebird Lane in Tillamook. According to TCSO, as the investigation unfolded, the Reverse 911 system was activated to alert neighbors of the shots fired investigation, and to ask them to stay indoors. When the incident had de-escalated, Reverse 911 alerted neighbors that there was no further reason to stay indoors. It was determined that a single shot was fired inside of a travel trailer. TCSO detectives arrested a 64year woman around 9 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 11, on several charges related to the discharge of a handgun. The woman was booked into Tillamook County Jail on the following alleged charges: attempted second degree assault, fourth degree assault, menacing, unlawful use of a firearm, pointing a firearm at another person and reckless endangering. Tillamook County Sheriff’s Office confirmed to the Herald Friday, Nov. 12, the woman arrested was Kathy Fields Haron. This investigation is ongoing, TCSO reported. A .357 magnum handgun was recovered. No injuries were reported.
Fatal crash reported on Hwy 101 O
For the Herald
regon State Police (OSP) responded to the report of a single-vehicle crash that occurred at 4 a.m. Nov. 7 on US Hwy 101 near milepost 60 near Tillamook. According to OSP, a preliminary investigation revealed a silver Subaru Impreza, operated by Anthony Ronald Cuarteros of Portland, was northbound in wet weather conditions when, for an unknown reason, the vehicle drove off the northbound shoulder into a deep drainage ditch. The vehicle continued in the drainage ditch for more than 200 feet, crossing over two raised driveway entries, until it came to an uncontrolled rest in the ditch directly in front of the Tillamook Country Smoker Factory Outlet Store. Anthony Cuarteros sustained serious injuries and was transported to an area hospital. The passenger, Janette Gaudalupe Medina of Portland, was pronounced dead at the scene. Passengers Alexander Bradley Cuarteros of Portland and Damon Kyle Cornwell of Beaverton were treated at the hospital for minor injuries. US Highway 101 was closed for approximately five hours. OSP was assisted by Tillamook County Sheriff’s Office, Tillamook Police Department, Tillamook Fire and Rescue, Bay City Fire Department, and ODOT Incident Response.