MISSION – The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) urges residents of the Umatilla Indian Reservation to monitor river conditions and be prepared to evacuate if water rises quickly.
The National Weather Service (NWS) in Pendleton issued a Flood Warning on May 20 at 8:32 a.m. for urban areas and small streams in Umatilla County and several other areas in northeastern Oregon and southeastern Washington.
“Please continue to monitor river conditions at sites that historically flood first.We have sand bags ready to be deployed to sites that may need to be reinforced,” said CTUIR Public Safety Director Rob Burnside. “The public should be ready to evacuate their home in case water starts to rise quickly.”
According to the NWS, flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly in the warning area. Between one and two inches of rain have fallen. Rapid rises will continue on numerous small streams, creeks and rivers across the area with many reaching their banks and seeing flooding today through tonight. People along creeks and streams that were affected by the February flooding should be extra cautious as high water levels may not behave as they have seen in the past.
CTUIR recommends the following preparations:
- Plan how you will leave and where you will go if you are advised to evacuate.
- Plan how you will leave and where you will go if you are advised to evacuate.If needed, identify a place to stay that will accept pets. Most public shelters allow only service animals.
- Be familiar with alternate routes and other means of transportation out of your area.
- Always follow the instructions of local officials and remember that your evacuation route may be on foot depending on the type of disaster.
- Come up with a family/household plan to stay in touch in case you become separated; have a meeting place and update it depending on the circumstance.
