The floods in the South -East of Oregon require evacuation orders, school closures and health problems

Floods in the south -ast rural Oregon From what the authorities have described as “historical levels” of melting snow and rainfall have pushed evacuation orders, school closures and public health concerns, immersed streets and agricultural lands and harmful houses and businesses.

The office of the Harney county sheriff declared on Wednesday that over 1,200 people were at the highest level of evacuation orders and 18 people were using spaces for refuges for displaced residents. The authorities have opened an emergency refuge in the county trade district and in the refuges for campers where people can park their vehicles.

“From March 14, 2025, Harney county and the surrounding areas have experienced historical levels of rainfall and merger of snow, overwhelming rivers, waterways and waste water systems,” said the Emergency Management Department of Oregon. “The flood waters flooded roads, damaged critical infrastructures and introduced risks to environmental and public health, including contamination of waterways and the interruption of essential services.”

District n. 3 of the Harney County School canceled the lessons for the week in its elementary, middle and high school schools in the small towns of Burns and Hines. The district serves about 750 students.

Drinking water is safe, but bacteria like E. coli are present in the alluvial waters, the authorities said. The officials urge residents to avoid flooding waters whenever possible and to wear protective equipment such as rubber boots and gloves if they have to enter the stagnant water. The objects worn in the flood waters should not be worn inside the house and should be decontaminated and washed, the authorities said.

The authorities placed portable toilets around the burns for residents whose toilets not reduced due to the backups of the sewage system.

“We recognize that floods have influenced people’s lives in significant ways. We appreciate everyone’s patience while we continue working to mitigate problems and we are grateful for your mutual support and your first rescuers,” said Sheriff Dan Jenkins.

The Burns Paiute tribe provided meals and water cases to the affected members and created toilets and portable showers. The tribe said Facebook Wednesday that will move the portable toilets around the booking for easier access.

Governor Tina Kotek declared a state of emergency on Saturday because of the floods, which followed a rapid fusion of snow in the area.

“Floods in the county of Harney and on the Burns Paiute reserve is creating serious dangers for public health and the environment that require all the hands on the bridge,” Kotek said at the beginning of this week.

About 7,400 people live in a vast but scarcely populated county of Harney, which covers over 10,000 square miles (25,900 square kilometers), an area about two years of the state of Connecticut.