Search and Rescue efforts continue in Umatilla, Walla Walla Counties

On Friday, rescuers evacuated 26 people from their homes in Umatilla County due to rising flood waters threatening homes.

Most of those who evacuated were from the Umatilla River Road/Bingham Road and Mill Creek Road areas.

An evacuation advisement has been issued for residents in that area.

"Local law enforcement and emergency rescue crews want local residence to know that we are with you through this and will do all we can to make contact and provide assistance. We recognize the stress and uncertainty that lay ahead. You may be cut off, but you are not alone in this situation," officials said in a statement released late Friday night.

Deputies and National Guard personnel are going through the area encouraging residents to leave, and warning that if they stay, emergency services may not be available to help them further. Anyone who chooses to stay is being encouraged to make sure they have sufficient food and water to survive "for several weeks."

"We were able to get the majority of the residents out of the area before the water flows really compromised the ability to get in and out," said Pendleton Police Chief Stuart Roberts. "The last few residents that we evacuated, we used a front-end loader and put them in the bucket."

Deputies will spend much of the day Saturday checking on residents near the South Fork of the Umatilla, with the help of the National Guard, which has also been providing air support in the rescue effort.

According to officials with the Umatilla County Emergency Management, 17 people stayed in the Red Cross Shelter at the Pendleton Convention Center Friday night, and eight people stayed overnight at the Walla Walla Shelter.

Many roads in both Umatilla and Walla Counties remain closed due to high water or damage.

Drivers are asked to check www.tripcheck.com before they travel, although many county roads are not updated on this site.

You're also advised to not drive through standing water, do not remove barricades in order to drive through closed roadways, and stay away from creeks, rivers and levees.