Rivers rise with flood waters as rain falls

By Kim Quintero KVAL News Published: Dec 29, 2008 at 6:20 PM PDT Last Updated: Dec 30, 2008 at 10:03 AM PDT
Rivers rise with flood waters as rain falls »Play Video
A lawn chair set up creekside in Lost Creek now bobs in the swollen waterway.

DEXTER, Ore. - Stormy weather over the weekend and into Monday morning flooded communities surrounded by streams and rivers throughout Lane County.

The recent rainfall is taking its toll on the community of Dexter. Front yards are turning into mini lakes. And It doesn't look like conditions are going to get any better this week. Forecasters said several storms will move into the Pacific Northwest into the coming weekend.

"I just happened to look out my window, and seeing the water line was right here, and you know, that kind of worried me," said Charmaine Cummins of Dexter.

Shock and concern overwhelmed Cummins, as she watched a swollen Lost Creek devour her yard.

Cummins said she doesn't have flood insurance because she didn't think she and her husband would need it. The couple moved into their Dexter home less than two months ago.

"As you can see way out there, there's a bench, and the people that lived here before, they would sit there and watch the water," said Cummins.

While taking inventory of her soggy shed, memories are stirring from when she lived near Triangle Lake.

"This reminds me of the flood of '96 because there's a lot of water," said Cummins.

Glenn Pannier has lived in the home next door to the Cummins residence for 47 years.

"It never gets up high enough to worry me, because if it got in the house, I'd be gone," said Pannier.

But through the snow melts and drenching rains, the biggest nuisance for him is having to move his chickens to higher ground. Others aren't so lucky.

"I'm putting a barrier around to keep the water from going under the mobile home basically," said Kathy Hensley of Little Fall Creek. "It's flooded before and this is the worst its been. I've been there for 8 years."

So the family stocked up on sand and bags, in hopes of holding back the flood waters.

Jerry's Home Improvement Center in Springfield is giving away free bags and sand, 24-hours-a-day until supplies run out. You have to fill them yourself, but shovels are provided.