Volunteers with DCSO’s Swift Water Rescue Team return home from helping Harney County amid historic flooding
'Kind of devastation, in many respects.'
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- The historic flood rocking Harney County has prompted help from all corners of Oregon, including the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office's Swift Water Rescue Team, which paddled to over 60 homes to help evacuate residents. The team was able to paddle four stranded residents to safety.
Harney County is still recovering after historic flooding, the worst in 75 years. The town of Burns, home to 2,000 residents, faces some of the worst damage. Schools and businesses remain closed as water levels slowly begin to drop.
The historic flooding has prompted response teams from counties statewide to take action, including here on the High Desert.
The Deschutes County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue Team is made up of over 100 volunteers who are then sorted into specialized units, including the Swift Water Rescue Team. Nine of those team members went to help Harney County.
On Tuesday, they split up in two boats and paddled to over 60 homes in the town of Burns.
"We checked to If there was anybody inside, and if they were inside, we were there to offer transport to dry land," team leader Trent Volz told KTVZ News on Wednesday.
According to Volz, they were able to rescue four people from their flooded homes and safely take them to dry land.
In his years of responding to emergencies, Volz says this rank as one of the worst.
"This was some of the more severe flooding that I've experienced, kind of devastation in many respects," he said. "Everything was just under water. In some areas, the waters were up to the bottom of the stop sign. Homes were flooded, up to the door."
Despite the tough conditions, Trent says the team is always happy to lend a helping hand.
"All the other neighboring counties are ready and willing to help us in our time of need, and they do help us a lot. So to be able to repay that - it means a lot."
Trent urges people to make sure you're signed up for emergency notifications for wherever you live. Below are the links to sign up for emergency alerts in each of Central Oregon's three counties.
