Be alert for landslides across southwest Oregon!
The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Watch for portions of southwest Oregon, including central Douglas County, the Curry County coast, eastern Curry County and Josephine County, and the south-central Oregon coast. The watches are in effect from Sunday evening (9/24/23) through Monday evening (9/25/23).
Moderate to heavy rain may result in landslides in areas of steep terrain, as well as debris flows in and near burn scars from recent wildfires including the Smith River Complex, the Flat Fire, the Anvil Fire, and the Tyee Complex.
Get the latest information from the National Weather Service
here.
Debris flows are rapidly moving, extremely destructive landslides. They can contain boulders and logs transported in a fast-moving soil and water slurry down steep hillsides and through narrow canyons. They can easily travel a mile or more. A debris flow moves faster than a person can run. People, structures, and roads located below steep slopes in canyons and near the mouths of canyons may be at serious risk.
If your home, work, or travel route is in a watch area:
- Stay alert. Track the flood watch by radio, TV, weather radio, or online. If told to evacuate, do so immediately.
- Listen. Unusual sounds might indicate moving debris, such as trees cracking or boulders knocking together. A trickle of falling mud or debris may precede larger landslides. If you think there is danger of a landslide, leave immediately.
- Watch the water. If water in a stream or creek suddenly turns muddy or the amount of water flowing suddenly decreases or increases, this is a warning that the flow has been affected upstream. You should immediately leave the area because a debris flow may soon be coming downstream.
- Travel with extreme caution. Assume roads are not safe. Be alert when driving, especially at night. Embankments along roadsides may fail, sending rock and debris onto the road.