World Photo by Susan Chambers A van and restrooms at a county boat ramp across from the River's Edge RV Park in Coquille are partially under water Tuesday as the North Fork, South Fork and main stem of the Coquille River overflowed its banks after recent heavy rains. A few farm buildings and homes flooded in the Coquille Valley. The South Fork at Myrtle Point crested at 42.83 feet, according to the National Weather Service, on Monday afternoon. More rain is forecast for the coming week.

Curry County commissioners met this morning to declare an emergency after a landslide across a road cut off access to more than 1,000 homes up the Chetco River. In Coos County, emergency officials had to call in a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter crew to airlift a 41-year-old woman, whose home was surrounded by water, needing medical help and take her to the hospital. Rain was the cause of the problems, and more is in the forecast.

Coos County

The Oregon Department of Transportation closed state Highway 42 South near Fat Elk Lane at midnight and it remained closed this morning, through the water is receding. ODOT spokesman Gary Leaming said portions of Fishtrap Road near Coquille are under water as well. ODOT was not sure when the road linking Coquille and Bandon would re-open.

High water and a blocked road made a U.S. Coast Guard air rescue necessary Monday morning. At about 11 a.m.,  a resident called the Coos County Sheriff’s office requesting medical assistance for a 41-year-old woman in the 18900 block of Dora Sitkum Lane, 27 miles east of Myrtle Point.

The house was surrounded by 3 to 4 feet of water and the road leading to the house was closed. Using boats, medical personnel were able to get to the home, but determined, due to the woman’s condition that a quicker exit was needed. They called in the Coast Guard, who sent a helicopter to pick up the woman and fly her to the Southwest Oregon Regional Airport where an ambulance crew was waiting to take her to Bay Area Hospital. The woman was suffering from severe abdominal pain, a press release said.

Curry County

Commissioners met Monday morning to declare a local emergency due to storm damage. Sheriff John Bishop said the declaration is the result of a major slide on a road near the north bank of the Chetco River. Bishop said the road serves about 1,500 people. Emergency workers were able to partially reopen it Monday. Most other roads are clear, Bishop said.

Power outages

Pacific Power reported three outages Monday after trees fell on utility lines. Two affected customers connected to the Coos River substation. One happened at about 6 a.m. and involved 260 customers. They were back on line by 9 a.m. Another outage starting at 9:55 a.m. affected 575 customers. Crews fixed the outage at about 5 p.m.

A third outage later, at about 7 a.m., in the Lockhart Avenue area took out 1,868 customers. Crews were able to turn the power back on at 10 a.m.

Douglas Electric Cooperative reported outages affecting 46 customers in the Reedsport and Smith River areas Monday afternoon.