Document text
3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW UPDATED: All westbound lanes on Highway 62 back open following crash ... Medford man in fatal motorcycle crash identified ... Commercial solar farm proposed north of Medford ... UPDATED: All westbound lanes on Highway 62 back open following crash ... Medford man in fatal motorcycle crash identified ... Commercial solar farm proposed north of Medford ... SOGGY HILLSIDES Wet winter in Northwest increases risk of landslides Even as rains let up, experts warn some areas may have been destabilized Comment By The Associated Press MailTribune.com By The Associated Press Posted Mar. 27, 2016 at 8:10 PM By The Associated Press Posted Mar. 27, 2016 at 8:10 PM » Social News EUGENE — A wet winter in Oregon has led to numerous landslides, and officials warn of continuing dangers even as the weather shifts in coming months. Oregon is in the midst of a "pretty active landslide season" after a relatively dry winter last year, said Ali Ryan Hansen, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Geology and Mineral Industries. Repeat storms have destabilized many hillsides and former landslide sites, she added. A woman was killed in December when a slide hit her home north of Florence. The same storm led to another landslide near Newport that damaged four homes and a sinkhole that swallowed a car, The Register-Guard reported. Slides have closed state highways on the Oregon coast and in the Coast Range. A slide closed Highway 36 west of Triangle Lake for eight days earlier this month and another slide shut down Highway 42 in rural southwest Oregon for 10 days in December. Smaller landslides closed Highway 101 south of Heceta Head on the Oregon coast for a day in late February. State officials warn motorists and others to be cautious of slides in coming months. "With the wet and wild weather, we've had a lot of slides, big and small," said Angela Beers Seydel, a spokeswoman with the state Department of Transportation. "People need to be aware of their surroundings and know that when you're driving around corners, there's always the possibility that something may have come down off of that hill. Be aware, be cautious and be ready," she added. A recent state study found that as much as a third of Oregon's land mass is deemed high risk for landslides, including swaths of land in the Coast and Cascade mountain ranges and in southwest Oregon. Besides heavy rainfall, landslides also can be caused by rapid thawing of frost or snowmelt. That means there will be a greater risk at higher elevations in the near future even if rains let up, Ryan Hansen said. By The Associated Press MailTribune.com By The Associated Press Posted Mar. 27, 2016 at 8:10 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501