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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend December 28, 2005 River flood warnings issued The Weather Service predicts minor flooding on the Rogue below Gold Ray Dam and major flooding on the Illinois River at Kerby By SARAH LEMON Mail Tribune Heavy rains and snow-melting temperatures are expected to produce flooding today on the Rogue and Illinois rivers. The National Weather Service issued a flood warning Tuesday. Areas on the Rogue River near Gold Ray Dam may see minor flooding, while water levels are expected to be four feet above flood stage in Grants Pass. Homes and businesses near the Illinois River at Kerby are at the greatest risk, said Roger Gerig, weather specialist at the Weather Service Medford Forecast Office. "This is going to be pretty major," Gerig said. Rain likely will taper off today, Gerig said. But the swollen Rogue will reach flood stage by this morning, cresting at 4 p.m. to nearly 14 feet downstream Gold Ray Dam and 24 feet in Grants Pass, according to the Weather Service. Flood stage is 12 feet below Gold Ray and 20 feet in Grants Pass. Advertisement The Illinois will rise more quickly, cresting to more than 40 feet at about 10 a.m. The river’s flood stage near Kerby is 35 feet. Kerby residents should prepare for major flooding of numerous homes and businesses in their town, the Weather Service warned. Widespread flooding of low-lying areas from Cave Junction downstream was also forecast. Those living near the Rogue River below Gold Ray Dam can expect minor flooding during the crest, the Weather Service reported. Low-lying and agricultural lands above the dam also would be affected. Disaster relief workers for the American Red Cross were monitoring the flood waters Tuesday but had no plans to set up shelters, said Tony Hernandez, the agency’s local director of emergency services. "We’re probably going to squeak by on this one," he said. The Josephine County Sheriff’s Department had issued no evacuation orders Tuesday, a spokeswoman said. County residents’ response to the flood warning was on a "personal and voluntary level," she said. Grants Pass businesses also planned to ride out the storm. At the Riverside Inn, employees had sandbags ready if the Rogue rose to as high as 18 feet, said Charmaine Brown, director of operations for Vintage Hotels. The Inn’s main building located closest to the river already was vacated for winter, she said. "We’ve experienced these high waters before," Brown said. Flood warnings also were issued Tuesday for the Coquille River in Coos County and Douglas County’s South Umpqua River, Cow Creek and Deer Creek. Approximately an inch of rain was expected to fall overnight, but total rainfall was not expected to surpass the daily record of 2.68 inches set in 2002, Gerig said. The snow level locally climbed to about 7,000 feet Tuesday, but was expected to drop to around 4,500 feet today, Gerig said. "That will help with all the run-off." Another storm is expected to bring more rain to the valley on Friday. Reach reporter Sarah Lemon at 776-4487, or e-mail River flood warnings issued ">[email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker dvd-r Distance Education Computer Security Ztech Media Hosting Sports Equipment Student Loans Online Pharmacy tcg student loan consolidation Online Casino Reviews Myspace Home Equity Loans Windermere Van Vleet Deep Muscle Stimulator Discount Hotel Reservations Southern Oregon Loans Online Casino News Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Salvia Divinorum Online Casino Fundraisers Advertisement s