Floodwaters Cause Rescues on S. Oregon Coast, Coos County Sheriffs Urge Caution

Published 03/16/25 at 8:45 p.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Coos Bay, Oregon) – A few rescues on the south Oregon coast due to floodwaters have the Coos County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) concerned, one of which had to involve the US Coast Guard. (Photo of Coos Bay during King Tides, courtesy Robert More / Oregon King Tides).

Heavy rainfall has been hitting the areas of Coos and Curry counties, and the National Weather Service (NWS) still has some flood advisories out until the early hours of Monday morning.

CCSO wished to remind people – locals or visitors – to be extremely cautious when encountering flooded roads. The Coquille and Coos River drainages have caused significant flooding.

“During this event, four individuals have been rescued from the floodwaters so far,” the CCSO said. “In one incident, a person drove into the floodwaters and was rescued by a Coast Guard helicopter. Floodwaters also rose around Sheriff’s Office vehicles, requiring them to be towed out.”

Flooding near Coos Bay earlier this year / Oregon State Parks

Another incident involved floodwaters breaching a home on the south coast, which led to the evacuation of three people and their dog. This required boats and jet skis.

The CCSO issued these reminders:

“Do not drive through standing water - it can be deeper and more dangerous than it looks,” the CCSO said. “Stay aware of your surroundings. Leave early as waters can rise quickly.”

There is still a flood advisory in effect for the south Oregon coast's Coos and Curry counties – meaning Coos Bay, Bandon, Port Orford, Langlois and Brookings. It is in effect until just after midnight.

More urban small stream flooding is expected because of excessive rainfall, the NWS said.

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“Doppler radar and automated rain gauges indicated heavy rain,” the NWS said. “This will cause urban and small stream flooding. Between 6 and 7 inches of rain have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches are expected over the area. This additional rain will result in minor flooding.”

Areas to look out for include Brookings, Port Orford, Bandon, Ophir, Humbug Mountain State Park, Edson Creek Campground, Sixes, Langlois, Harbor and Denmark, the NWS said.

The NWS reiterated the CCSO's advise with “Turn Around, Don't Drown when encountering flooded roads.”

Most flood deaths happen because of being trapped in a vehicle, the NWS said. MORE COOS BAY AND BANDON PHOTOS BELOW

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Flooding at Bandon in '96 / courtesy Bandon Historical Museum

courtesy Manuela Durson - Manuela Durson Fine Arts

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Andre' GW Hagestedt is editor, owner and primary photographer / videographer of Oregon Coast Beach Connection, an online publication that sees over 1 million pageviews per month. He is also author of several books about the coast.

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