Flooding along Malheur River prompts health and safety advisory

By on Thursday, March 20th, 2025 in Eastern/Southeast Oregon News More Top Stories

MALHEUR COUNTY(Released from the Malheur County Health Department)- The Malheur County Emergency Management Office is actively monitoring ongoing flooding along the Malheur and Owyhee Rivers. A local emergency declaration remains in place and agencies across the region continue to coordinate response and recovery efforts.  

Current Situation

Malheur River levels are fluctuating just below Moderate flood stage.  Malheur County Emergency Management is working with Owyhee Irrigation, and is monitoring the Owyhee River, below the dam, for changing conditions.  

Heavy snowpack in the region and high reservoir levels are contributing to increased water flow and dam releases. Saturated soils and a high-water table (as shallow as 3 feet in some areas) are worsening localized flooding impacts.  Communities such as Ontario and Harper are reporting flood-related impacts, including road issues and water pooling near homes. 

Stay Informed  

All Malheur County residents should be prepared for more flooding. Check for updates from official sources:  Malheur County Emergency Management on Facebook  

Sign up for local emergency alerts via Malheur County Alerts. 

Public Health and Safety Advisory

  • Stay out of floodwaters. Standing flood water can hide dangers like bacteria, chemicals, septic system overflow, and sharp objects. 
  • Do not drive through flood water or road closures. Flood water can hide how damaged a road is. If flood water gets into your vehicle, it can stall the engine and cause other damage.
  • In case of a power outage, use generators, grills, and all gas-power devices at least 25′ away from your home. An attached garage is not a safe place to run a generator. 
  • In case of a power outage, food can stay safe to eat for 4 hours in a fridge and 48 hours in a full freezer. Get ready by stocking your freezer with ice or full water bottles. Moving ice to the fridge during a power outage can keep food colder longer. If you aren’t sure if food has spoiled, throw it away to be safe.  

Flood Water inYour Home

  • Floodwater in and around your home can make you sick with a bacterial infection or mold growth.  
  • If you get flood water on your skin or in your eyes, flush well with clean water, such as bottled water.
  • Avoid getting cuts and clean all wounds with clean water. 

The bacteria in floodwater can lead to tetanus (also called “lockjaw”), a painful illness. If you can, make sure your tetanus vaccine (tDAP) is up to date. The Health Department can provide tDAP vaccines or help you check your vaccine records. 

Cleaning Safely After a Disaster | CDC (English) (Spanish)

Well Water Safety During Flooding

  • Do not use water from private wells that may have been flooded. Well water testing may be needed before use.  
  • Use bottled water for drinking, cooking, and hygiene until well water is confirmed safe.  

If you are in an area with flooding, there may not be flood water above ground, but the water table may have risen and gotten into below-ground wells. You can check for flooding by opening the lid on your vaults.. Standing water or a mud line where there used to be standing water means flood water has entered the well.

Contact Malheur County Environmental Health at 541-473-5186  with any questions about septic systems, needed repairs, help with gathering samples from your well, or suspected contamination.