Oregon Public Broadcasting

Residents of  Vernonia, Oregon are observing the one-year anniversary Wednesday of their worst flooding in decades. Similar events are scheduled in Lewis County, Washington this weekend.

In Vernonia, jackhammers are banging away.  Homeowners like George Guyette are still trying to make repairs. Three feet of mud and water sweep through his house one year ago this week.

George Guyette: "Unfortunately there's a sewage plant just upriver from us. And it was sewage water and mud and debris that was in our house. Just gut everything out and start over."

The federal government has spent millions of dollars to help clean up the damage in places like Washington's Chehalis River Basin.

Government estimates don't always match up with what contractors charge, so many homeowners are having to borrow from elsewhere.