Oregon Public Broadcasting

In Vernonia heavy flooding caused damages totaling  tens of millions and the Oregon Guard members were called in to help evacuate stranded residents.

The Vernonia School District office is in a 1400 foot trailer adjacent to the old building.  The floods forced the staff and students into what is politely called a "chaotic situation."

A sign on the office wall  says,  "Vernonia; just another day in paradise."

For Vernonia's students, that paradise is debatable.  Sixth through 12 graders are bussed to Scappoose four days a week.   That's 25 miles on windy roads.  Younger kids go to Mist,  about 17 miles away.

Vernonia School District Superintendent Kenneth Cox led Senator Gordon Smith on a tour of the vacant buildings.

The outlook isn't good.  The district is trying to get students back in town by the first of February.

Temporary trailers are just about ready.  Cox advocates a complete rebuild.  The schools are in the flood plain, and Cox says the price-tag of a rebuild is huge.

Kenneth Cox    "We can look for perhaps 3 or 4 million dollars in mitigation funds from FEMA."

Gordon Smith : "Yeah."

Kenneth Cox: "But we're talking at least 40 million dollars."

Gordon Smith: "$40 million.  For a new high school?"

Kenneth Cox: "Well, it would be all of them."

Gordon Smith: "All three of them."

Cox and Columbia County Commissioner Tony Hyde say the people of Vernonia learned from the last devastating flood in 1996.  People want to either rebuild  outside of the flood plain or build on platform lifts to avoid floodwaters. 

As it stands, Tony Hyde estimates the total damage to the county at over $100 million.

Senator Smith said he plans to work with Senator Ron Wyden to as he put it  "look under every stone" for money.  Gordon Smith: "My job along with my colleagues in Congress is to get them all of the resources available under law.  And if we need to change some laws to get them more, then we need to go to work and get on that job as well."

One common thread is an increased trust in the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA.  The agency won't start issuing checks for at least 2 or 3 months, but Commissioner Tony Hyde says it's doing a good job  this time around.  Hyde would know; he was mayor of Vernonia in 1996.

The deadline for individuals and government agencies to apply for assistance is February 7th.

Nine Oregon counties are already approved for public assistance. And this week the agency announced that the Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua and Suislaw indians are also eligible.