Floods Recede, But Water Unfit

The ravaging floodwaters are largely gone, but residents from opposite corners of Oregon - Ashland and Imnaha Canyon - wished for water of another sort on Sunday - water to drink and bathe in.

In northeastern Oregon, high water that claimed two houses had contaminated many wells and springs, as well as taken out electricity, phone service and many roads.

By Sunday, some of the 150 residents had their power and phones back, but many still depended on the telephone at a tiny store and tavern.

U.S. Army National Guard helicopters ferried in drinking water and other supplies on Sunday. In Oregon’s southwest corner, thousands of Ashland residents had to use bright yellow portable toilets and collect their 5-gallon allotment of drinking water Sunday because floodwaters had knocked out the city’s water treatment plant and sewer system.

“People, they’re either taking sponge baths or nothing, or they’re going to Medford to the YMCA,” which was offering free showers, said Ashland resident Pete Hawley.

He and a friend were trying to rig up public showers on Sunday, planning to truck in water from Medford and warm it with a propane heater.

The Breadboard restaurant was back in business, serving food on paper plates and tacking on a 10 percent flood tax to all bills.

“A lot of people are tired of being stuck in the house,” said owner Jane Hamilton. “No one wants to do dishes.”