20 people rescued from rising floodwaters in Oregon RV park
After assessing the situation, 12 people and three dogs needed to be flown out by Coast Guard helicopter. Eight others were rescued via first responders on the ground.
Coast Guard member rescues people, dogs from Oregon flood
Jack Earl, Petty Officer 2nd Class of the U.S. Coast Guard, on being part of the second helicopter rescue crew that responded to the Neskowin RV Park floodwaters in Oregon.
NESKOWIN, Ore. – First responders rescued 20 people who were trapped by rising floodwaters in an RV park in northern Oregon.
Two Coast Guard helicopters were originally called to potentially rescue about 50 people staying at an RV park along the Neskowin Creek in Tillamook County when the waters began to rise, and worries of a mudslide grew, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.
(US Coast Guard)
"The problem is there is a bridge that crosses (Highway) 101 into the RV park," said Gordon McCraw, emergency manager for Tillamook County. "And because the Neskowin Creek is flowing at such a high rate, there’s possible damage to the bridge and made it unsafe to cross. So we’ve had to get people out."
After assessing the situation, 12 people and three dogs needed to be flown out by Coast Guard helicopter, said Coast Guard rescue swimmer Chris Belisle who helped coordinate the agency's ground efforts during the rescue. They were taken to a nearby school as a shelter.
No one was injured in the event.
![]()
Image 1 of 7(Russ Hiner)
![]()
Image 2 of 7(Russ Hiner)
![]()
Image 3 of 7Flood waters rise outside an RV park in Neskowin, Oregon. (UnSocial Media Productions)
![]()
Image 4 of 7A retired fire truck sits in flood waters in the town of Otis, Oregon on Nov. 12, 2021. (Lincoln County Sherif's Office)
![]()
Image 5 of 7Flood waters rise outside an RV park in Neskowin, Oregon. (UnSocial Media Productions)
![]()
Image 6 of 7( )
![]()
Image 7 of 7Flooding in Tillamook, Oregon. (City of Tillamook, Oregon)
Another eight people were taken from the scene on the ground via other first responders, and the remaining 30 elected to stay behind as waters began to recede and were notified that later evacuation may not be possible due to expected deteriorating weather conditions, the Coast Guard said.
Those still at flooded Oregon RV park considered safe
Chris Belisle, Aviation Survival Technician on site, says 30 individuals were trapped, 13 were considered critical and had to be evacuated and 3 dogs were rescued. Those who remain at the RV camp are safe.
"It’s the only way in and out of the park," McCraw said. "And normally it’s just a little creek but unfortunately with all the rain, it’s a problem."
Rainfall totals have ranged from 5-7 inches so far in the coastal Oregon lowlands with one gauge recording over 11 inches in the higher elevations. And rain was still falling.
USCG evacuating 50 people from Oregon RV park
Gordon McCraw, Director of Tillamook Emergency Management, gives the latest on 50 people being trapped at an Oregon RV park due to rising waters.
Several rivers remain on Flood Warning in northern Oregon.