PORTLAND, Ore. — The ongoing string of atmospheric rivers has set off flood warnings around rivers across northwest Oregon, including in the Sandy River Delta. The area has no permanent residents, but homeless people often camp along the trails, making them highly vulnerable to flooding during severe weather events like the current series of storms.
“This is swamp land, basically. What they call flood land — it floods out here every year, just about,” said Jerry, who is homeless and camps in the delta area.
Speaking to KGW this week while huddled around a makeshift fire under the Interstate 84 overpass, he said the cold, wet and harsh weather is nothing new for him, because he’s been camping along the river for six years — but it’s a hard way to live, and the recent round of rain has been especially challenging…