Coast Guard Crews Rescue Motorists in Tillamook County Flooding

The Coast Guard joined Tillamook County the Fire Department to rescue 7 people from floods.

Coast Guard HH-60 Jawhawk Courtesy: militaryfactory.com

(SEATTLE, Ore.) - The Coast Guard reports assisting the Tillamook County, Oregon Fire Department in saving seven people who were stranded after their cars were swept off the road by flooding near Fawcett Creek, Oregon, Wednesday night.

The Coast Guard Group at Astoria received a request for assistance at 9:00 PM from the Tillamook County Fire Department to help rescue a mother and her two infants who were stranded in their car after being swept off of the road by strong flooding.

Coast Guard Station Tillamook Bay launched a swift water rescue crew and Coast Guard Air Station Astoria launched an HH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew.

The Tillamook County Fire Department was able to successfully rescue the mother and two infants from their car. Members from the swift water rescue crew were able to successfully rescue four people from a second car that was also swept off the road.

All of the rescued people were taken to a local hospital as a precaution. No injuries were reported.

Coast Guard crews across Washington and Oregon say they are continuing to stand-by in case they are needed to assist local agencies as heavy weather continues to batter the region.

"The Coast Guard routinely works with other agencies to provide services and conduct missions for inland search and rescue," said Petty Officer 1st Class Ronnie Mason, an operations specialist at Group Astoria.

"The knowledge and fast response of both Station Tillamook Bay's swift water rescue team and the Tillamook Fire and Rescue team contributed to the 7 lives saved here this evening."