Harney County court focuses on flood response as dike, pumps and Corps assessments continue

County Judge William Hart opened Harney County Court on April 1, 2025, with a status update on the ongoing flooding response, saying the county and local partners were working "as diligent as we can." The county described construction of an east–west dike being extended toward North Broadway and an extensive sandbagging effort; pumps in the southeast field area near Burns have been running for weeks to move water back into the river channel.

The meeting served as a coordination and information session rather than a forum for immediate new policy. Hart said state and federal contacts are active: Representative Owens, Senators Merkley and Wyden and Congressman Vance had been in touch and the governor’s office was briefed. Hart said part of the dike work is being funded by the Oregon Office of Emergency Management (OEM) and that the county will carry a portion of the cost. He urged ongoing public communication and said the county planned to circulate talking points and a recorded message with local officials.

Local public-works crews and volunteers were central to the response. Hart and commissioners thanked Burns Public Works director Ty Richardson and Harney County road crews, and noted volunteers — including local Mennonite and Mormon congregations and youth teams — had staffed sandbag stations. Emergency management staff and local police and fire agencies were also credited for their work coordinating shelters and pumps.

Officials reported localized utility issues. Burns experienced a water main hit earlier in the week that produced a large geyser and reduced pressure; County public-health staff and the county said they will test the water system and did not expect ongoing contamination. County public-health staff member Kelly Singhoes was answering the county information line and taking questions.

County staff described where the dike and sandbag lines are being built: construction began near the river at the east end and had progressed roughly two-thirds of the way toward North Broadway; the plan was to extend the dike to North Broadway and then use two-plus feet of sandbags westward along the levee. County officials cautioned that raising a dike at one point can push water elsewhere, and emphasized attempts to address the southeast corner of the system where pressure is greatest.

Residents gave extended on-the-record testimony about historical flood patterns and infrastructure decisions they said contributed to current damage. Chuck Lynn, who lives next to the river behind the levee, recounted floods in 1951–52 and 2011 and described earlier changes to culverts and bridge structures that he said reduced channel capacity. Other residents urged controlled-release mechanisms, dredging, removal of log jams and better access to river channels. A Harney County official said the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had been on site for days and would return later in the year, and that an assessment this fall — when water levels drop — would help shape a multi-phase mitigation plan.

County leaders flagged urgent needs at shelters. Commissioners said shelter operators had asked for mental-health support and meal logistics; some shelters were relying on store-bought food and lacked running water hookups. The county established an information line for residents affected by flooding: (541) 589-0112. Officials said they would publish the number and status updates on social media and were discussing a recorded public message with Burns and Hines leadership rather than holding a large town-hall at that time.

Budget and recovery concerns were repeatedly raised. Judge Hart said the county’s contingency and discretionary funds would be substantially drawn down by the response. He said the county had roughly "a little less than" $800,000–$900,000 in reserves and that current incident costs could exhaust contingency lines; he estimated the county might be able to "squeeze a million and a half dollars" but said that would not cover major recovery work and that state and federal partners will be needed. Hart said state legislators were submitting capital project requests for $3 million for Harney County and $3 million for the city of Burns; the county would pursue additional emergency funding and FEMA assistance as appropriate.

Officials also described operational changes to emergency coordination: the county’s emergency operations center (EOC) had moved to a larger Forest Service conference space to improve logistics, and staff were coordinating sign and traffic control improvements at shelter sites to make nighttime access safer. County staff said they would follow up with the American Red Cross and the sheriff to improve shelter signage and staffing.

What’s next: county staff and the Corps of Engineers will complete assessments when access permits, county leaders asked state and federal partners for expedited help, and commissioners said they would hold further work sessions on mitigation and recovery once immediate needs have been stabilized.