Pendleton was built on both banks of the Umatilla River, and the river has reminded the town of that more than once. In February 2020, an atmospheric river dropped heavy rain onto snow in the Blue Mountains, and the Umatilla rose so fast that some residents could not get evacuation notices before they had to leave. Water overtopped levees near downtown, one family took refuge on their roof, and damage across northeast Oregon was estimated at $48 million.
We don't do the restoration ourselves; The Restoration Job is a free referral line. Call (888) 317-9980, day or night, and we'll connect you with an independent restoration provider that serves Pendleton and Umatilla County, whether you are dealing with river water in a basement or a pipe that split during a cold snap. The provider you reach works out the cleanup plan with you.
How the call works: when you call (888) 317-9980, The Restoration Job connects you with an independent restoration provider that serves Pendleton. That provider inspects the damage, explains the scope and quotes the work. The Restoration Job doesn't perform restoration itself. Read our referral disclosure.
Three Flood Zones: the Umatilla, McKay Creek and Tutuilla Creek
The city identifies three main flood risk areas: the Umatilla River corridor, McKay Creek, and the Tutuilla and Patawa creek drainage. McKay Creek is fed by releases from McKay Reservoir, and the city points residents to the Bureau of Reclamation for current reservoir capacity and outflow in cubic feet per second. When flows climb, Pendleton sends notices through ORAlert and its social media channels using a tiered system:
- Shelter in place
- Level 1, Be Ready: pay attention and prepare to leave.
- Level 2, Be Set: be ready to go at a moment's notice.
- Level 3, Go: leave now.
Sign up for alerts before winter, not during the storm. The 2020 flood showed how little warning time there can be.
Sandbags, Levees and the Hours Before Water Arrives
The city's flood page explains how to fill and place sandbags: fill each bag between halfway and two-thirds full, and stack them in offset layers, like brickwork, around the area you are protecting. Sandbags slow and divert shallow water; they do not make a building watertight. Before a flood, move valuables and documents upstairs, unplug electronics on lower floors, and note where your main breaker and gas shut-off are.
After the water drops, wait for officials to say it is safe to return. River water carries mud, fuel and sewage, so anything porous it touched, such as carpet, drywall and insulation, usually has to come out. That is the core of flood cleanup, followed by cleaning and drying the framing before any rebuild starts.
Old Town Buildings and Below-Grade Spaces
Pendleton's Old Town is a National Register historic district, and the city is known for the underground spaces beneath downtown that are now part of local tours. Older commercial and residential buildings in and around the core often have basements, cellars and masonry foundations that react differently to water than modern slabs. Brick and stone can wick moisture for weeks, and old plaster and lath may need careful drying rather than demolition. Owners of historic buildings should document damage carefully and talk with the city about any rules on alterations before removing original materials.
Freezes, Snow and Summer Heat on the Same Pipes
The climate here runs to extremes. Pendleton shares Oregon's highest recorded temperature, 119 degrees, first reached on August 10, 1898. Winters bring an average of about 15.7 inches of snow and cold snaps that freeze pipes in crawl spaces, garages and older homes with little wall insulation. In summer, air conditioning drain lines and evaporative coolers can leak into ceilings and closets. Each of these is a clean-water loss if caught early, and a provider can usually dry it in place with structural drying equipment instead of tearing out walls.
After the River Goes Down: Mold and Drying Time
Flooded homes in the Umatilla valley face a race against mold. Even in a fairly dry climate, a basement or crawl space that held river water stays humid long after the surface looks dry, and mud left in wall cavities feeds growth. Get wet materials out and air moving as soon as it is safe, keep a log of what was removed, and ask for moisture readings before closing walls. Down river, Hermiston dealt with the same 2020 high water at its Riverfront Park.
Pendleton Neighborhoods and Surrounding Towns
Calls come in from across Pendleton, including:
- Old Town
- Downtown
The same line also serves nearby communities such as:
- Mission
- Pilot Rock
- Echo
- Athena
- Adams
- Hermiston
Pendleton Water Damage Questions
How do I know when the Umatilla River or McKay Creek is rising?
The City of Pendleton issues flood notices through ORAlert and its social media accounts, using shelter-in-place and Level 1 to Level 3 evacuation messages. You can also watch McKay Reservoir releases on the Bureau of Reclamation's site and river forecasts from the National Weather Service office in Pendleton. Sign up for ORAlert ahead of time so warnings reach your phone.
Does homeowners insurance cover damage from the 2020-type floods?
Standard homeowners policies exclude damage from rising surface water, including river overflow and levee overtopping. That coverage comes from a separate flood policy, usually through the National Flood Insurance Program, and new policies typically carry a waiting period. Burst pipes and appliance leaks are a different category and are often covered, so read both sides of your policy.
Can a historic Pendleton building be dried without gutting it?
Often, at least partly. Plaster, brick and old-growth framing can sometimes be dried in place with careful monitoring, while modern materials like carpet pad and fiberglass insulation usually come out. Floodwater changes the calculation, since contamination may require removing more. Ask the provider to explain which materials can be saved and why, and photograph everything for your insurer and for any historic preservation questions later.