By Denise Ruttan

Officials from federal, state and local levels of government toured Turner for two hours on Friday morning to assess flood damage and learn how they could help.

State Sen. Jackie Winters, R-Salem, and U.S. Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-Ore.), along with about a dozen officials from such government agencies as Oregon Emergency department and the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development, visited hard-hit homes on Ash Street and walked across Wipper Road Bridge.

Turner City Administrator David Sawyer called Wipper Road Bridge, which is a Marion County bridge, the "toothpick bridge."

"We lost the flood fight at 10 p.m. at night (on Wednesday). Waters rose about two and a half feet over this bridge," Sawyer said.

About 100 homes were damaged by the flood, with about 30 homes seriously damaged. Initial damage estimates from Marion County are at $500,000, Sawyer said.

Winters and Schrader talked about helping Turner officials gather data and paperwork for funding for infrastructure repairs as well as Federal Emergency Management Agency aid.

"I'd like to thank the community for stepping up and for working together. Now comes the next step, doing everything we can at all levels of government, not only working toward restoring and repairing, but also to look to the future as we look at stream flow and fixing systems as we prepare for another event," Winters said.

Schrader also praised Turner's response to the flood.

"I'm very impressed with Turner. I'm impressed with the community; the effort from the fire department, sheriff's office and police department has been outstanding," Schrader said. "Small town America sometimes gets it done quicker, faster and with less cost at the end of the day."

Schrader pledged he would help connect Turner with resources at all levels of government.

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