The North Coast woke up to a soggy Thursday, although the rain that has battered the coast for two straight days had abated and the sun was shining by 9:30 a.m.

Tillamook County fared the worst during the intense rainfall, and county leaders switched to disaster mode to cope with widespread flooding, rock slides and road closures.

The most disruptive problem on the North Coast was the closure of U.S. Highway 101 at the Cannon Beach junction south of Seaside between mileposts 23 and 24. It was closed by engineers from the Oregon Department of Transportation because of flooding Wednesday afternoon, but reopened this morning to allow trucks, SUVs and emergency vehicles to get through in both directions, with aid from a pilot car.

However, low-profile cars were still being detoured because of the high water level and sent on an alternative route via Oregon Highway 202, Oregon Highway 103 and U.S. Highway 26.

Seaside firefighters responded to a call at about 7 p.m. Wednesday from a person who was trapped in water after stalling a car at the junction of Highway 26 and Highway 101, said Chris Dugan, fire marshal for the Seaside Fire Department. However, the person had reached safety before emergency crews arrived at the scene, Dugan said.

The heavy rains tested the $150,000 repair job recently completed on Westport’s Plympton Creek, which overflowed its banks once again despite being 6 feet deeper than it was after last year’s December storms and newly armored with large boulders.

In Astoria, Fire Chief Lenard Hansen reported the rain eased off about 11 p.m. Wednesday. Up to that point, the two-day total of rain in Astoria was 5.21 inches, and the 24-hour total was 3.85 inches – a record.

He reported that the hardest-hit areas were along Lief Erickson or U.S. Highway 30 east of Astoria near the Crest Motel. Areas including Irving and Franklin avenues and near the Astoria High School also saw rising water levels.

At a private roadway at the end of Irving, the roadway started to slide and the property owners were advised by city crews to make their own decision on whether to evacuate.

“The houses weren’t in danger of sliding but if the roadway continued to slide it would be impassable,” Hansen said. “The home owners decided to stay in their homes and at least one parked a vehicle on the other side of the slide area so they could have transportation if they needed.”

Astoria Public Works crews led by Superintendant Ken Nelson and Jim Hatcher worked to prevent drains clogging and other problems in key areas like two houses on Glasgow and Floral and the Pacific Coast Medical Supply business on Marine Drive.

Clatsop County Public Works crews were busy until 10 p.m. Wednesday clearing debris under two bridges in Lewis and Clark, according to road foreman Mike Agalzoff. Logan Road was closed for flooding, and debris build-up left Netel Bridge with a broken piling. Traffic over the bridge will be restricted to one lane of traffic indefinitely.

Tillamook County appeared hardest hit and the county’s emergency response program was activated. Emergency Coordinator Gordon McCraw was being briefed on the situation this morning and an ODOT bridge crew was dispatched to assist with safety checks.

There were reports of rock slides between Wheeler and Rockaway Beach Wednesday and Tillamook School District was running two hours late today. Morning kindergarten was canceled because of the dangers.

A mudslide closed Oregon 6, the Wilson River Highway, at milepost 15 at 9 p.m. Wednesday.

“Crews will continue to work from both sides of the slide area and hope to have at least one lane cleared today,” said ODOT information officer Adam Torgerson. “Depending on the condition of the underlying road, crews will determine whether or not further repairs are needed before traffic can safely travel through the area.”

The intersection of Oregon 6 and Oregon 47 also is closed. Highway crews from Portland and Astoria are working to clear the slide, he said. Drivers are being asked to take alternate routes, such as Oregon Highway 26.

Closures also are in effect on U.S. Highway 101 north of Tillamook and in downtown Tillamook, because of high water.

Heavy rain and overflowing streams caused water to accumulate as high as two feet in some places on Highway 101, said Torgerson.

The Coast Guard assisted the Tillamook County Fire Department in saving seven people who were stranded after their cars were swept off the road by flooding near Fawcett Creek, Wednesday night.

Coast Guard Group Astoria, received a request for assistance at 9 p.m. 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 to assist.

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

All those rescued were taken to a local hospital as a precaution. No injuries were reported.

Coast Guard crews across Washington and Oregon continue to stand by in case they are needed.

“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 seven lives saved here this evening.”

ODOT is regularly updating its Web site with details of conditions and officials are urging drivers to avoid harsh braking on the wet roads.

“You can visit www.tripcheck.com to get the latest information on road conditions,” said ODOT’s Torgerson. “As winter approaches, we also encourage people to visit ODOT’s Web site, (www.oregon.gov/odot) for more information and winter driving tips.”