SEATTLE, Dec 4 (Reuters) - Emergency crews raced to rescue flood-stranded residents and mop up damage on Tuesday after hurricane force winds and a rain storm swept through Oregon and Washington state.

The Coast Guard reported two deaths related to the storm, while Oregon and Washington remained under a state of emergency after gusting winds and pounding rain triggered landslides, floods and toppled powerlines and trees.

Interstate 5, the main highway connecting Seattle to Portland, was completely closed by floodwaters for a 20-mile (32-kilometre) stretch. Road closures extended the regular 167-mile trip between the Northwest's two major cities to 440 miles.

The National Weather Service placed flood warnings for 12 counties in Washington state and 10 counties in Oregon.

"We are responding quickly to keep people safe," said Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski, who ordered the opening of an emergency coordination center in Salem, Oregon.

A series of storms starting over the weekend soaked the Pacific Northwest and winds reached 90 miles (145 km) per hour along the coast, equal to Category 1 hurricane winds. In Seattle, where the storm was less severe, four inches (10 cm) of rain fell during a 24-hour period on Monday.

Coast Guard helicopters rescued more than a hundred people stranded in their homes by the flood.

According to local news reports, one man died near the Washington coast when a tree fell on him as he was trying to clear a downed tree and another died after losing the electricity that powered his oxygen equipment. (Reporting by Elaine Porterfield; Writing by Daisuke Wakabayashi; Editing by Mary Milliken and David Wiessler)

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