City of Tigard > News > Storm-related Costs Estimated at $5.7 Million in Washington County

Storm-related Costs Estimated at $5.7 Million in Washington County

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	City of Tigard 13125 SW Hall Blvd. Tigard, Oregon 97223	Press Release December 17, 2007
For Immediate Release
Contact:	Mark Jockers Government & Public Affairs Manager Clean Water Services (503) 681-4450

** UPDATE **
Storm-related Costs Estimated at $5.7 Million in Washington County
December 17, 2007

Emergency managers in Washington County estimate the recent storm and flood resulted in at least $5.7 million in expenses due to damaged roads and bridges, hours spent removing debris and other actions taken to protect the public.

The estimate was part of an initial damage assessment of publicly owned and certain non-profit facilities and response hours sent to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The federal agency for disaster recovery recently added Washington County to the list of Oregon counties eligible for federal aid to compensate for Damaged infrastructure and work hours spent dealing with the storm.

Highlights from the storm's impact on the various agencies serving citizens in Washington County included:

$4.4 million primarily for roadways and bridges in the western portion of the county that are maintained by Washington County Department of Land Use and Transportation. These included damage due to a culvert failure on Cochran Road, a landslide along Pottratz Road, damage to a bridge along Meacham Road near Dairy Creek Road and damage to a bridge on Fern Flat Road.

$1.2 million for damage to Oregon Department of Forestry roads, campsites and trails within the county.

"These dollar amounts reflect the impact of the storm on our public agencies and certain non-profits, but there is no way to put a price on the cumulative impact of the storm on our citizens here in Washington County and on our neighbors to the north and along the Oregon coast," said Scott Porter, director of the Office of Consolidated Emergency Management for Washington County.

First-responding agencies throughout Washington County assisted harder-hit communities in Columbia and Tillamook Counties with personnel and equipment. This mutual aid came in the form of building inspector teams, debris removal equipment, animal care and emergency management support. Dollar estimates of this assistance are still being compiled.

Although damage to Washington County businesses and residences did not approach that experienced elsewhere in the state, emergency managers know of at least eight family homes that incurred storm-related damage.

The Office of Consolidated Emergency Management (OCEM) for Washington County has established a hotline for inventorying storm-damaged homes and businesses and encourages any resident or business who sustained uninsured losses to call 503-642-0369. Residents and businesses are also encouraged to contact FEMA directly at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or online at www.fema.gov/assistance.

FEMA has not yet declared Washington County eligible for assistance to individuals, Families and businesses. However, if individuals and businesses notify the county and FEMA of their losses, it will provide essential information for FEMA to consider in making a decision about providing this type of assistance.

Heavy Rains Cause Sewage Overflows and Local Flooding Problems in Washington County
December 3, 2007

Heavy rains are causing localized flooding and the overflow of rain diluted sewage from the sanitary sewer collection system at several locations in Washington County and from Clean Water Services' Durham Advanced Wastewater Treatment Facility in Tigard. Area residents and pets are advised to avoid contact with flood waters. Raw sewage that may be overflowing is highly diluted by rainwater which helps reduce the public health risks, but bacteria are still present.

Heavy, sustained rains caused the overflow of rain diluted sewage from Clean Water Services' Durham Advanced Wastewater Treatment Facility in Tigard into the Tualatin River downstream of Cook Park beginning Monday morning. In addition, local sewer collection overflows have been reported at:

the Turner Creek system in Hillsboro
Near Farmington and Menlo Drive in Beaverton
Royalty Parkway and Queen Elizabeth Street in King City
Near 19100 SW Shaw Street in Aloha

Crews have worked around the clock since Sunday morning to keep the wastewater treatment facilities working and alleviate local flooding where possible. Flooding is concentrated along local creeks in areas that historically flood during very heavy rain.

Crews will post sewage overflow warning signs in areas accessible to the public. Signs will be removed when water samples show no evidence of sewage.

Clean Water Services' Rock Creek, Hillsboro and Forest Grove wastewater treatment facilities are providing full treatment of the rain-swollen flows. Crews are also monitoring 39 sewage pump stations, sewer pipes and manholes to watch for overflows, but no other spills have been reported from the collection system.

The public is advised to call Clean Water Services or their city to report dislodged manhole lids or sewage bubbling from manholes. The public should not try to replace the lids.

Flooding: Public advised to keep stormwater grates clear of debris

Clean Water Services have been responding to local flooding problems in low lying areas of urban Washington County since early Sunday and were instrumental in resolving the flooding that resulted in evacuation of homes in King City on Sunday night. Crews have been working to clear leaf-clogged stormwater grates, inspect and clear culverts and monitor known problem areas to ensure the public drainage system is operating properly.

The public can help relieve localized flooding problems by keeping stormwater grates clear of leaves and debris and keeping yard debris and leaf piles away from drainage ditches and streams so that rising water does not carry the material downstream and block a culvert.

Self-serve sandbagging stations are located below. Please call ahead to confirm hours of operation. The sand is for flooding prevention use only. Bring your own shovel and bags.

City of Beaverton 9600 SW Allen Boulevard (503) 526-2220
City of Cornelius 1300 South Kodiak Circle (503) 357-3011
City of Tigard, 8777 SW Burnham Rd. across from Tigard Public Works Building (503) 639-4171
Clean Water Services Field Operations 2025 SW Merlo Court, Beaverton (503) 547-8100
City of Hillsboro NE 28th at Sports Complex (503) 615-6509
City of Tualatin 10699 SW Herman (503) 692-2000
City of Forest Grove Fire & Rescue 1919 Ash St. (503) 992-3240
Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue 3608 SW 209th Ave, Aloha (503) 649-8577