PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Clackamas County is facing a triple threat Thursday night as flood warnings impact at least three different rivers and major creeks.
Molalla officials say the city could soon find itself cut off if those rivers — Clackamas River, Pudding River, and Johnson Creek — rise any higher.
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The National Weather Service predicts that Johnson Creek will rise above flood stage at Sycamore Thursday afternoon, and the Clackamas River near Estacada is expected to reach major flood stage later in the night.
But for the city, impacts are already stacking up.
Utility crews have been working along Hwy 213 between Molalla and Oregon City, repairing downed power lines after trees toppled in strong winds.
Portland General Electric has reported widespread outages across Clackamas County with some residents going into day two without power. Conditions have prompted the Molalla River School District to cancel class Thursday as city officials call on residents to prepare for this next round of water.
“If the Molalla River and some of those other rivers actually do reach flood stage, we kind of become isolated,” Molalla City Manager Dan Huff said. “So we become this island that is surrounded by water, and you can’t get out.”
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Huff said crews are closely monitoring water intake and wastewater systems, which can quickly clog with debris in fast-moving water.
The Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office is urging people to avoid flooded roads, stay clear of downed power lines, never drive through standing water, and treat dark traffic signals as four-way stops.
Meanwhile, in Southwest Beaverton, neighbors told KOIN 6 News they’ve seen the consequences of people trying to drive through roads with standing water.
“Two days ago, somebody got stuck coming through and they tried to make it, and there was an electric car and they had to tow it away. So it’s not very, not very wise to go through something you can’t see,” said Mike Bailey. “There’s a ditch on both sides and I’ve seen people come around. They don’t know that there’s a ditch there and they just flop right into it. So we pulled pulled a couple people out of there.”
In Detroit, Oregon, Marion County officials are warning people to be aware of crews that might be parked on the side of the road amid the heavy rain and low visibility. Crews are currently responding to hundreds of trees that came down in the area.
Officials say this round of heavy rain is raising red flags. With no snowpack to slow it down, all that water is heading straight into local rivers.
Stay with KOIN 6 News as this story develops.
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