The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) warns the traveling public that the potential for heavy rain, combined with melting snow, could cause limited flooding along Johnson Creek between 10:00 p.m. tonight through the evening of Friday, December 29.
The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for portions of Northwest Oregon and southwest Washington, including Johnson Creek. A Flood Watch means there is a potential for flooding based on current forecasts.
To help residents and business owners prepare for a flood emergency, PBOT makes free sand and sandbags available at no charge to anyone who wants to use them to protect their property from flood damage. No shovels are provided, so the public must bring their own. The sandbag sites are located at:
- SE 88th Avenue just south of Holgate Boulevard in the parking lot at Lents Park. Enter parking lot at the bottom of the hill, and follow one-way traffic to the sand pile at the exit on the east side of SE 88th;
- SE 111th Avenue and Harold Street at the southeast corner of the intersection; and
- SW 42nd Avenue and Vermont Street in the lower parking lot of Gabriel Park; enter Gabriel Park from Vermont.
- Location details for the three City-operated sandbag sites can also be found at http://bit.ly/pdxsand.
In the event of flooding, PBOT is prepared to close travel lanes and/or streets.
Should streets need to be closed, PBOT asks the traveling public to obey all road closed signs. Do not move them or drive around them. The roads have been closed because of hazardous conditions. If drivers ignore the signs, they are potentially putting themselves, other travelers and PBOT crews at risk.