Sandbag Stations Open in Portland and Gresham

Sandbags can be a great help in avoiding property flooding, but you have to work ahead of the clock, and bring a shovel!

Sandbags can be a great help in avoiding property flooding, but you have to work ahead of the clock. This image was taken in Salem during the January 2006 floods. Photo by: Tim King

(GRESHAM, Ore.) - Gresham homeowners needing sandbags to protect property from flooding or flows because of the rain may access the City's free, fill-your-own sandbag station at its Operations Center, 2123 S.E. Hogan Road.

The sandbag station is open 24 hours a day and provides sand, shovels and bags to residents of Gresham for home or private use only; sandbags are not available for commercial/contractor consumption. Citizens are responsible for the sandbags after use; public works crews do not dispose or retrieve them.

As Gresham gets sandbag supplies in place, six locations are now open in Portland for the general public to get sand and sandbags. No shovels are provided, so please bring your own.

Portland locations
1. Gabriel Park -- SW 45th and Vermont, north lot
2. Lents Park -- SE 92nd and Holgate
3. SE 108th and Foster
4. SE 112th and Harold
5. SE 117th and Brookside Drive
6. Westmoreland Park -- SE 23rd and Lambert

Current street closures in Portland due to street flooding:
1. SE Foster Road from 102nd to 122nd
2. SE 111th Avenue at Brookside
3. SE 111th Avenue at Harold
4. SE Martins from 102nd to 103rd
5. SE 103rd and Harold

Although several other streets with standing water are open to motorists, they are marked with signs that read HIGH WATER. Please drive carefully.

The City of Portland's new Winter Travel Information web pages can be a great resource, go to PortlandOnline.com and click on the snow plow. Information includes winter driving tips, flood safety, windstorm safety, emergency preparedness, and links to ODOT, TriMet, the Port of Portland, the Portland Aerial Tram, and the Portland Streetcar.

Blocked stormdrains and flooding watch

Gresham is asking residents to help manage the impact of the recent rains by assisting with keeping stormdrains clear of debris and leaves, watching for rain accumulation on flat roofs and reporting instances of significant street flooding.

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Heavy rain can place an additional burden on the City's stormwater system, so it is critical that street drains are cleared and open. If a stormdrain is blocked, citizens are asked to drag a rake across the stormdrain for immediate drainage.

If rainwater on the street is creating a hazard or localized flooding in Gresham, call 503-618-2626 Monday through Friday. After hours and on the weekends call 503-661-3906.

Gresham Fire & Emergency Services reminds commercial building owners with flat roofs to make sure all drains are free of leaves and other debris to allow proper drainage from the roofs to prevent possible collapse from the heavy weight.

These heavy downpours can add several inches of water to a large flat roof in a very short time if the drains become clogged. These roofs are not designed to hold the extra weight and could possibly collapse.