Public works employees throughout Clark County dealt with widespread damage Monday and Tuesday as a result of the high winds.
Clark County Public Works responded to calls in each of its six coverage areas, and all of the county’s road operations crew members were involved in clean-up and repair efforts, spokeswoman Magan Reed said. Parks maintenance staff also cleared debris in county parks.
Crews have encountered downed trees, branches and downed power lines, Reed said. By Tuesday afternoon, debris blocked at least 26 county roads.
“Based on the calls we’ve responded to, it appears east county was hit the hardest, followed by north county,” Reed wrote in an email.
Several roads were closed temporarily in Camas, according to the city. That included Northeast 232nd Avenue from Northeast Nourse Road to Woodburn Drive; Leadbetter Road between 232nd Avenue and Northeast Everett Street; Northeast 43rd Avenue at Northeast Garfield Street; Ivy Street; and Crown Road.
Several staff members, including some who were called in on Labor Day, cleaned up debris in Ridgefield and Battle Ground. Broken trees and limbs accounted for most of the debris, including fallen trees on Pioneer Street and in downtown Ridgefield.
Wind-damaged trees and debris could be found throughout La Center by Monday night, Public Works Manager Matthew Jenkins said.
One large tree fell on Aspen Avenue, which blocked the road temporarily and damaged power lines, Jenkins said. Crews established a detour and cleared the tree by 8 a.m. Tuesday.
Trees also caused damage at Sternwheeler Park and the intersection of East Fourth Street and Northeast Highland Avenue, Jenkins said. Another one fell onto the roof of a home on West Eighth Street, causing some damage.
Around 7:22 p.m. Monday, staff at La Center’s wastewater treatment plant responded to a power outage at the plant and several pump stations around town, Jenkins said. Two wastewater system operators responded to address the power issues, which also blocked the plant’s emergency notification system.
Staff remained on site until 2:15 a.m. Tuesday, when services and the notification system were restored.
“These employees responded immediately and selflessly in the late hours of a holiday, and their quick work and expertise saved citizens and city infrastructure from further damage,” Jenkins said. “I can’t say enough about their efforts.”
