County and City meet to address flood event

DAYTON-The Columbia County Commissioners met for a joint community meeting with the Dayton City Council to address the recent flooding that began on February 6, 2020. Columbia County Emergency Management Director Ashley Strickland led the meeting with information about the flood event and the processes of damage assessment and recovery.

Strickland presented a timeline of events beginning with the meeting the County Commissioners, Chuck Eaton of Public Works, city officials and himself on February 6, 2020. The County Resolution 2020-11 was passed allowing the county to bypass the budget for emergency expenditures. Before the time of the meeting, reports from the National Weather Service hydrologists, (NWS) who are generally accurate, indicated that the water levels had plateaued, but they had not. Instead, between 10-11 p.m., water levels went up another foot and the banks were breached.

The City notified Strickland that conditions had rapidly worsened and they requested a meeting early February 7, 2020 at 3 a.m., by which time the city passed a full emergency resolution which allowed the City and County offices to function under one command regardless of department and act in response to one incident.

The State Emergency Operations Center was notified by 4 a.m., that the water levels had not plateaued as stated earlier by the NWS, but in fact continued to rise. The Commissioners were called to meet at 5 a.m., and a full emergency was declared by 6 a.m. This declaration allowed Columbia County to formally request outside assistance, as needed. At this time, the weather service predicted the river and creeks would go down. That was not the reality of the situation, because by 7:45 a.m., volunteers were requested to help fill sandbags. Over 8,000 sandbags were filled and distributed to protect and minimize damage to the infrastructure between 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

Officials and workers began to evaluate the flooded areas about the noon hour, assessing the damage and estimating recovery needs. It was estimated that there are 19 roads closed (52 miles), 17 roads damaged (20 miles), 20 bridges damaged, two levees damaged (two miles), four landslides, 380 houses damaged, five businesses closed, 100 residents without power, and 500 minor structures impacted (culverts, small bridges etc).

Strickland pointed out that recovery takes time. The first step is assessing the damages. All damages should be documented with photos or otherwise before any major repair is done and it should have preferably been done at its worst. Damages are not always physical. Time taken to do repairs should also be documented, as well as any loss to business.

Loans are available for small business and homeowners to repair and replace damaged real estate, inventories, supplies, machinery and equipment. Businesses eligible include charities, churches and private universities. Other loans available are for economic injury-working capital loans to provide assistance when operations cannot provide for their own recovery from non-governmental source. Mitigation loans are also available to cover improvements that protect from any future damage.

Those affected by the flood are directed to go to the county website http://www.columbiaco.com to fill out an initial brief damage assessment with a rough guess of the damage, even if you are not applying for assistance. People can also call 509-382-3967 to report. All damages need to be reported. If the damage levels are high enough, FEMA will be able to come to the area and assist. Tips for reporting include making sure people are not in the pictures, taking pictures before, after and during clean up and placing objects of known size into pictures for reference, if needed.

Strickland advised that the public stay abreast to news or ask questions about assessment and recovery by visiting the county website, the Emergency Management Facebook page, by contacting his office at 509-382-3928, by email at [email protected], or by contacting the Columbia County Call Center at 509-382-3967 or by email [email protected].

State Rep. Bill Jenkins came to Dayton, Waitsburg and Walla Walla areas to see for himself the damage caused by the flood. Representatives for Gov. Jay Inslee, U. S. Rep. Cathy McMorris-Rogers and U. S. Sen. Maria Cantwell attended the meeting. Sen. Murray’s office has been in touch with Columbia County throughout the event, as well as State Rep. Jenkins and Rep. Skyler Rude. Neighboring counties, Walla Walla and Franklin, made calls of support. Garfield County offered support and brought trucks and equipment.

The Army Corps of Engineers was out last week every day to inspect and begin work. Stabilizing the dike has been the first priority which since in has reopened after being closed during the flood and several days after.

Local entities including Project Timothy, St. Vincent de Paul and local churches are offering extra support, resources and services.

The Health Department and Mayor Zac Weatherford reported the city water is drinkable and the sewer is in working order. He stated dumpsters are available behind Dingles for garbage and debris from the flood. Weatherford extended his appreciation to all of the public entities and volunteers for their efforts throughout the flood.