Information
Flooding can damage property and threaten lives. Stay informed, be prepared, and stay safe. This information is useful if you know a flood may be coming. For long term preparation of your home, see How to Prepare if You Live or Work in a Floodplain.
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Stay informed
- Stay tuned to your local radio or TV for forecasts and flooding information.
- Get weather conditions at www.weather.gov or 503-261-9246 or on Twitter @NWSPortland.
- Check the National Weather Service’s river data and forecasts .
- Subscribe to PublicAlerts at www.publicalerts.org or @PublicAlerts.
Be prepared
Protect yourself and your family and pets:
- Have a go-kit ready in case you have to leave your home quickly.
- Have an emergency evacuation and communications plan for your family.
- Prepare a list of emergency phone numbers to keep in your car, at work, and in your phone.
- Get to know your neighbors. They are your most immediate support network during an emergency.
Protect your property
- Shut off the gas and electricity when you know a flood is coming.
- Move valuable belongings to upper floors or higher cabinets.
- Find locations to get free sandbags in southeast and southwest Portland.
- Make a record of all your personal property. Take a room-by-room inventory of your home and document with photos or video. Inventory forms are available free from most insurance companies or you can make your own. The inventory is also good to have in the event of a fire or theft.
Find additional information
- Visit the Red Cross for flood safety information.
- Download information from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on how to prepare for a flood.
- Learn more about Portland’s flood emergency response plan.
Stay safe
- Do not walk through flowing water. Six inches of flowing water can knock you off your feet. If you must walk through water, use a pole or stick for stability.
- Do not drive through flood waters. It takes only 12 inches of water to sweep your car away. Driving through shallower flood waters can also damage your vehicle, and the wake you create can cause more damage to nearby buildings.
- Stay away from power lines and electrical wires. Electrical current travels through water and can be deadly. Report downed power lines to your power company.