Flood safety and your property

For long-term preparation of your home, see How to Prepare if You Live or Work in a Floodplain.

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.
• Use ODOT's TripCheck to check highway conditions.
• Sign up for PBOT alerts via text or email, or follow @PBOTInfo on all social media for local travel conditions.
• Subscribe to PublicAlerts at www.publicalerts.org or @PublicAlerts. 

Be prepared

Protect yourself, your family, and your 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.
• Check and clear a storm drain near you. You can "adopt" a storm drain to help keep it clear of debris and prevent ponding along city streets.

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 it 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.
• Check your gutters or roof. Clear your gutters and downspouts and make sure water is running away from your or your neighbors' foundation. If you have a flat rooftop on your house or business, make sure water is draining properly. If drains are clogged, it can lead to pools of water that can lead to leaks, structural damage, and even structural failure and collapse.

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.
• Report road hazards. Call PBOT Maintenance Dispatch 24/7 at 503-823-1700 for any emergency hazards or if the drain is still clogged after removing surface debris.
• Report tree hazards. Call Urban Forestry at 503-823-TREE (8733) to report fallen trees, large limbs, or trees that suddenly split or lean in streets, sidewalks, or parks. Tree crews respond 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• Travel safe. Get home safe with these rainy weather travel tips.