Drivers urged to avoid non-essential travel and obey closure signs

Vancouver, WA – With continued heavy rain, Clark County Public Works is busy clearing blocked storm drains and culverts to protect the lives and property of county residents and visitors.

County crews are carefully monitoring bridges and roads in flood-prone areas. Flood waters have receded from JA Moore Bridge, on Northeast JA Moore Road near Northeast 284th Street. As of 3 p.m., county crews still were removing debris. In addition, there is water over part of the roadway to the south, so the bridge may not immediately reopen to traffic.

Plans call for Public Works crews to report to work early Wednesday to prepare for the morning commute. If conditions warrant, additional crews may be called out sooner.

With the forecast calling for continued heavy rain and strong winds with gusts up to 45 mph, county crews will be prepared to respond to downed trees and limbs.

Drivers are urged to avoid non-essential travel, slow down and allow extra time to reach destinations. “When roads are closed, there may be hazards you can’t see right away,” said Public Works Director Heath Henderson. “Please do not ignore closure signs or drive around them.”

More than half of flood-related deaths in the United States occur when someone drives a vehicle into hazardous water. As little as 12 inches of water can carry away a small vehicle.

Clark County posts information about road closures and other incidents using its Twitter account, twitter.com/ClarkCoWa_PW.

Problems in unincorporated Clark County (outside city limits) can be reported to Clark County Public Works by calling (360) 397-2446. After-hours calls are forwarded to an answering service that will dispatch crews as necessary. For urgent situations that pose an immediate threat to public safety, call 911.Downed power lines or trees that have fallen into power lines should be reported to Clark Public Utilities at (360) 992-3000.

CONTACT
Jeff Mize
Public Works
(360) 397-6118 ext. 4398
jeff.mize@clark.wa.gov