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News media contact:
Dylan Rivera
503-577-7534
dylan.rivera@portlandoregon.gov
@pbotinfo

PBOT Travel Advisory:

Heavy rains Wednesday night through Saturday morning may lead to ponding water on city streets

(Nov. 1, 2023) The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) advises the traveling public to be prepared for heavy rain that could create difficult traveling conditions overnight tonight, Thursday morning and again late Friday night into Saturday.

The National Weather Service has advised that tonight's heavy rain could bring an inch or more to the Portland area through Thursday morning. It appears that the Friday night / Saturday morning storm system may bring about as much or potentially less rainfall, but the timing and duration are less certain.

This early in the fall season, leaves, litter and debris could clog storm drains and lead to rainwater ponding on city streets.

PBOT asks the traveling public, residents and businesses to take steps to reduce hazards associated with these conditions. The best way to prevent streets from ponding is for everyone to help keep Portland's 58,000 storm drains clear before a storm arrives.

Use a rake, shovel or broom and clear by standing in the sidewalk, not the street. Be aware of passing vehicles and check the drain again during and after a storm. It's also a good idea to clear inlets that lead stormwater to the green street planters in city streets. See more tips on how you can Adopt a Storm Drain at the at the PBOT website.

In recent days, PBOT crews cleared large storm drains in the West Hills that have a history of flooding. They restocked sand and sandbags at three locations available to the public as a courtesy to prepare for flooding. PBOT will have extra crews working overnight and before dawn, available to clear clogged storm drains on busy streets or where residents. 

If you're not able to clear a storm drain, and water is affecting a busy street, call PBOT. Residents are advised to notify PBOT of debris, mud, rocks, trees or branches blocking a street by calling our 24/7 maintenance dispatch hotline at 503-823-1700 or by email at pdxroads@portlandoregon.gov 

Property owners should keep sidewalks clear of small debris.

See our Rainy Weather Travel Tips on the PBOT website

All travelers should be alert, regardless of how they are moving throughout the city:

• When driving, go slowly. Use extra care and look for people walking or biking. Adjust your speed to the road conditions and leave yourself plenty of room to stop. If a storm knocks out power to traffic signals, treat intersections like an all-way stop and proceed with caution. The driver who stops first has the right of way to go first. 
• Do not drive through standing water or around barricades on flooded streets. Turn around safely. The wake from your vehicle can cause public and private property damage and flood houses and businesses. Barricades sometimes mark hazards that are not visible in the immediate area, but may be located hundreds of feet away, in order to direct traffic to alternate routes. Areas with standing water could have displaced manhole covers, leaving a 3-foot wide manhole uncovered and exposed, creating a hazard for anyone traveling in the area.
• When biking, allow plenty of stopping distance and avoid road surfaces that are steel, painted or covered in leaves or water. Remember that puddles can disguise potholes.
• When walking, cross at a crosswalk or at the corner. Look for oncoming vehicles before stepping down from the sidewalk and crossing the street. If possible, establish eye contact with drivers and continue looking left-right-left while crossing. Remember that oncoming vehicles may approach more quickly than anticipated and may have difficulty stopping at an intersection in rainy conditions.
• When taking public transit, check for service alerts before you go at trimet.org and portlandstreetcar.org 

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It is the policy of the City of Portland that no person shall be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination in any city program, service, or activity on the grounds of race, color, national origin, disability, or other protected class status. Adhering to Civil Rights Title VI and ADA Title II civil rights laws, the City of Portland ensures meaningful access to City programs, services, and activities by reasonably providing: translation and interpretation, modifications, accommodations, alternative formats, and auxiliary aids and services. To request these services, contact the Portland Bureau of Transportation at 503-823-5185 or 311 (503-823-4000), for Relay Service & TTY: 711.