PORTLAND, Oregon — Frigid temperatures persisted around the Portland metro area into early Wednesday morning following an ice storm on Tuesday. While temperatures are rising above freezing and areas will gradually thaw out, a number of businesses are starting to deal with recovery after the storm.
Pipes burst at the Oregon Humane Society's (OHS) campus near Northeast Columbia Boulevard and Northeast 11th Avenue, causing flooding to parts of the shelter. Some areas of the building were left without heat.
"Fortunately, no animals were harmed and continue to receive care by dedicated staff and volunteers. Keeping animals safe and comfortable is our top priority," the OHS said in a post on its Facebook page on Tuesday.
The nonprofit shared a video showing water dripping down from the ceiling and flooding a room.
RELATED: When will Portland thaw out?
The OHS said the full extent of the damage is unclear but that staff were working to evaluate "short and long-term solutions." In the meantime, they said donations from the public will help them make repairs and recover from the winter weather.
"Support from donors like you will help us recover, make vital repairs, and continue caring for the incredible pets relying on us each day," the OHS said.
Olympic Provisions had to close on Tuesday due to flooding after two pipes burst. They shared a video on Instagram of the flooding and said, "Luckily we still have power, salami is getting wrapped and we’re back on our pivot game." They warned customers that they anticipate a delay in business operations including shipping.
Olympia Provisions CEO Elias Cairo tells KGW their their fire suppression system burst on Monday. He said it sprayed down a mixture of water and oil from the ceiling.
“It was a waterfall coming down,” said Cairo. “I pushed open our back door, and it was knee deep water.”
He thankfully was able to turn off the system himself pretty quickly. But it still managed to damage his meat, packaging machines and computers.And this now only adds to the stress of what many businesses often consider their slower Winter sale season.
“I feel for everybody in Portland right now,” said Cairo. “You know, every cost for all small businesses right now just add up [and] add up. You try to build up your bank account and survive through Q1 to get some business — but all the products that you lose through all of this, the reservations and of course the revenue and all of our poor employees aren’t making a paycheck right now.”
Cairo is encouraging people to support small, local business and one another during these difficult times.
What to do if your water pipes freeze or burst
Although temperatures are above freezing on Wednesday, pipes are still at risk with the changing weather. Frozen pipes are more likely to leak or burst as temperatures thaw, according to the Portland Water Bureau.
The water bureau shared tips on how to protect your pipes until temperatures are consistently above freezing.
Protect your pipes from freezing:
- Leave cabinets open to keep pipes warm
- Let indoor faucets drip. Moving water is less likely to freeze
- Keep outdoor faucets covered
- Use a hair dryer or heat lamp to safely thaw frozen pipes
What to do if your pipes burst:
- Close your main water shut-off valve. Most are located where the water line enters the house, either at the front of the house where you connect your house, or in the basement near the hot water heater, or inside the garage.
- Turn off your water heater. Locate the dedicated shut-off valve on the cold-water inlet.
- If you live in an apartment or multi-family building, you may not be able to access your shut-off valve. Contact your property manager to shut off the water.
- If you can’t reach your property manager or locate your shut-off valve, you can call the water bureau's 24-hour emergency dispatch line at 503-823-4874 to request an emergency water shut off. The high volume of requests along with downed trees and power lines might impact response times.
Portland Water Bureau crews responded to more than 1,250 calls between Jan. 13 and midday Tuesday, January 16.