PORTLAND, Ore. — Portland continues to struggle with power outages and hazardous road conditions as it begins to pick up the pieces after a chaotic 24 hours of winter storm weather Saturday that saw widespread damage and four deaths.
The worst of the winter weather is over for now, with dry conditions expected for Sunday and Monday — but the frigid temperatures that accompanied the storm will also continue for the next few days, creating continued travel headaches and ongoing risks for people outdoors.
A second case of suspected fatal hypothermia was reported Sunday afternoon after the first was reported Saturday morning. Multnomah County said in a news release that there were at least 25 emergency department visits for cold-related issues on Saturday, the highest daily count since record-keeping began in 2016.
There two other deaths related to the storm Saturday. One person died in Southeast Portland when a tree fell on a parked RV, taking down power lines with it, and started a fire. One other person was injured and two others escaped unharmed. In Lake Oswego, a man died after a tree fell on a house and crashed through the second floor.
Road closures ongoing
The Portland Bureau of Transportation said there were still more than 30 road closures around the city as of about 8 a.m. Sunday, mostly due to downed trees and power lines. Crews will be working throughout the day to remove the debris and reopen the roads, but the agency said conditions are still slick and urged residents to continue to avoid travel Sunday if possible.
Multnomah County reported at around 8 a.m. that Southeast 302nd Avenue in Gresham was closed from Southeast Division Street to Lusted Road due to downed trees and power lines, and Northeast Bell Road was closed near the Historic Columbia River Highway for the same reason.
Tigard Public Works said Sunday morning that roads were still covered with a mixture of snow and ice, and urged drivers to stay off the roads if possible.
The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) reported Sunday evening that I-5 and I-84 both saw major impacts Sunday afternoon. ODOT said northbound Interstate 5 near Cottage Grove continued to experience extended delays Sunday. "Multiple vehicles have spun out or slid off the road, causing backups," ODOT said. Sections of multiple highways west of the Willamette Valley are closed due to "hundreds of downed trees" and could remain closed for days.
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) reported that crews worked to remove large icicles from the inside of tunnels on SR 14. WSDOT advised people to delay travel if possible, as all officials have done since the start of the storm.
MAX suspended, buses slowed down
TriMet announced late Sunday afternoon that all MAX train service remains suspended while crews work to resolve weather-related problems. The agency said crews have been working to clear trackways of downed trees, "but it is an extensive task spread across large portions of the MAX system." Earlier Sunday, TriMet said there was no estimated time for service to resume. There are also areas where snow and ice completely cover the rails and crews will need to break up the ice or it will need to melt with warmer temperatures before trains can move through. Replacement shuttle bus service is very limited, the agency said, so riders should expect long waits and delay or cancel trips if possible.
The Portland Streetcar NS Line was running normally Sunday morning, TriMet said, but east side A and B Loop service remains suspended until conditions improve.
Most bus service that normally runs on Sundays was operational, TriMet announced shortly before noon, but cautioned that the buses out on the streets are using heavy-duty chains that limit their top speed to 25 mph. C-Tran also warned its riders that many of its bus lines are operating on snow routes or using adverse weather backup locations for some stops.
Even when MAX service does return, it won't be the full system; Sunday also marks the start of a planned 6-week disruption of all MAX service at Gateway Transit Center while crews finish work on TriMet's A Better Red project. Gateway will continue to be open for buses, including MAX replacement shuttle buses.
Warming shelters will stay open
Warming shelters throughout the Portland area will continue to operate, with many scheduled to remain open through at least Monday evening and in some cases Tuesday. One of Multnomah County's 10 sites had to close on Saturday due to a burst pipe overnight, the county announced Sunday morning, but the others are still up and running along with three new ones, bringing the total to 12 for Sunday night.
In a news release late Sunday morning, the county called for additional community volunteers, including those with medical certification, to help staff the shelters. The county and its partners served 821 guests overnight on Saturday, and the county said it wants to make at least 940 beds available Sunday night.
TriMet said it will continue to offer free rides to anyone traveling to or from a warming shelter who is unable to pay fare. For information about warming spaces open where you live or to arrange transportation to a shelter, call 211 or visit 211info.org.
Tens of thousands without power
Just over 100,000 customers remained without power across the Portland metro area as of about 6 p.m. Sunday, according to Portland General Electric, Pacific Power and Clark Public Utilities, down from a high point of more than 200,000 without power on Saturday afternoon.
PGE said Sunday afternoon that it had restored power to about 110,000 customers since the start of the storm. The agency said it had more than 575 crew members and contractors working Sunday, but that due to the extent of the damage, restoration efforts would need to continue through the weekend.
Gas utility provider NW Natural also posted a message late Saturday asking customers to conserve gas when possible, due to increased usage across the region caused by the cold temperatures.
5 taken to hospital with carbon monoxide poisoning
Five people were taken to the hospital with carbon monoxide poisoning Sunday afternoon. Portland Fire & Rescue (PF&R) crews responded to an apartment complex near the intersection of Southeast 148th Avenue and Powell Boulevard shortly before 3 p.m. Fire crews found a high volume of carbon monoxide inside the apartment and evacuated nearby apartment units.
A woman told KGW that she found her neighbor at the apartment unconscious and called 911. She said two children were also sick. The neighbor said the complex didn't have power and the woman and children were trying to stay warm. PF&R said the poisoning happened as a result of using a generator indoors and cooking with propane indoors.
"DO NOT use generators indoors because carbon monoxide is a silent, colorless, odorless, tasteless killer," PF&R said in a tweet.
A PF&R spokesperson said fire crews were dispatched to 17 carbon monoxide calls on Saturday, but did not know how many of those calls were false or actual calls or if anyone was injured.
Storm impacts Portland's sewage system
UPDATE: On Monday afternoon, the Portland Bureau of Environmental Services said only one home was affected by sewage overflow from a frozen backup generator in East Portland, not the dozen originally estimated by the agency. They also reported that crews were able to repair the city's largest wastewater pump station and restore it to full service, with no impact to the public.
ORIGINAL REPORT: Sewage overflowed into about a dozen homes in East Portland after a backup generator at a sewage pump station near East Burnside Street and 105th Avenue froze Saturday. Service was restored around 2 a.m. Sunday and crews are helping homeowners with cleanup.
Power outages have impacted the city's main wastewater treatment plant and other sewage pump stations. Crews have been using portable generators and heaters to keep the pump stations operating.
The city's largest sewage pump station, which serves downtown Portland and the surrounding inner city, is currently under partial service due to a frozen pipe, the city's Bureau of Environmental Services reported Sunday afternoon, noting that at this time there is no public impact. Crews are working around the clock to make emergency repairs and prevent sewage releases. Officials said they expect the repairs to be completed by Tuesday night before forecast rain and snowmelt on Wednesday.
Business and park closures
Portland Parks & Recreation announced that all community centers, arts centers, indoor sports facilities, permitted field games and practices and the Portland Tennis Center would all stay closed Sunday, and all classes and activities would be canceled.
Two performances of Disney's The Lion King at the Keller Auditorium scheduled for Sunday were also canceled, citing the ongoing cold and icy conditions.
Some businesses and offices announced early Sunday that they would remain closed for the day, including the Oregon Zoo and the Vancouver Clinic's Ridgefield and Camas urgent care locations. The Oregon Humane Society's Portland shelter also announced that it would be closed all day.
Sunday night's game between the Portland Trail Blazers and Phoenix Suns will be played as scheduled at the Moda Center. The Blazers said there will be limited exchanges for people with tickets who can't make it to the game because of weather conditions. Learn more here.
