Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

Dayton mayor shares information about aftermath of the flood

DAYTON—On Wednesday of last week Mayor Zac Weatherford provided information to the public about the flood damage to city infrastructure.

Weatherford said the City has determined there are roughly thirty primary residences along the Patit Creek that sustained damage in the recent flood.

Additionally, several areas of the Touchet River levee system have received significant damage. County crews shored up an area of the levee near the Kiddie Pond next to Pietrzycki City Park, but the repair is a temporary one, and the levee will require substantial rehabilitation.

The water lines attached to the south and northside of Hwy. 12 Touchet River walking bridge were damaged and shut off, although West end residences still have water from the Touchet River Bridge main line.

The UV Light System, manhole, and outflow pipe at the City’s wastewater treatment plant sustained damage.

Several drain lines that drain into the Touchet River will need to be dug out, cleaned and potentially repaired.

Weatherford said Robert Yates from Columbia County Public Works Department performed an inspection of the overall bridge structures and he told City staff they were okay.

There was some scouring under the North Front Street Bridge, which will require riprap rehabilitation.

“Although it is difficult to move forward with the legal components of the recovery process, there are obligations that a government entity must meet to ensure the safety of buildings,” Weatherford said.

“It is a liability to ignore the dangers of flood damaged structures,” he said.

City workers are currently underway tagging structures that are known to be damaged by the flood.

Property owners are being asked to contact the City to schedule building inspections.

“The City recognizes the physical and emotional devastation that the flood has caused to people affected,” he said.

The City has reached out to various organizations for help, including Project Timothy, the Salvation Army, the American Red Cross and the Blue Mountain Action Council.

Weatherford said county and city staff are coordinating county-wide homeowner clean-up effort assistance from Merlin Miller of Rapid Response Team.

 

Reader Comments(0)

 
 
Rendered 09/30/2024 11:06