Five Feet of Water Changed Everything in Clackamas County
What started as another heavy rain event in Oregon quickly turned into a life-altering disaster for many families living along the Clackamas River. As an atmospheric river pushed into the Pacific Northwest, warnings were issued, and river levels were closely watched. For some residents, that warning made all the difference, but it didn’t stop the damage that followed.
Matthew Lynch lives with his wife, Vanessa Berntsen, and their two dogs near the south edge of the Clackamas River, between Barton and Carver. They’ve been in that house for 12 years, a home owned by Berntsen’s parents, and flooding wasn’t entirely unfamiliar. The house had been hit before, most notably during the historic floods of 1996. So when Clackamas County issued a flood watch on Wednesday night, the danger wasn’t ignored.
By Thursday morning, preparations were already underway. Belongings were lifted, furniture was moved, and anything that could be saved was rushed out of harm’s way. As record-breaking rain fell across the Portland area, the river kept rising. Officials warned that major flood stage was likely, and by early Friday morning, sheriff’s deputies were knocking on doors, urging people to leave immediately.
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By around 4 a.m., the water had won. More than five feet of floodwater submerged the home. Major appliances were destroyed, closets were ruined by mold, and entire rooms were left unsalvageable. Lynch worked nearly nonstop from Thursday morning into the night, doing everything possible to save what he could. But after midnight, the water rose so fast that staying any longer would have been dangerous. Roads that were barely covered earlier became completely impassable within hours.
Across the neighborhood, similar scenes played out. Basements filled with water, furnaces were destroyed, and many homes were left without functioning sewer or septic systems. Several residents along the river had to be rescued from the floodwaters, though thankfully no serious injuries were reported.
Days later, the damage remains overwhelming. Lynch described the house as still “waterlogged,” with no power restored because the condition of the electrical system is unknown. Carpets, flooring, and walls will all need to be replaced. Insurance representatives have estimated that it could take three to five months before the home is livable again.
For now, Lynch and Berntsen are staying with family, grateful for shelter but facing cramped conditions and mounting expenses. Without renters’ insurance, the financial strain is real, and like many others affected by the floods, they are left navigating an uncertain road to recovery.
This flood wasn’t just about rising water. It was about how quickly normal life can be swept away, even when warnings are given and preparations are made.
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