EAGLE CREEK, Ore. — The Paradise Park neighborhood experienced severe flooding early Friday morning as the Clackamas River overflowed its banks, reaching its highest level in years. With the river cresting at over 26 feet, the situation prompted a Level 3 ‘Go Now’ evacuation order, signaling an urgent need for residents to leave the area.
Robb Hutson, a Paradise Park resident, recounted the chaos as floodwaters engulfed his property. “The whole street turned into the river, basically,” he described, as water flowed through his carport and around his home, dragging debris and dislodging his drain pipe.
Despite his efforts the previous day to sandbag another nearby home belonging to his son, Hutson faced overwhelming water that breached even those defenses. Across the street, Bill Madden was equally affected; floodwaters swamped his garage, just inches away from causing further damage. The owner of the Barton Antique Mall reported significant losses, estimating thousands of dollars in inventory destroyed, describing the scene as “pure devastation.” Fortunately, his prized family heirloom, a 1960 Rolls Royce, narrowly escaped harm.
Larry Krause, another affected resident, shared his alarming experience of watching the water levels rise after returning home for the night. He noted the discrepancies between the anticipated flood levels and the reality observed outside his window, which led to growing panic among locals who had lived there for decades.
In response to the crisis, the Red Cross quickly established an emergency shelter in Oregon City to accommodate those evacuated from the affected areas. As recovery efforts continue, residents face the daunting challenge of rebuilding their homes and lives, but there is a strong sense of community resilience as they come together to support one another in the aftermath of this disaster.