Meeting on Friday June 28 at 2 p.m. in an emergency meeting, the Washington County Board of Commissioners heard briefly from County Emergency Services Manager Doug Berglund before declaring a state of emergency via board resolution.
Meant to put the wheels in motion for prompt flood response after heavy rains upriver, the resolution activates the county’s Emergency Operations Plan, allowing the Emergency Management Division of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office to support municipalities in the county and take necessary actions to protect public infrastructure and respond to public safety concerns—including debris in the Mississippi river.
“The resolution allows the county to begin the remove the debris to the fullest extent possible,” Berglund said of trees and other items floating down the river. The chief areas affected were a culvert on Grey Cloud Drive South and bridge on Grey Cloud Trail South, both roads closed off as of Sunday. Prior to the road closure, a code red phone alert was sent to island residents and businesses, with Cottage Grove Public Safety also going door to door to notify affected residents. Code Red is an alert system residents opt into.
“The process is our public works and public safety directors have been monitoring the river levels for a couple of weeks,” Cottage Grove Community Impact Sergeant Mike McCormick shared recently. McCormick said lower island residents were given a one and a half to two week head’s up that there might be an evacuation order, with a fire truck and UTV parked at Aggregate Industries. Police used ATVs to go back and forth to the island. Should it have proved unsafe for ATVs to cross, public safety could still respond with an air boat from Newport he said.
Additionally, residents on Lower Grey Cloud were informed beforehand that it might be good to get off the island or else park a vehicle on the other side, signing a form that helped police and fire know where everyone was, in case of an emergency response need.
“It was looking for a while like the water was going to get to levels like we had in 2001,” McCormick said, with a concern the causeway might wash out factoring into the decision to close it.
That scenario ultimately didn’t happen, and Grey Cloud Drive South was reopened to traffic on Monday after debris removal and inspection. The Grey Cloud Trail bridge in contrast still needs lower water levels and an inspection before it can reopen, likely next week.
Back at the emergency county board meeting on Friday, meanwhile, Bigham took time to thank those engaged in the flood response.
“We train for this, but this is where it comes to really be meaningful,” she said. “It’s a collaborative group effort.
I just want to thank the City of Cottage Grove, their public safety personnel and Gwen Martin. I’ve been in constant contact with Mayor Bailey, Mayor Franke. I just really appreciate the coming together.”
The resolution now passed, a state of emergency will continue in effect for 30 days, or until such time that emergency response or recovery efforts are no longer required.