Following last weekend’s flooding, Canyon Creek finally began receding late this week, but not before doing more than a million dollars in damages to Grant Union High School as well as neighboring homes and businesses.

Torrential rains combined with oversized mountain snowpacks were the main causes of the flooding, sending the creek over its banks and damaging the school’s boiler room, administrative offices, gymnasium, and grounds.

Principal Curt Shelley described the situation as “overwhelming”, saying the school was in no financial condition to undertake extensive repair projects, and hoping the insurance would cover the flood damage.

Canyon Creek originates in the Strawberry Mountain Wilderness and parallels U.S. 395 through Canyon City and John Day. The creek is a tributary of the John Day River, which also overflowed and damaged roughly 50 Grant County homes and businesses, numerous roads and at least one bridge, said Grant County Sheriff Glenn Palmer.

Sunday saw more than 200 volunteers stacking sandbags around the school and around neighboring communities in an effort to keep the flood waters at bay. By Wednesday the emergency had subsided somewhat as the creek and local John Day River levels fell by more than 18 inches.

Classes were able to resume on Wednesday, however the school had no heat. With temperatures for the day not expected to get out of the 50’s, students were told to dress warmly.

The Grant County Sheriff’s office said that they expect to leave the sandbags in place for some time, as there are still massive amounts of snow remaining on the nearby mountaintops that could continue to pose a threat.

High water levels were also reported in other areas of Grant County, damaging not only homes and businesses but also area roads, and forcing the closing of the Service Creek Bridge spanning the John Day River along Oregon 19 and 207 between the towns of Spray and Fossil.

The sheriff’s office has warned that sizeable snowpacks, some as large as 200 percent of their normal size, could bring more high water later, especially as overall temperatures continue to rise into their late spring and early summer norms.

The situation in Oregon dramatically illustrates the fact that floods can occur anywhere, at any time, and while most flooding may be locally confined, it can just as easily encompass entire communities, regions, or even states.

And while the school may be covered against flooding, the same cannot be said, nor should it be assumed, for homeowners. Flood insurance is not a part of any standard homeowners’ policy, which makes it imperative to see what is and is not covered and make the appropriate adjustments.

If your community participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), then you can add flood coverage to your policy for an additional fee. And unless you live at the top of Pike’s Peak or THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK’s Cloud City, then flood coverage is something to be seriously considered.

You should also prepare for the worst by having the contact information for your local, IICRC certified, basement flooding professionals. The value of having a provider that is available 24/7, with trained staff, the latest in gear and procedures, and a full line of services designed to handle all aspects of any water damage job, cannot be underestimated.

From water extraction and drying, to carpet, cleaning and mold remediation, to structural repair and restoration, your IICRC certified professionals are ready to service all of your water damage or flood repair needs. Read more about Grant Union High School flood damage here...

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