Monday gave spring cleaning a new meaning for Clark County residents after several unexpected inches of snow created a mess of fallen trees and downed power lines.
The National Weather Service said Monday marked the first measurable snowfall in the area in the month of April. The agency reported 12 inches of snow near Yacolt, 11 inches of snow in Washougal, more than 7 inches in Camas, more than 6 inches in Ridgefield and 2 to 3 inches at Pearson Field in Vancouver. All this after the area reached temperatures in the 70s last week.
Trees snapped under the weight of the heavy snow and fell into power lines, on top of cars and into streets. More than 28,000 Clark Public Utilities customers lost power throughout the day, including nearly 3,000 people in Orchards, around 1,500 in Fisher’s Landing and nearly 1,300 in Ellsworth Springs, according to the utility’s website.
Vancouver Public Works crews were busy Sunday night and Monday treating roads and clearing messes from streets. Tree limbs and debris blocked Blandford Drive between MacArthur and Evergreen Boulevards, and the public works website states the road will continue to be closed for several days.
The department estimated that crews had responded to about 100 calls for downed trees and debris in the road, as of 3 p.m. Monday. The website states crews will continue to clear the mess, starting with major, priority routes and areas where all lanes were blocked.
Clark County Public Works received about 70 calls for downed trees by 12:30 p.m., according to county spokeswoman Joni McAnally. Ridgefield Public Works is offering free storm debris drop off today between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. at 487 S. 56th Place. The department is only accepting downed branches and trees from the storm.
Although there’s a chance for more snow mixed with rain during the morning hours this week, forecasters say Monday was the worst of it. However, now the National Weather Service warns of the risk of the slush freezing overnight and turning into black ice.
Snow in April caught some homeless service providers in Clark County off guard, but many worked hard Monday to open additional shelter and motel spaces for the night, according to Council for the Homeless spokeswoman Charlene Welch.
The Winter Hospitality Overflow shelters closed on March 31 for the spring. Between Nov. 1 and March 31, the shelters operate seven nights a week out of St. Andrew Lutheran Church and St. Paul Lutheran Church, accommodating up to 30 people a night.
With the recent closure of those shelters, Monday’s snowstorm presented additional challenges for people experiencing homelessness in Clark County.
Now, additional shelter beds will be available. To access them, people must call the Housing Hotline at 360-695-9677 between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m.
Additionally, Living Hope Church in Vancouver, 2711 N.E. Andresen Road, will be open as a shelter between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. for walk-ins.
For those interested in donating, Living Hope Church needs breakfast items such as pastries and doughnuts, as well as bottled water. Donations can be dropped off at the church.
If the cold weather persists, the additional shelter space will likely remain available, but no final decisions have been made.
Dylan Jefferies of The Columbian contributed to this report.
