Portland, Oregon – Severe winter storms wreaked havoc across the Portland metro area, causing trees to fall and resulting in the tragic deaths of two individuals. In Southeast Portland, one person lost their life when a tree collapsed onto a parked RV, igniting a fire that claimed their life. Another victim in Lake Oswego perished after a tree crashed through their residence’s second floor. The destructive impact of the storm extended beyond the loss of life, with numerous homes in the area being destroyed by fallen trees.
Families who narrowly escaped similar fates shared their harrowing experiences of survival. Mason and Jacqueline DePasse recounted how they were at home with their children when trees crashed into their Beaverton residence during a movie night. The couple expressed gratitude for their safety, acknowledging that the outcome could have been fatal had they been in certain rooms during the incident. Their neighbors provided crucial support, offering shelter with a generator in the aftermath of the storm.
Residents in the Bethany neighborhood, like Steve Mishler, faced perilous situations as trees collapsed near their homes. Mishler described narrowly avoiding being struck by a falling tree, sustaining injuries in the process. The close-knit community of Dogwood Park in Bethany experienced widespread devastation, with trees decimating the area over a two-hour period. Longtime residents, such as Bob Stinslin, expressed shock at the extent of the damage, noting that the storm had left a lasting impact that would take significant time to recover from.
In the aftermath of the storm, impacted individuals turned to friends and family for support and temporary accommodation. Recognizing the long road ahead towards rebuilding their lives, they anticipated a prolonged period before normalcy could be restored. With homes in disarray and power outages persisting, the affected community braced themselves for an arduous journey towards recovery, relying on mutual aid and assistance to navigate the challenges ahead.