BREAKING: ODOT tells Umatilla County residents to stay home
By Terry Murry on Sunday, January 2nd, 2022 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
LA GRANDE – The Oregon Department of Transportation is urging all residents of Umatilla County to stay at home. Increasing winds and blowing and drifting snow are causing hazardous driving conditions throughout the county.
Numerous roads including highways 11, 204, 330, 37, 331, 332, 334, 339, and 335 are closed due to white-out conditions and numerous snow drifts. ODOT reports that conditions are so bad, snowplow drivers cannot see the road well enough to effectively plow.
All plowing operations in Umatilla County have been closed on state routes. ODOT cautions that people who attempt to drive through a snowdrift could become stuck until winter maintenance operations resume, with little chance that stranded motorists can be rescued for possibly days, until conditions significantly improve.
Several school districts and offices have canceled or delayed opening on Monday. They include Pendleton School District, Athena-Weston School District, Helix School District, and all state government offices in Umatilla County. We are updating the list of closures and delays on the My Columbia Basin Facebook page as new information is received.
