Oregon Public Broadcasting

As temperatures climb above freezing Friday, cities and counties in Northwestern Oregon are asking residents to help minimize flooding.

In Portland, mayor-elect Sam Adams, appeared with a road crew -- all carrying shovels -- to ask residents to clear storm drains and sidewalks in their neighborhoods.

Sam Adams: “Forecast is for two to three inches of rain in the next 36 to 48 hours. That’s on top of the estimated inch and an half in rain equivalent of snow pack on the ground. And we have 55,000 catch basins, the drains in the street that right now are covered up by snow. So these shovels are a request for help.”

Adams also told motorists, who had to abandon their vehicles along snow routes over the last few days, to move or expect a ticket.

He says crews, who are now in their 13th day of full call-out, need to get their snow plows through.

Adams also said that while the biggest storm in 30 years stretched the city’s 50 snow plows, the city probably won’t be buying anymore -- because there isn’t enough money.