Grays Harbor County Sheriffs Department was dispatched to a location on Porter Creek RD W early Sunday morning for a report of a person that had driven into floodwaters and was considered possibly trapped with the vehicle.  East Grays Harbor Fire and Rescue was also requested to assist. 

Here is what Undersheriff Johansson gave us in a statement. 

On 01-09-22 at approximately 3:19 AM, deputies were advised of a missing 39-year-old male from Aberdeen.  The male was missing from the area of the road closure on Porter Creek Road West in Elma, Washington. 

The reporting party advised he got a call from his friend who said that he drove his truck into the floodwaters on Porter Creek Road West and became disabled.  He asked his friend to come tow his vehicle from the location. 

When the friend arrived at approximately 2:30 AM he walked to the vehicle and the Aberdeen male was not in the vehicle.   The water was  swift in the area of the disabled vehicle and the reporting party advised he was nearly swept off the roadway going to and from the disabled vehicle.

Deputies arrived on scene at approximately 3:36 AM but were unable to launch a boat due to darkness and the extremely dangerous water conditions.  The Grays Harbor Sheriff's Office requested assistance from the Thurston County Swift Water Rescue Team, who determined it was not safe to enter the water until daylight hours.   The Sheriff's office also requested assistance from the Pacific County Sheriff's Office to search the area with their drone that is equipped with thermal imaging.  

The area was searched with the drone and they did not locate the missing person.   Law enforcement is still on scene and will resume searching once daylight arrives.  

It is uncertain if the missing person was swept away in the floodwaters or possibly walked out on his own and obtained other transportation.  The Grays Harbor Sheriff's Office wants to remind people do not drive on closed roads.  Driving in floodwaters is dangerous and should be avoided