Hazardous Weather Outlook for Columbia County

Hazardous Weather Outlook for Columbia County for Wednesday, December 30th. Please be careful when travelling today, as there is still snow in some areas and freezing rain is also possible.

The state highways (US 30, OR 47, OR 202) look good right now with patches of ice occasionally. If you plan to travel these routes, please check http://tripcheck.net for the latest information.

Fire District Volunteer Recruitment

Local fire districts are looking for volunteers to help them help our communities. Are you interested? Do you have what it takes? Contact your local fire district office today:

* Columbia River Fire and Rescue (includes St. Helens, Columbia City and Rainier)--503-397-2990 (http://www.crfr.com)
* Scappoose Fire--503-543-5026 (http://www.srfd.us)
* Clatskanie Fire--503-728-2025
* Vernonia Fire--503-429-8252 (http://www.vernoniafire.us)
* Mist-Birkenfeld Fire--503-755-2710

H1N1 Vaccine Available

Columbia Health District Public Health Authority (Public Health) will be holding a H1N1 public vaccination clinic on Tuesday, Dec. 29th, 2009 from 10 AM-2 PM at the St. Helens High School Cafeteria, 2375 Gable Road in St. Helens. Vaccines are now available to everyone in the community who has not already received a vaccine.

Those attending this clinic can expect to wait in line and fill out paperwork for each person with them (such as children) receiving a vaccine. A limited number of vouchers for Columbia County Rider transportation are available by contacting the Public Health office (see contact information below).

Those with health insurance may receive their vaccination now at the following places if they choose:

* OHSU Clinic--Scappoose
* Legacy Clinic--St. Helens
* Dr. Kelly's--St. Helens
* Providence Clinic--Vernonia

Those who are underinsured, are without insurance, or their private providers do not have the H1N1 vaccine on-hand may schedule an appointment at Public Health's office.

To contact Public Health with any questions, please call 503-397-4651.

Winter Storm Watch Canceled

The winter storm watch for Columbia County for Dec. 12th, 2009 has been canceled. The storm apparently stalled near Salem and went more eastward.

Winter Storm Watch for Columbia County

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PORTLAND OR
1029 AM PST THU DEC 10 2009

...A WINTER STORM IS EXPECTED TO IMPACT MUCH OF NORTHWEST OREGON
AND SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON LATE FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY...

ORZ005-006-WAZ022-039-110630-
/O.NEW.KPQR.WS.A.0008.091212T0400Z-091213T0200Z/
LOWER COLUMBIA-GREATER PORTLAND METRO AREA-I-
5 CORRIDOR IN COWLITZ COUNTY-GREATER VANCOUVER AREA-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ST. HELENS...HILLSBORO...OREGON CITY...
GRESHAM...LONGVIEW...KELSO...VERNONIA...BATTLE GROUND...WASHOUGAL
1029 AM PST THU DEC 10 2009

...WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY EVENING THROUGH
SATURDAY AFTERNOON FOR THE PORTLAND AND VANCOUVER METRO
AREAS...AND THE LOWER COLUMBIA AND I-5 CORRIDOR IN COWLITZ
COUNTY...AND THE COAST RANGE OF NORTHWEST OREGON.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PORTLAND HAS ISSUED A WINTER
STORM WATCH FOR FREEZING RAIN...SLEET AND SNOW...WHICH IS IN
EFFECT FROM FRIDAY EVENING THROUGH SATURDAY AFTERNOON.

* PRECIPITATION MAY BEGIN AS EARLY AS LATE FRIDAY EVENING.

* PRECIPITATION IS LIKELY TO START AS SNOW...SLEET OR FREEZING
 RAIN IN THE PORTLAND AND VANCOUVER METRO AREA...AS SNOW FURTHER
 NORTH.

* SOUTH AND WESTERN PARTS OF THE METRO AREA MAY CHANGE TO RAIN DURING
 THE DAY SATURDAY...WITH SNOW SLEET OR FREEZING RAIN CONTINUING
 ELSEWHERE.

* WINTRY PRECIPITATION MAY CONTINUE INTO SATURDAY NIGHT.

* THERE IS A GREATER THAN NORMAL DEGREE OF UNCERTAINTY WITH THIS
 FORECAST...SO CHECK WITH LATER FORECASTS FOR MORE DETAILS.


PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT
SNOW...SLEET...OR ICE ACCUMULATIONS THAT MAY IMPACT TRAVEL.
CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS

Preparedness Gifts for Christmas

Gifting Peace Of Mind

Holiday Gifts that can Save Lives

Release Date: December 8, 2009
Release Number: R10-10-003

» 2009 Region X News Releases

SEATTLE, Wash. -- Each and every year millions of American lives are disrupted by natural disasters ranging from earthquakes and tsunamis to floods and wildfire. But all disasters—large or small—share a common attribute: they focus attention on the importance of disaster preparedness and the critical need to take action before disaster strikes. The trick is to convert good intentions into good deeds, and according to Acting FEMA Regional Administrator Dennis Hunsinger, there's no time like the holidays.

"Disaster-ready gifts can save lives, and are a wonderful way of welcoming in 2010," said Hunsinger. "Helping to better prepare neighbors, friends and loved ones for emergencies is a great way to say 'I care.'"

Emergency and preparedness items that might make great gifts this Holiday Season include:

• NOAA Weather Radios and extra batteries.
• Enrollment in a CPR or first-aid class.
• Smoke detectors.
• Appropriate fire extinguishers (kitchen, garage, car).
• Disaster kits for homes, offices and autos (first aid kits, food, water and prescription medications for 72 hours, extra clothing, blankets, flashlights).
• Foldable ladders for second-story escape in a fire.
• Car kits (emergency flares, shovels, ice scrapers, flashlights and fluorescent distress flags).
• Pet Disaster Kits (food, water, leashes, dishes and carrying case or crate).
• A camp stove with extra fuel.
• The gift of a gardener to cut back combustible vegetation from wildfire-vulnerable homes.
• National Flood Insurance.

A wealth of information and preparedness tips is available from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's READY.GOV site at: www.ready.gov and from FEMA at: www.fema.gov.

Stay informed of FEMA's activities online: videos and podcasts available at www.fema.gov/medialibrary and www.youtube.com/fema; follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/femainfocus twitter.com/femaregion10 and on FaceBook at www.facebook.com/fema.

FEMA's mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.