NFIP Lapse

Info from the Association of State Floodplain Managers....

NFIP Authorization Lapses Again

Monday, March 29, 2010

This means that until Congress approves reauthorization of the NFIP: no new NFIP policies will be issued, existing NFIP polices due for renewal during this time will not be renewed, and increased coverage requests will not be processed. Congress is not expected to revisit consideration for NFIP reauthorization until it returns to session April 12, 2010. Existing Policies Existing NFIP flood insurance policies in effect prior to the program lapse (with coverage period effective during the lapse) will be eligible for claim payments for covered damages incurred during the effective dates of the policy. Impacts on the Lending, Home Mortgage & Building Industries This program lapse has huge implications on the lending industry and home mortgage/building industry. New NFIP flood insurance policies cannot be issued without Congress' reauthorization of the NFIP. Real estate transactions for properties in the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) or other areas where the lender requires flood insurance to close the loan will not go through unless similar coverage to the NFIP's flood insurance policy can be found in the private insurance marketplace that is acceptable to the lender. For more information and answers to frequently-asked questions, go to: http://www.floods.org/n-news-hottopics/article.asp?id=44

IS-300 and IS-400 Training

This message is to serve as an announcement for an upcoming ICS 300 and 400 class to be conducted on May 17-19, 2010, inclusive. The sessions will be held at the Polk County Fire District #1 Station in Independence, OR. A great place for a class with a comfortable room and plenty of free parking.

Each day the session will begin at 0800 and end close to 1630. We have a lot of ground to cover and will do 4 days worth of training in 3 days. Persons completing the classes will be awarded a local certificate as well as one from Oregon Emergency Management. These classes meet ALL of the NIMS requirements for 300/400.

Course participant manuals will be provided as will appropriate handouts, thanks to Anne Steeves.

Please have those who wish to attend contact Jessica Johnson at: johnsonje@co.yamhill.or.us or 503-434-7437, with an RSVP. I’m looking for a diverse group for the class meaning that I’d like to see several disciplines represented. This always makes for a more interesting class for all involved. We are limiting the class to a manageable number and if demand exceeds the spaces available, we’ll double back and do another class shortly.

I’m sending this out now so you and/or your members who might be attending can get it on respective calendars, NOW. I’ll send out a reminder 30 days pre-class and another 10 days out. See you in Independence.

Feel free to distribute this information as you see fit.

Doug McGillivray

Emergency Manager

Yamhill County, OR

Mail to: 535 NE 5th St

McMinnville, OR 97128

Desk: 503-434-7340

Cell: 503-437-5884

Fx; 503-474-4909

e-mail: mcgillivrayd@co.yamhill.or.us

March 15-19 is National Flood Awareness Week

Flooding is often the number one disaster annually in terms of occurrences and costs the nation millions in damages every year. Columbia County has seen quite a few floods over the years, most recently in 2007.

While flooding is a natural event of the Earth, preparation and mitigation are helpful in limiting its effect on our lives. Knowing how to respond is critical to your safety and that of family or friends. More information may be obtained from:

http://oregonredcross.org/general.asp?SN=2844&OP=2846&IDCapitulo=663B0ID44V

Also, the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) exists to provide flood insurance coverage for homes and businesses as private policies do not cover flood damage. To learn more about this, go to:

http://www.floodsmart.gov/floodsmart/

Remember: failing to plan is planning to fail. Make sure you know what to do to be ready for floods!

Longview Fibre Testing Sirens

Rainier/Goble Residents:

Longview Fibre is testing their sirens this month (March 2010), so don't worry if/when you hear them at the times listed in The Daily News of Longview:

http://www.tdn.com/news/local/article_c3eda6bc-2cb5-11df-8935-001cc4c03286.html

Columbia County Appoints EM Director

The Daily News has a report about Columbia County appointing an emergency management director:

http://tdn.com/news/local/article_d2bc3cc0-2cb6-11df-a001-001cc4c03286.html?mode=story

EAS Alert Message: Disregard

If anyone has received a text message today (3/9/2010) about an EAS activation for Columbia County, please disregard: it is a DHS test of the system. If you have any questions, please contact us at 503-366-3931 or emergency.management@co.columbia.or.us .

Winter Weather Advisory for Columbia County

Winter weather advisory for higher elevations of Columbia County south and west of the US 30 corridor (including Vernonia, Mist and Birkenfeld areas) from 4 PM (1600) today through 5 AM (0500) tomorrow. Please travel carefully in these areas tonight and overnight.

Derek White

Columbia County Emergency Management

++++++++++++++++

Winter Weather Advisory

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PORTLAND OR
943 AM PST TUE MAR 9 2010

ORZ003-004-100600-
/O.NEW.KPQR.WW.Y.0008.100310T0000Z-100310T1300Z/
COAST RANGE OF NORTHWEST OREGON-
CENTRAL COAST RANGE OF WESTERN OREGON-
943 AM PST TUE MAR 9 2010

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO
5 AM PST WEDNESDAY ABOVE 1000 FEET FOR THE NORTH AND CENTRAL COAST
RANGE OF OREGON...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PORTLAND HAS ISSUED A WINTER
WEATHER ADVISORY ABOVE 1000 FEET FOR SNOW...WHICH IS IN EFFECT
FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 5 AM PST WEDNESDAY.

* TIMING...THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH TONIGHT.

* ACCUMULATION/SNOW LEVELS...TWO TO FOUR INCHES BY EARLY WEDNESDAY
 MORNING. LIGHT SNOW WILL BEGIN THIS AFTERNOON. HEAVIER
 ACCUMULATIONS WILL OCCUR DURING THE EVENING...THEN SLOWLY
 DECREASE OVERNIGHT. THE SNOW LEVEL WILL RISE FROM AROUND 1000
 FEET TODAY TO AROUND 1500 FEET LATE TONIGHT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW
WILL CAUSE PRIMARILY TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SNOW
COVERED ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES...AND USE CAUTION WHILE
DRIVING.

Snow Showers 3/8 and 3/9

There is a potential for snow flurries in the upper parts of Columbia County on 3/8 and 3/9, but little accumulation is expected. For more info, check out:

http://www.weather.gov/portland

IS-400 Course Opportunity

Responders, Public Officials and Emergency Volunteers:

IS-400: Advanced Incident Command System training is available in Clatsop County March 13-14, 2010. You must have taken IS-100, 200, 300 and 700 in order to attend.

For registration or more information, please contact:

Gene Strong, Emergency Manager
Clatsop County Sheriff Office
503-325-8635, ext. 2425 or gstrong@co.clatsop.or.us

Portland-Area Counties Create Critical Infrastructure Protection Plan

Pacific Northwest Counties Collaborated to Create Critical Infrastructure Protection Plan
by Elaine Pittman, Emergency Management Magazine on February 22, 2010

Because of the risk of earthquakes and other threats to critical infrastructure and key resources (CIKR) — terrorist attacks, industrial accidents and other natural disasters — five Portland, Ore.-area counties collaborated beginning in 2006 to assess and identify the region’s critical infrastructure.

http://www.emergencymgmt.com/infrastructure/Pacific-Northwest-Critical-Infrastructure-Protection-Plan.html