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.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
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
* 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
Monday, December 14, 2009
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.
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.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
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.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
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
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Preparedness Gifts for Christmas
Gifting Peace Of Mind
Holiday Gifts that can Save Lives
Release Date: December 8, 2009
Release Number: R10-10-003
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.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Flood Watch Canceled
The flood watch for Columbia County has been canceled. However, it is "winter", so make sure you are prepared. Check out http://www.ready.gov for more details.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Flood Watch Extended Through Late Friday
Flood watch for portions of Columbia County extended through late Friday, 11/20/09. Check the National Weather Service--Portland website for the latest weather information:
http://www.weather.gov/portland
http://www.weather.gov/portland
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Flood Watch for Columbia County; Potential Landslides
FLOOD WATCH NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PORTLAND OR223 PM PST WED NOV 18 2009
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PORTLAND HAS ISSUED A
* FLOOD WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHWEST OREGON AND SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON...INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING AREAS... NORTH OREGON COAST-COAST RANGE OF NORTHWEST OREGON-WILLAPA HILLS-SOUTH WASHINGTON COAST-INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ASTORIA...CANNON BEACH...TILLAMOOK...VERNONIA...JEWELL...TRASK...FRANCES...RYDERWOOD...RAYMOND...LONG BEACH...CATHLAMET
* FROM MIDNIGHT PST TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON
* HEAVY RAIN TONIGHT AND EARLY THURSDAY. RAINFALL TOTALS OF 3 TO 6 INCHES IN THE WILLAPA HILLS AND 2 TO 3 INCHES IN THE NORTH OREGON COAST RANGE AND ALONG THE NORTH OREGON AND SOUTH WASHINGTON COAST.
* RIVERS OF GREATEST CONCERN FOR FLOODING INCLUDE THE WILLAPA...GRAYS AND NASELLE RIVERS IN SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON...THE LOWER NEHALEM RIVER IN TILLAMOOK COUNTY OREGON AND THE NECANICUM RIVER IN CLATSOP COUNTY OREGON. IF THE FRONTAL BAND MOVES FURTHER SOUTH THE WILSON AND TRASK RIVERS COULD ALSO BE IMPACTED. THERE IS LESS OF A THREAT FOR THE WILSON AND TRASK RIVERS EXCEPT ALONG THE LOWEST REACHES WHERE HIGH TIDES COULD RESULT IN FLOODING ALONG THE IMMEDIATE COAST.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...A FLOOD WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR FLOODING BASED ONCURRENT FORECASTS.LANDSLIDES AND DEBRIS FLOWS ARE POSSIBLE DURING THIS FLOOD EVENT.PEOPLE...STRUCTURES AND ROADS LOCATED BELOW STEEP SLOPES...INCANYONS AND NEAR THE MOUTHS OF CANYONS MAY BE AT SERIOUS RISKFROM RAPIDLY MOVING LANDSLIDES.YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE ALERT FOR POSSIBLEFLOOD WARNINGS. THOSE LIVING IN AREAS PRONE TO FLOODING SHOULD BEPREPARED TO TAKE ACTION SHOULD FLOODING DEVELOP.THE NEXT UPDATE FOR THIS WATCH WILL BE ISSUED BY 1 AM THURSDAY.
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PORTLAND HAS ISSUED A
* FLOOD WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHWEST OREGON AND SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON...INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING AREAS... NORTH OREGON COAST-COAST RANGE OF NORTHWEST OREGON-WILLAPA HILLS-SOUTH WASHINGTON COAST-INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ASTORIA...CANNON BEACH...TILLAMOOK...VERNONIA...JEWELL...TRASK...FRANCES...RYDERWOOD...RAYMOND...LONG BEACH...CATHLAMET
* FROM MIDNIGHT PST TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON
* HEAVY RAIN TONIGHT AND EARLY THURSDAY. RAINFALL TOTALS OF 3 TO 6 INCHES IN THE WILLAPA HILLS AND 2 TO 3 INCHES IN THE NORTH OREGON COAST RANGE AND ALONG THE NORTH OREGON AND SOUTH WASHINGTON COAST.
* RIVERS OF GREATEST CONCERN FOR FLOODING INCLUDE THE WILLAPA...GRAYS AND NASELLE RIVERS IN SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON...THE LOWER NEHALEM RIVER IN TILLAMOOK COUNTY OREGON AND THE NECANICUM RIVER IN CLATSOP COUNTY OREGON. IF THE FRONTAL BAND MOVES FURTHER SOUTH THE WILSON AND TRASK RIVERS COULD ALSO BE IMPACTED. THERE IS LESS OF A THREAT FOR THE WILSON AND TRASK RIVERS EXCEPT ALONG THE LOWEST REACHES WHERE HIGH TIDES COULD RESULT IN FLOODING ALONG THE IMMEDIATE COAST.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...A FLOOD WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR FLOODING BASED ONCURRENT FORECASTS.LANDSLIDES AND DEBRIS FLOWS ARE POSSIBLE DURING THIS FLOOD EVENT.PEOPLE...STRUCTURES AND ROADS LOCATED BELOW STEEP SLOPES...INCANYONS AND NEAR THE MOUTHS OF CANYONS MAY BE AT SERIOUS RISKFROM RAPIDLY MOVING LANDSLIDES.YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE ALERT FOR POSSIBLEFLOOD WARNINGS. THOSE LIVING IN AREAS PRONE TO FLOODING SHOULD BEPREPARED TO TAKE ACTION SHOULD FLOODING DEVELOP.THE NEXT UPDATE FOR THIS WATCH WILL BE ISSUED BY 1 AM THURSDAY.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Regional Sandbag Class
Do you know there are proper techniques to sandbagging during flooding events in order to increase efficiency and effectiveness? You can learn how to do it right at a FREE class provided by our partners at Cowlitz County Emergency Management and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
The class will be held on Tuesday, November 17th at 6 PM at the Cowlitz County Public Works Bldg. at 1600 South 13th in Kelso, Washington--right across the river from Rainier. Refreshments will be provided and there will be a drawing for door prizes! If you would like to attend, please contact Jennifer at Cowlitz County EM at 360-577-3130 or engkrafj@co.cowlitz.wa.us .
The class will be held on Tuesday, November 17th at 6 PM at the Cowlitz County Public Works Bldg. at 1600 South 13th in Kelso, Washington--right across the river from Rainier. Refreshments will be provided and there will be a drawing for door prizes! If you would like to attend, please contact Jennifer at Cowlitz County EM at 360-577-3130 or engkrafj@co.cowlitz.wa.us .
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