Safety Corridor Along Warren Stretch of US 30

Safety Corridor Along Warren Stretch of US 30

http://www.kptv.com/traffic/25842502/detail.html

Winter Weather Advisory Extended 11/19/2010

Winter Weather Advisory

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PORTLAND OR
716 AM PST FRI NOV 19 2010

ORZ003-004-010-012-WAZ020-040-192300-
/O.CON.KPQR.WW.Y.0019.000000T0000Z-101120T0800Z/
COAST RANGE OF NORTHWEST OREGON-
CENTRAL COAST RANGE OF WESTERN OREGON-
NORTHERN OREGON CASCADE FOOTHILLS-
CASCADE FOOTHILLS IN LANE COUNTY-WILLAPA HILLS-
SOUTH WASHINGTON CASCADE FOOTHILLS-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...VERNONIA...SANDY...SWEET HOME...
COTTAGE GROVE...TOUTLE...ARIEL...COUGAR
716 AM PST FRI NOV 19 2010

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE WILLAPA
HILLS...THE NORTH AND CENTRAL OREGON COAST RANGE...AND THE SOUTH
WASHINGTON AND NORTH AND CENTRAL OREGON CASCADE FOOTHILLS UNTIL
MIDNIGHT PST TONIGHT...

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT
PST TONIGHT.

* TIMING...ANOTHER ROUND OF ACCUMULATING SNOW SHOWERS IS NOW
 MOVING INLAND AND WILL SPREAD ACROSS THE AREA THROUGH MIDNIGHT
 TONIGHT.

* SNOW LEVELS...SNOW LEVELS WILL BE AROUND 1500 TO 2000 FEET
 THROUGH THE THIS EVENING...LOWERING TO 1000 FEET IN HEAVIER
 SHOWERS.

* ACCUMULATION...AN ADDITIONAL 2 TO 5 INCHES OF SNOW IS POSSIBLE
 THROUGH MIDNIGHT TONIGHT...ON TOP OF THE SNOW THAT HAS ALREADY
 FALLEN.

* IMPACTS...DRIVERS SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR ICY OR SNOW COVERED
 ROADS AND WINTER LIKE DRIVING CONDITIONS.

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.

Weekend Weather Outlook

Columbia County participated in a conference call this afternoon with the National Weather Service. NWS is predicting some persistent cool weather and lower snow levels through the weekend and into next week. However, the amount of precipitation that will accompany this cool weather is still not known, so the chance of snow is variable.

As things stand, the chances of snow are slim, with the greatest chances of snow being on Sunday-Monday as the snow level drops to near the valley floor. But again, it is uncertain how much moisture will be present when the cool air arrives. Based on current data, this would be a light dusting of snow on the valley floor that would not linger.

The detailed potential outlook for the next few days is as follows:

Friday the 19th through Sunday the 21st

Snow Levels

- Fri: 1000-2000 ft

- Sat: 500-1500 ft

- Sun: near surface (north) -1500 ft (south)

Low Elevation Snow:

A possibility with strong showers, but light, if any. Best chances of snow on Saturday and Sunday.

Temperatures:

Lows: Low 30s

Hghs: Upper 30s to mid 40s

Monday the 22nd through Thursday the 25th

Snow Levels:

- Mon: Surface -1000 ft

- Tue: Surface -1000 ft

- Wed: 500 -1500 ft

Low Elevation Snow:

A possibility, but light, if any. Precipitation chances decreasing with time. Best chances of snow on Monday and Tuesday. Models currently agree on dry remainder of week.

Temperatures:

Lows: mid 20s

Highs: 30s to near 40

(moderating midweek)

Please note that this is a prediction from the National Weather Service based on scientific research, not a foregone conclusion. Updates on weather watches and warnings will be posted to our online networks:

Blog: http://columbiacountyem.blogspot.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/columbiacoem

Facebook: search for "Columbia County Emergency Management"

Winter Weather Advisory for Columbia County 11/18

Winter Weather Advisory

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PORTLAND OR
203 PM PST WED NOV 17 2010

COAST RANGE OF NORTHWEST OREGON-
CENTRAL COAST RANGE OF WESTERN OREGON-
NORTHERN OREGON CASCADE FOOTHILLS-
CASCADE FOOTHILLS IN LANE COUNTY-WILLAPA HILLS-
SOUTH WASHINGTON CASCADE FOOTHILLS-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...VERNONIA...SANDY...SWEET HOME...
COTTAGE GROVE...TOUTLE...ARIEL...COUGAR
203 PM PST WED NOV 17 2010

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 4 AM THURSDAY TO
MIDNIGHT PST THURSDAY NIGHT FOR THE THE WILLAPA HILLS...THE NORTH
AND CENTRAL OREGON COAST RANGE...AND THE SOUTH WASHINGTON AND
NORTH AND CENTRAL OREGON CASCADE FOOTHILLS...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PORTLAND HAS ISSUED A WINTER
WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 4 AM THURSDAY
TO MIDNIGHT PST THURSDAY NIGHT.

* TIMING...HEAVY RAINFALL WILL SWITCH OVER TO SNOW SHOWERS
 OVERNIGHT...BEGINNING IN SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON AND SPREADING
 SOUTH THROUGH LATE TONIGHT. ACCUMULATING SNOW WILL BEGIN IN ALL
 AREAS BY EARLY THURSDAY MORNING...WITH SIGNIFICANT ACCUMULATIONS
 EXPECTED DURING THE DAY ON THURSDAY.

* SNOW LEVELS...SNOW LEVELS BETWEEN 4000 TO 5000 FEET
 THIS EVENING WILL DROP DRAMATICALLY OVERNIGHT TO AROUND 2000
 FEET THURSDAY MORNING AND 1500 FEET BY THURSDAY NIGHT.

* ACCUMULATION...4 TO 8 INCHES OF SNOW IS POSSIBLE...WITH HIGHER
 ACCUMULATIONS POSSIBLE UNDER AREAS OF HEAVIER SHOWERS.

* IMPACTS...DRIVERS SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR ICY OR SNOW COVERED
 ROADS AND WINTER LIKE DRIVING CONDITIONS.


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.

At-Risk Populations Working Group Meeting: Nov 30

Interested in helping prepare individuals with special or functional needs for emergencies in our community? Then join us for our quarterly planning meeting on November 30th! The meeting will be held at 10 AM at Columbia 9-1-1, 58611 McNulty Way in St. Helens.

For questions, call 503-366-3931 or e-mail emergency.management@co.columbia.or.us .

Business Planing Article

This is a great article from Emergency Management magazine...

Staying Open: Disaster Preparedness for Small Businesses

Diana McClure wants small businesses to ask themselves a few simple questions in the face of a possible disaster: “What is it we do as a company? What would be the most important things for us to do to survive a disaster? And what would we need to get up and running again?”

http://www.emergencymgmt.com/disaster/Small-Businesses-Survive-Disaster.html?page=1&

Weekend Weather for Columbia County

Columbia County Emergency Management and several local emergency responders participated in a conference call this afternoon with the National Weather Service. They are predicting some strong storms for the weekend as a low-pressure front camps off of Puget Sound and causes the jet stream to hold over NW Oregon and SW Washington. During this time, three storm fronts (starting tonight and the strongest coming Saturday night-Sunday) will swing our way.

Potentials for this weekend include:

* Coast Range/West side of Columbia County--high winds (up to 40-50 MPH) Saturday night and Sunday and total weekend rainfall from 2-5 inches. Wind forecast may change for the good or bad, so please monitor later forecasts for further information.

* Valleys/Eastern side of Columbia County--gusts up to 30-35 MPH at times Saturday night and Sunday and total weekend rainfall of 1-2 inches.

* Potential for a second low to form over SW Washington that may create strong winds even in the valleys Sunday night--check for later forecasts.

* Heavy rains may occur at times. It is possible that the National Weather Service will issue flash flood watches/warnings at times this weekend. The good news is that local rivers are at low levels, so river flooding is unlikely.

Please note that this is a prediction from the National Weather Service based on scientific research, not a foregone conclusion. Updates on weather watches and warnings will be posted to our online networks.

Thanks,

Columbia County Emergency Management

Columbia County Courthouse Holding Emergency Drill

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, October 18, 2010

MEDIA RELEASE

INFORMATION CONTACT:

Janet Wright, PIO, 503-397-1035
Derek White, Director, Emergency Management 503-366-3905

Courthouse To Hold Emergency Drill

St. Helens - Employees at the Columbia County Courthouse will be participating in an evacuation drill at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, Oct. 20th. This drill is not anticipated to last more than thirty (30) minutes.

“Citizens should understand that this means your business activities with County departments or the State Courts will be delayed or interrupted during this time frame and you will be asked to leave the building temporarily,” says Derek White, county emergency management director. “We apologize in advance for the inconvenience, but it is important for our employees to practice their emergency procedures for their safety as well as the safety of visitors to our courthouse.”

If you have questions, please contact Derek White with Emergency Management at 503-366-3905.

Get Flood Insurance While Rates Are Low!

COLUMBIA COUNTY PRESS RELEASE


ST. HELENS–Columbia County is urging residents affected by the new and recently-approved Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) flood maps to get insurance before November 25th, the day before the new maps take effect.



Columbia County recently completed the process of reviewing and renewing flood maps, which help identify hazard zones and high-risk properties that would be eligible for flood insurance under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Some properties that were not in the flood plain in the past are now listed as in the flood plain, which means those residents may need to purchase a NFIP flood insurance policy.



Columbia County Commissioner Tony Hyde says that residents who were not in the flood plain on the old maps can get flood insurance before the November 25th deadline at a lower rate. “It costs much less than buying the insurance after November 25th and you can grandfather the rate in future years so that the increase is not so expensive.”



According to Glen Higgins, flood plain administrator for the county, if your dwelling has historically been mapped as out of the Flood Hazard area and now with the new maps are in, then you should purchase flood insurance prior to the November 25, 2010 deadline, so you qualify for Preferred Risk Policy. This Preferred Risk rate can be continued on that policy for a period of two years as long as the insurance policy is kept current. After two renewals, your policy will transition to a standard rate schedule, but because you bought a policy when your dwelling was out of the flood hazard area, you can grandfather to the “out of the flood zone” rate, or use the new zone rate whichever is less expensive for you.



Those with mortgages may be forced by their lenders to purchase the flood insurance because standard home insurance does not cover flood insurance, according to Derek White, the county’s emergency management director. “All folks in the flood plain are highly encouraged to get flood insurance even if they don’t have a mortgage company requiring them to do so as home insurance doesn’t cover flooding,” White states.



White also added that NFIP policies will pay claims even when federal disaster help is not eligible. “We had flooding in Clatskanie in January 2009 that did not meet the requirements for a federal disaster declaration. Those who had flood insurance were still able to get assistance with claims they filed and others were unable to get any kind of recovery assistance.”



For more information on the NFIP, go to http://www.floodsmart.gov or call 1-888-379-9531. You may also call Glen at 503-397-7217.

Services for Individuals with Disabilities

The Advisory Council for Columbia County Developmental Disability Program, along with other providers of social services for kids and adults, will be be hosting FREE informational panel discussions on services available to persons with disabilities.

The panel discussions are scheduled for:

* October 12th from 7-8 PM at Columbia Community Mental Health Community Room, 58646 McNulty Way in St. Helens.

* October 26th from 7-8 PM at Clatskanie School District Office, 555 SW Bryant in Clatskanie.

The sessions are open to the public, especially those most interested in the topic. Columbia County Emergency Management will be one of the presenting agencies. For more information, please call Nancy Humphries at 503-438-2223.