Wind/Rain Storms this Coming Week

NOAA has advised us of several storm systems that will be moving into the area next week leading up to Thanksgiving.

The main concern is coastal areas at this point. However, as these storms are still developing, there is a high degree of uncertainty regarding what their impact will be on inland areas.

Please read below for the full details of NOAA's weather statement. We will update our social media as we learn more.

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PORTLAND OR
244 PM PST SAT NOV 19 2011

ORZ001>014-WAZ019>023-039-040-200645-
NORTH OREGON COAST-CENTRAL OREGON COAST-
COAST RANGE OF NORTHWEST OREGON-
CENTRAL COAST RANGE OF WESTERN OREGON-LOWER COLUMBIA-
GREATER PORTLAND METRO AREA-CENTRAL WILLAMETTE VALLEY-
SOUTH WILLAMETTE VALLEY-WESTERN COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE-
NORTHERN OREGON CASCADE FOOTHILLS-NORTHERN OREGON CASCADES-
CASCADE FOOTHILLS IN LANE COUNTY-CASCADES IN LANE COUNTY-
UPPER HOOD RIVER VALLEY-SOUTH WASHINGTON CASCADES-WILLAPA HILLS-
SOUTH WASHINGTON COAST-I-5 CORRIDOR IN COWLITZ COUNTY-
GREATER VANCOUVER AREA-SOUTH WASHINGTON CASCADE FOOTHILLS-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ASTORIA...CANNON BEACH...TILLAMOOK...
LINCOLN CITY...NEWPORT...FLORENCE...VERNONIA...JEWELL...TRASK...
GRANDE RONDE...TIDEWATER...SWISSHOME...ST. HELENS...CLATSKANIE...
HILLSBORO...PORTLAND...OREGON CITY...GRESHAM...SALEM...
MCMINNVILLE...DALLAS...EUGENE...CORVALLIS...ALBANY...HOOD RIVER...
CASCADE LOCKS...MULTNOMAH FALLS...SANDY...
SILVER FALLS STATE PARK...SWEET HOME...GOVERNMENT CAMP...
DETROIT...SANTIAM PASS...VIDA...LOWELL...COTTAGE GROVE...
MCKENZIE BRIDGE...OAKRIDGE...WILLAMETTE PASS...PARKDALE...ODELL...
COLDWATER RIDGE VISITORS CENTER...MOUNT ST. HELENS...FRANCES...
RYDERWOOD...RAYMOND...LONG BEACH...CATHLAMET...LONGVIEW...KELSO...
CASTLE ROCK...STEVENSON...SKAMANIA...VANCOUVER...BATTLE GROUND...
WASHOUGAL...TOUTLE...ARIEL...COUGAR


...TWO STRONG FRONTAL SYSTEMS BRING THE POTENTIAL FOR HIGH
WINDS AND HEAVY PRECIPITATION TO THE REGION ON MONDAY AND
TUESDAY...

A STRONG UPPER LEVEL LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL APPROACH THE COAST
EARLY IN THE UPCOMING WEEK. THIS UPPER LOW IS EXPECTED TO DRIVE
TWO STRONG FRONTAL SYSTEMS INTO THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST ON MONDAY
AND TUESDAY. DEPENDING ON THE TRACK OF THESE FRONTAL SYSTEMS...THE
POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR VERY STRONG WINDS AND HEAVY RAINFALL TO
AFFECT SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON AND NORTHWEST OREGON ON MONDAY AND
TUESDAY.

THE FIRST FRONTAL SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO PUSH ONSHORE EARLY
MONDAY...BRINGING A BURST OF HEAVY PRECIPITATION AND GUSTY WINDS.
SNOW LEVELS WILL BE HIGH ENOUGH THAT PRECIPITATION WILL FALL
PRIMARILY AS RAIN EXCEPT IN THE CASCADES AND HIGHER ELEVATIONS OF
THE COAST RANGE. GUSTY WINDS ALSO LOOK LIKE AN
ISSUE...PARTICULARLY ALONG THE COAST AND IN THE COAST RANGE.

THE SECOND FRONTAL SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN PUSHING ONSHORE
DURING THE DAY ON TUESDAY. AT THIS POINT...THE TUESDAY SYSTEM
LOOKS STRONGER THAN THE ONE FOR MONDAY. IF ALL OF THE PIECES OF
THIS STORM COME TOGETHER...THE POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR VERY STRONG
WINDS FOR THE COAST AND COAST RANGE. THERE IS A CHANCE THAT GUSTY
WINDS MAY REACH THE VALLEY AS WELL. THE FRONT MAY STALL OVER THE
REGION THROUGH WEDNESDAY. IF THIS IS THE CASE...FAIRLY HEAVY
PRECIPITATION TOTALS ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE REGION. THIS COULD
LEAD TO FLOODING ISSUES IN SOME OF THE FASTER RESPONDING STREAMS
AND RIVERS IN THE REGION.

AT THIS POINT...THERE IS QUITE A BIT OF UNCERTAINTY IN THE
FORECAST FOR EARLY NEXT WEEK. THE POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT
WEATHER IMPACTS EXISTS...BUT IS FAR FROM CERTAIN.

PLEASE STAY TUNED OVER THE WEEKEND FOR WEATHER UPDATES. VISIT
WWW.WEATHER.GOV/PORTLAND FOR MORE INFORMATION.

Light Snow Possible Friday Night - Saturday Morning

Light snow accumulations possible in higher elevations of the county late tonight and tomorrow morning. The snow level may fall to 500-1,000 feet--the lowest so far this season.

See below for full details from the National Weather Service.

WWUS86 KPQR 181750
SPSPQR

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PORTLAND OR
950 AM PST FRI NOV 18 2011

ORZ005>008-WAZ022-039-190600-
LOWER COLUMBIA-GREATER PORTLAND METRO AREA-
CENTRAL WILLAMETTE VALLEY-SOUTH WILLAMETTE VALLEY-I-
5 CORRIDOR IN COWLITZ COUNTY-GREATER VANCOUVER AREA-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ST. HELENS...CLATSKANIE...HILLSBORO...
PORTLAND...OREGON CITY...GRESHAM...SALEM...MCMINNVILLE...DALLAS...
EUGENE...CORVALLIS...ALBANY...LONGVIEW...KELSO...CASTLE ROCK...
VANCOUVER...BATTLE GROUND...WASHOUGAL
950 AM PST FRI NOV 18 2011

...SOME LIGHT SNOW ACCUMULATIONS POSSIBLE IN THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS AROUND THE WILLAMETTE VALLEY AND THE SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON INTERIOR VALLEYS LATE TONIGHT AND SATURDAY MORNING...

WITH SNOW LEVELS EXPECTED TO BE AT THEIR LOWEST SO FAR THIS
SEASON LATE TONIGHT AND EARLY SATURDAY...SOME LOCAL 1 OR 2 INCH
SNOW ACCUMULATIONS ARE POSSIBLE IN THE HILLS AROUND THE PORTLAND AND VANCOUVER METRO AREAS...THE LOWER COLUMBIA AND INTERSTATE 5 CORRIDOR OF SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON...AND THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN
WILLAMETTE VALLEY. THE SHOWERY NATURE OF THE PRECIPITATION WILL
MAKE THE ACCUMULATIONS A HIT OT MISS PROPOSITION AT ANY SPECIFIC
LOCATION.

A DISTURBANCE CURRENTLY OFF THE WASHINGTON COAST WILL BE SPREADING
THE SHOWERS ONSHORE TONIGHT AND EARLY SATURDAY. AS THIS FEATURE
MOVES THROUGH SNOW LEVELS WILL FALL TO BETWEEN 500 AND 1000 FEET
TONIGHT AND EARLY SATURDAY...AND POSSIBLY EVEN A LITTLE LOWER FROM
PORTLAND NORTH.

Winter Weather Advisory

The national Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for snow that
is in effect from 4 PM tonight to 4 PM tomorrow. Anyone planning on travel or recreation in higher elevations should be prepared for winter conditions.

The full details of the advisory are listed below.

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PORTLAND OR 259 PM PST WED NOV 16 2011

ORZ003-004-010-012-WAZ020-040-170700- /O.NEW.KPQR.WW.Y.0031.111118T0000Z-111119T0000Z/ 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 259 PM PST WED NOV 16 2011 ...

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

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

* TIMING...A COOL UNSTABLE UPPER LEVEL TROUGH WILL DROP SOUTH AND BRING SIGNIFICANT ACCUMULATING SNOW TO THE CASCADE FOOTHILLS AND COAST RANGE BEGINNING LATE THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH FRIDAY.

* ACCUMULATION/SNOW LEVELS...SNOW LEVELS WILL DROP TO 2000 FT LATE THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND 1000 TO 1500 FT THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY. POTENTIAL SNOW TOTALS FOR THIS 24 HOUR PERIOD RANGE FROM 4 TO 8 INCHES IN THE COAST RANGE TO 6 TO 10 INCHES IN THE FOOTHILLS.

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. &&

Nationwide EAS Test This Wednesday

On Wednesday, November 9 at 11:00 a.m. Oregonians will hear on their radios and see on their televisions a test of the emergency alert system (EAS). The test will last approximately thirty (30) seconds. Normal programming will return following the test. This is a nationwide test organized by the FCC and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

This test will be different than those we have had in the past. The November 9 test will utilize a "live" national alert code, i.e., a coded message that will present itself as an actual emergency announcement, not a test. This is necessary in order to allow FCC and FEMA to test the actual working order reliability of legacy EAS equipment and the state of readiness of EAS operators and participants. Television stations are being encouraged to run a scroll at the bottom of the screen throughout the test stating that it is just a test.

Oregon Office of Emergency Management (OEM), FEMA, Broadcasters, NOAA and many other agencies are diligently trying to get the word to people that this is, in fact, a test. Often, citizens who are unsure of whether the alert is real or a test, place calls to 911 which tie up the phone lines for legitimate emergencies.

If anyone has questions about the test, please do NOT call 911. Please tell your neighbors and friends about this test so that Oregonians will be the most informed of all the states and will not be caught off guard by this unusual test of the EAS equipment.

More information can be found at www.fema.gov/emergency/ipaws/eas_info.shtm

Information courtesy of Oregon Emergency Management and FEMA.

Frost Advisory Tonight

A frost advisory remains in effect from 1 AM to 9 AM Wednesday morning.

See the full text of the alert below.

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PORTLAND OR
300 PM PDT TUE OCT 25 2011

ORZ001>009-014-WAZ020>023-039-261230-
/O.CON.KPQR.FR.Y.0003.111026T0800Z-111026T1600Z/
NORTH OREGON COAST-CENTRAL OREGON COAST-
COAST RANGE OF NORTHWEST OREGON-
CENTRAL COAST RANGE OF WESTERN OREGON-LOWER COLUMBIA-
GREATER PORTLAND METRO AREA-CENTRAL WILLAMETTE VALLEY-
SOUTH WILLAMETTE VALLEY-WESTERN COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE-
UPPER HOOD RIVER VALLEY-WILLAPA HILLS-SOUTH WASHINGTON COAST-I-
5 CORRIDOR IN COWLITZ COUNTY-GREATER VANCOUVER AREA-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ASTORIA...CANNON BEACH...TILLAMOOK...
NETARTS...PACIFIC CITY...LINCOLN CITY...NEWPORT...
CAPE FOULWEATHER...YACHATS...FLORENCE...VERNONIA...ST. HELENS...
HILLSBORO...PORTLAND...OREGON CITY...GRESHAM...TROUTDALE...
SALEM...MCMINNVILLE...EUGENE...CORVALLIS...ALBANY...HOOD RIVER...
CASCADE LOCKS...MULTNOMAH FALLS...CORBETT...ODELL...RAYMOND...
LONG BEACH...CAPE DISAPPOINTMENT...LONGVIEW...KELSO...STEVENSON...
SKAMANIA...VANCOUVER...BATTLE GROUND...CAMAS...WASHOUGAL
300 PM PDT TUE OCT 25 2011

..FROST ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM TO 9 AM PDT
WEDNESDAY FOR SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON AND NORTHWEST OREGON...

A FROST ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM TO 9 AM PDT
WEDNESDAY.

A FROST ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM TO 9 AM PDT
WEDNESDAY.

* TIMING: TONIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY MORNING.

* TEMPERATURE: LOWERING INTO THE UPPER 20S TO MID 30S OVERNIGHT.
COLDEST LOCATIONS WILL BE AWAY FROM URBAN AND COASTAL AREAS.

* LOCATIONS INCLUDE: HOOD RIVER...CASCADE LOCKS...MULTNOMAH
FALLS...CORBETT...EUGENE...CORVALLIS...ALBANY... VERNONIA...
LINCOLN CITY...NEWPORT...CAPE FOULWEATHER... YACHATS...
FLORENCE...ASTORIA...CANNON BEACH...TILLAMOOK... NETARTS...
PACIFIC CITY...SALEM...MCMINNVILLE...HILLSBORO... PORTLAND...
OREGON CITY...GRESHAM...TROUTDALE...ST. HELENS...
VANCOUVER... BATTLE GROUND...CAMAS...WASHOUGAL...ODELL...
LONGVIEW...KELSO... STEVENSON...SKAMANIA...RAYMOND... LONG
BEACH...CAPE DISAPPOINTMENT

* IMPACTS: THOSE WITH SENSITIVE VEGETATION MAY WANT TO TAKE
NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS TO PROTECT THEIR PLANTS SUCH AS
COVERING THEM WITH SHEETS OR MOVING THEM INDOORS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A FROST ADVISORY MEANS THAT FROST IS POSSIBLE. SENSITIVE OUTDOOR
PLANTS MAY BE KILLED IF LEFT UNCOVERED.

Frost Advisory

It's that time of year again. We may have our first frost tonight. Be sure to bring in any sensistive outdoor plants.

Here is the full text of the frost advisory from the National Weather Service.

WWUS76 KPQR 242138
NPWPQR

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PORTLAND OR
238 PM PDT MON OCT 24 2011

ORZ001>009-014-WAZ020>023-039-251245-
/O.NEW.KPQR.FR.Y.0002.111025T1000Z-111025T1600Z/
/O.NEW.KPQR.FR.Y.0003.111026T0800Z-111026T1600Z/
NORTH OREGON COAST-CENTRAL OREGON COAST-
COAST RANGE OF NORTHWEST OREGON-
CENTRAL COAST RANGE OF WESTERN OREGON-LOWER COLUMBIA-
GREATER PORTLAND METRO AREA-CENTRAL WILLAMETTE VALLEY-
SOUTH WILLAMETTE VALLEY-WESTERN COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE-
UPPER HOOD RIVER VALLEY-WILLAPA HILLS-SOUTH WASHINGTON COAST-I-
5 CORRIDOR IN COWLITZ COUNTY-GREATER VANCOUVER AREA-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ASTORIA...CANNON BEACH...TILLAMOOK...
NETARTS...PACIFIC CITY...LINCOLN CITY...NEWPORT...
CAPE FOULWEATHER...YACHATS...FLORENCE...VERNONIA...ST. HELENS...
HILLSBORO...PORTLAND...OREGON CITY...GRESHAM...TROUTDALE...
SALEM...MCMINNVILLE...EUGENE...CORVALLIS...ALBANY...HOOD RIVER...
CASCADE LOCKS...MULTNOMAH FALLS...CORBETT...ODELL...RAYMOND...
LONG BEACH...CAPE DISAPPOINTMENT...LONGVIEW...KELSO...STEVENSON...
SKAMANIA...VANCOUVER...BATTLE GROUND...CAMAS...WASHOUGAL
238 PM PDT MON OCT 24 2011

..FROST ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 3 AM TO 9 AM PDT TUESDAY AND FROM
1 AM TO 9 AM PDT WEDNESDAY FOR SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON AND NORTHWEST
OREGON...COAST AND INTERIOR LOWLAND AREAS...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PORTLAND HAS ISSUED A FROST
ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 3 AM TO 9 AM PDT TUESDAY. A
FROST ADVISORY HAS ALSO BEEN ISSUED FROM 1 AM TO 9 AM PDT
WEDNESDAY.

* TIMING: TONIGHT AND AGAIN TUESDAY NIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY MORNING.

* TEMPERATURE: TONIGHT...MID TO UPPER 30S. TUESDAY NIGHT...COLDER MID TO UPPER 30S ON THE COAST...AND LOWER TO MID 30S INLAND.

* LOCATIONS INCLUDE: HOOD RIVER...CASCADE LOCKS...CORBETT...EUGENE
CORVALLIS...ALBANY...VERNONIA...LINCOLN CITY...NEWPORT...YACHATS
FLORENCE...ASTORIA...TILLAMOOK...PACIFIC CITY...SALEM...MCMINNVILLE
HILLSBORO...PORTLAND...GRESHAM...ST. HELENS...VANCOUVER...BATTLE
GROUND...CAMAS...KELSO...STEVENSON...RAYMOND...LONG BEACH

* IMPACTS: THOSE WITH SENSITIVE VEGETATION MAY WANT TO TAKE
NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS TO PROTECT THEIR PLANTS SUCH AS COVERING
THEM WITH SHEETS OR MOVING THEM INDOORS.


PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A FROST ADVISORY MEANS THAT FROST IS POSSIBLE. SENSITIVE OUTDOOR
PLANTS MAY BE KILLED IF LEFT UNCOVERED.

Winter Weather Awareness Week

October 16-22 is Winter Weather Awareness Week.

This is an excellent time for all individuals, families, businesses, schools, radio and television stations to review their winter weather preparedness plans. It is especially important for persons new to the region to become familiar with NOAA's National Weather Service Watch and Warning definitions, as well as winter weather safety procedures.

Learn more at http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/pqr/winterawareweek.php.

Winter in the Pacific Northwest can be quite hazardous, with snow and ice in the mountains, heavy rains on the coast, and even biting cold with dangerous wind chill across the Columbia Basin. All areas of the Pacific Northwest have experienced nearly every type of winter weather possible, from blizzards to ice, from flooding rains to bitter cold.

Each year, dozens of Amercians die due to prolonged exposure to the cold. Major winter storms can last several days, and be accompanied by strong winds, freezing rain or sleet, heavy snowfall, cold temperatures, and various forms of flooding. Heavy snow in the mountains is important for the skiing industry, and for filling reservoirs. However, these storms also produce travel dangers and create life threatening conditions.

To help our communities learn more about these dangers, NOAA's National Weather Service will issue the following Public Information Statements throughout the week to give safety information, and help you know how to respond when severe weather threatens:

October 16 : Introduction to Winter Weather and Awareness
October 17 : Winter Weather Safety...Terminology, and Dissemination
October 18 : Winter Weather Outlooks, Watches, Warnings and Advisories
October 19 : Blizzards, Snow & Ice Storms, Wind Chill, and Avalanches
October 20 : Floods
October 21 : Windstorms (east and west of Cascades)
October 22 : Summary of Winter Weather and Awareness

Remember, in times of hazardous winter weather, you can get all these vital NOAA/National Weather Service messages via NOAA Weather Radio, your favorite local media, or through NOAA's National Weather Service websites.

Disaster Assistance Available For Small Businesses

Due to freezing temperatures, cool spring temperatures and excessive rain earlier this year, many small businesses suffered economic losses. The Small Business Administration is now offering low-interest disaster loans to financially-impacted businesses and private, non-profit organizations.

Here is the full text of the press release:

Disaster News

Economic Injury Loans for Small Businesses

---

Release Date: September 22, 2011 Media Contact: Richard Jenkins

Release Number: OR 12846-01 Phone: (916) 735-1500

Disaster Assistance Available for Small Businesses

Sacramento, CA – Small, nonfarm businesses in the following 14 Oregon counties and one neighboring county in Washington are now eligible to apply for low‑interest disaster loans from the U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA). “These loans offset economic losses because of reduced revenues caused by freezing temperatures, cool spring temperatures and excessive rain in the primary counties that occurred February 1 through May 31, 2011,” announced Alfred E. Judd, Director of SBA’s Disaster Field Operations Center-West.

Primary Oregon counties: Wasco and Washington;

Neighboring Oregon counties: Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Gilliam, Hood River, Jefferson, Marion, Multnomah, Sherman, Tillamook, Wheeler and Yamhill;

Neighboring Washington county: Klickitat.

“SBA eligibility covers both the economic impacts on businesses dependent on farmers and ranchers that have suffered agricultural production losses caused by the disaster and businesses directly impacted by the disaster,” Judd said.

Small, nonfarm businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private, nonprofit organizations of any size may qualify for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) of up to $2 million to help meet financial obligations and operating expenses which could have been met had the disaster not occurred.

“Eligibility for these loans is based on the financial impact of the disaster only and not on any actual property damage. These loans have an interest rate of 4% for businesses and 3% for private, nonprofit organizations, a maximum term of 30 years, and are available to small businesses and most private, nonprofits without the financial ability to offset the adverse impact without hardship,” Judd said.

By law, SBA makes EIDLs available when the U. S. Secretary of Agriculture designates an agricultural disaster. Secretary Tom Vilsack declared this disaster at the request of Governor John Kitzhaber.

Businesses primarily engaged in farming or ranching are not eligible for SBA disaster assistance. Agricultural enterprises should contact the Farm Services Agency (FSA) about the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) assistance made available by the Secretary’s declaration.

Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure Web site at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

Disaster loan information and application forms are also available from SBA’s Customer Service Center by calling SBA toll-free at (800) 659-2955, emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visiting SBA’s Web site at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance. Individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing may call (800) 877-8339.

The deadline to apply for these loans is May 15, 2012.

For more information, visit SBA’s Web site at www.sba.gov.

SBA Field Operations Center - West, P.O. Box 419004, Sacramento, CA 95841

"Oregon Business" magazine features article on Vernonia

This month's edition of Oregon Business magazine features an in-depth article on Vernonia's recovery. The article highlights efforts being made by locals who want to see the city thrive again and the creative approach they are taking. The new school building is environmentally friendly and will put revenue back into Vernonia's economy.

Click here to read the full article and find out more.

Used Cell Phones Needed

Have you upgraded your phone recently? If so, the the District Attorney's Crime Victims' Program could use your old one.

Most non-profits use donated cell phones as part of a safety plan, for 911 calls only.

A victim's need for a phone goes beyond safety. Telephone numbers are needed for follow up services, release notifications, medical appointments, counseling, housing, and accessing community resources.

At this time the program has grant funds available to provide pre-paid minutes for donated cell phones. If you have a working cell phone you are no longer using, please consider donating the phone to the Crime Victims' program.

Please drop off used cell phones and chargers at the Columbia County DA's office, which is on the third floor of the new courthouse.

Information provided courtesy of Janice Flatersack. Please contact her if you have questions regarding your donation (503) 366-3914 or Janice.Faltersack@co.columbia.or.us.