Free Red Cross Preparedness Seminars

With the Japan earthquake making headlines, many Oregonians are wondering whether they'd be prepared if such a disaster were to strike right here at home.

To address questions, the Oregon Red Cross is hosting four free preparedness classes where you can learn how to get ready for unforeseen disasters. Please join us and invite your friends, family, or neighbors, to come on Wednesday, March 30th or April 6th at 5pm or 7pm while the Red Cross addresses questions and gives people the skills and information to get a kit, make a plan, and be informed.

For more information please refer to the flyer found on the Red Cross website: http://www.oregonredcross.org/pdf/Earthquake%20Preparedness%20Classes.pdf

Japan Radiation Update from CHD Public Health

All,

Below is a summation of talking points about radiation provided by our Health Officer, Dr. Vines. Please note the highlighted update regarding use of potassium iodine.

We recommend you continue to check the state Public Health Division’s “Current Hazard” page (link listed below) for updates related to Japan’s nuclear situation. To avoid filling your mailbox with duplicate emails we will continue to relay updated critical information as needed. Feel free share this information with others.

· Oregon Public Health closely monitoring information on the radiation release reported in Japan.

· According to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission the incident does not pose a radiation health threat to Oregonians. Given the thousands of miles between the two countries, Hawaii, Alaska, the U.S. Territories and the U.S. West Coast are not expected to experience any harmful levels of radioactivity. This is because even large amounts of radioactive material released would be diluted through wind and air streams before reaching the West Cost of the United States.

· Public health officials monitor information from the Environmental Protection Agency's network of highly sensitive radiation detectors, which provide hourly reports of ambient radiation. The monitors are part of a national network run by the Environmental Protection Agency called "RadNet." There are two monitors in Oregon, one in Corvallis and one in Portland.

· There have been no elevated radiation readings detected in Oregon and air samples remain normal. Given the current size of the release and the distance from Oregon, we do not expect that to change and there is no public health risk to the state. We are also in contact with our federal partners including the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

· Potassium Iodine or KI has been in the media as a pill that provides thyroid protection from radioactive material. It is only needed in individuals who are 10-12 miles from the source of an uncontrolled release of radioactivity. The federal government has stockpiles of KI, but there are no plans to use it because of the very large distance between Japan and Oregon. Public health does not recommend using KI and urges caution for pregnant or lactating women, children, and kidney disease patients.

More information at http://public.health.oregon.gov/Preparedness/CurrentHazards/Pages/index.aspx which is updated regularly.
Information line- 1-877-290-6767

Let us know if you have additional questions or concerns!

Best regards,

Anne

Anne Parrott, M.S.

Coordinator: Public Health Preparedness

Columbia County Medical Reserve Corps

Columbia County Push Partner Registry

Columbia County SNS

Columbia Health District - Public Health Authority

Office: 503-397-4651 x2022

Disaster Anniversaries and Reflection

We have a number of major disaster anniversaries in March that spur us to think about why emergency preparedness exists. Here are some past incidents that happened in March and what has come out of them:

* Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire (New York City, March 25, 1911): a fire at a factory killed 146 and injured 71, mostly due to a lack of safety plans and escape routes. This tragedy led to a number of changes, including requirements for fire exits and proper escapes for taller buildings.

* Anchorage, Alaska Earthquake and Tsunami (1964): this 9.2 magnitude quake, the second-largest in recorded history, made the Pacific Northwest more aware to the dangers of a tsunami as its waves swept coastal beaches and killed several people. The event would lead the federal government to assist more with major disaster recovery and gave coastal areas awareness to the need for tsunami planning (although it would take more recent events, such as the Indonesian and Japanese quakes and tsunamis, to reinforce the notion).

* Three-Mile-Island Nuclear Plant Partial Meltdown (March 28, 1979): this nuclear disaster, which today pales in comparison to events at Chernobyl and in Japan, really shook the world into considering the worst-case scenarios for nuclear plants and forced emergency managers and plant operators to take more time in properly planning for these types of events. No deaths directly came from this event, although legal claims have been made that the release of radioactive materials did have an effect on the health of some in the area, especially children.

It should not take people dying to get us to wake up and realize that we must plan for the worst while hoping for the best. It is the job of Columbia County Emergency Management to help make sure our community is ready for whatever may come our way. A little money and time spent now saves lots of money and lives down the road.

Emergency planning at home or work does not take that much time to do--it just takes a little effort! For more on how to be ready for whatever comes your way, visit http://www.ready.gov .

Announcing: Prepare to Be Your Own Hero Class

With seeing the reality of what an earthquake can do in Japan, the preparedness information in this seminar is priceless.

Please RSVP for this much asked for seminar which is open to CERT, Citizen Corps, and the public.

What: Prepare to Be Your Own Hero

Topics include:

1. Building an Evacuation Kit

2. Personal Evacuation Procedures

3. Individual and Family Evacuation Planning

4. Family Reunification Planning

5. Evacuation with Pets

When: Monday, April 18th, 2011 6:30pm - 8:30pm

Where: Best Western Oak Meadows Inn

585 S. Columbia River Hwy.

St. Helens, OR 97051

Cost: $5

* All who attend will receive a $5 voucher towards any emergency

supplies they order.

RSVP: Holly, St. Helens CERT Coordinator, at: hollyh427@yahoo.com

Lewis and Clark Bridge Delays

Expect some delays, even stoppages, on the Lewis and Clark bridge over the next few months.

Lewis and Clark Bridge painting will resume Monday, expect minor delays

http://tdn.com/news/local/article_e06dedf4-51c8-11e0-95d4-001cc4c03286.html

Oregon Public Health Current Hazards Page

The State of Oregon's Public Health Division has started a "current hazards" webpage to discuss things such as the radiation issue in Japan and other health issues.

The page is at:

http://public.health.oregon.gov/Preparedness/CurrentHazards/Pages/index.aspx

Upcoming Classes

We have some exciting classes coming up. Sign up now!

Flood Fight Design and Planning Workshop

Date: Monday, March 28, 2011 - 18:00 - 20:30

Join us for the Flood Fight Design and Planning Workshop hosted by Les Miller, P.E., Flood Preparedness Program Manager from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Portland District.

When: Monday March 28, 2011 from 6 PM to 8:30 PM
Where: Columbia 911, 58611 McNulty Way, St. Helens, OR
To Register: Complete your registration on our Survey Monkey registration page: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NWTDSGL
Cost: Free

Shelter Operations and Shelter Simulation

Date: Saturday, April 30, 2011 - 09:00 - 16:00

Join us for Shelter Operation and Shelter Simulation!

When: Saturday April 30, 2011 from 9 AM to 4 PM

Where: Columbia County Sheriff’s Office Training Room, 58443 Old Portland Road, St. Helens

To Register: Complete your registration on our Survey Monkey registration page: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/N9SK9QT or Call Emergency Management at 503-366-3931

Cost: Free

Length: 7 hours

CANCELED: High Wind Warning

The high wind warning has been canceled as of 5 PM 3/15/2011.

Thanks,

Columbia County Emergency Management

High Wind Warning for Columbia County: March 15, 2011

High Wind Warning for Columbia County for March 15, 2011 until 9 PM this evening. Most of the area affected will be higher elevations, such as Vernonia and Mist.

For more information, please visit: http://weather.gov/portland .

--Columbia County Emergency Management

+++++++++

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PORTLAND OR
341 PM PDT TUE MAR 15 2011

...QUICK BURST OF STRONG WINDS TO AFFECT COAST AND COAST RANGE
THROUGH THIS EVENING...

.LOW PRESSURE OFFSHORE IS PUSHING STRONG WINDS ALOFT DOWN TO THE
SURFACE THIS AFTERNOON. INITIALLY THESE STRONG WINDS WERE ONLY
OCCURRING IN THUNDERSTORMS...BUT NOW THEY ARE BECOMING MORE
WIDESPREAD ALONG THE NORTHERN AND CENTRAL OREGON COAST AND COAST
RANGE. EXPECT STRONG SOUTHWEST WINDS AT TIMES THROUGH THIS EVENING
BEFORE WINDS DECREASE LATER TONIGHT.

ORZ001>004-160400-
/O.NEW.KPQR.HW.W.0011.110315T2241Z-110316T0400Z/
NORTH OREGON COAST-CENTRAL OREGON COAST-
COAST RANGE OF NORTHWEST OREGON-
CENTRAL COAST RANGE OF WESTERN OREGON-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ASTORIA...CANNON BEACH...TILLAMOOK...
NETARTS...PACIFIC CITY...LINCOLN CITY...NEWPORT...
CAPE FOULWEATHER...YACHATS...FLORENCE...VERNONIA
341 PM PDT TUE MAR 15 2011

...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM PDT THIS EVENING FOR THE
NORTHERN AND CENTRAL OREGON COAST AND COAST RANGE...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PORTLAND HAS ISSUED A HIGH WIND
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM PDT THIS EVENING.

* WINDS: SOUTHWEST 30 TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 65 MPH...
 ESPECIALLY IN EXPOSED LOCATIONS.

* TIMING: NOW THROUGH 9 PM THIS EVENING.

* LOCATIONS INCLUDE: VERNONIA...LINCOLN CITY...NEWPORT...CAPE
 FOULWEATHER...YACHATS...FLORENCE...ASTORIA...CANNON BEACH...
 TILLAMOOK...NETARTS...PACIFIC CITY

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A HIGH WIND WARNING MEANS A HAZARDOUS HIGH WIND EVENT IS EXPECTED
OR OCCURRING. SUSTAINED WIND SPEEDS OF AT LEAST 40 MPH OR GUSTS
OF 58 MPH OR MORE CAN LEAD TO PROPERTY DAMAGE

Special Weather Statement: 3/15/2011

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PORTLAND OR
1140 AM PDT TUE MAR 15 2011

ORZ001>008-010-012-WAZ020>022-039-040-160045-
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-NORTHERN OREGON CASCADE FOOTHILLS-
CASCADE FOOTHILLS IN LANE COUNTY-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...SANDY...
SILVER FALLS STATE PARK...SWEET HOME...VIDA...LOWELL...
COTTAGE GROVE...FRANCES...RYDERWOOD...RAYMOND...LONG BEACH...
CATHLAMET...LONGVIEW...KELSO...CASTLE ROCK...VANCOUVER...
BATTLE GROUND...WASHOUGAL...TOUTLE...ARIEL...COUGAR
1140 AM PDT TUE MAR 15 2011

...SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS EXPECTED THROUGH THIS EVENING...

AN INCREASINGLY UNSTABLE ATMOSPHERE WILL LIKELY LEAD TO THE
DEVELOPMENT OF SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON AND NORTHWEST OREGON THIS AFTERNOON. THUNDERSTORMS MAY BECOME INCREASINGLY STRONG AS THE AFTERNOON PROGRESSES...WITH LOCAL GUSTY WINDS AND HAIL POSSIBLE. THERE IS ALSO AN ENHANCED POSSIBILITY OF
FUNNEL CLOUDS THIS AFTERNOON. FUNNEL CLOUDS OFTEN DO NOT TOUCH THE
GROUND. HOWEVER...IF THEY DO TOUCH THE GROUND THEY ARE DANGEROUS AND CAN BE DAMAGING.