Massive Series of Storms Headed for Oregon

If you haven't already heard, there is a series of storms about to hit Oregon in what could be some of the largest storms we've had in years. The National Weather Service has issued a series of warnings for the Willamette Valley:

http://forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx.php?warnzone=ORZ007&warncounty=ORC047&firewxzone=ORZ604&local_place1=3+Miles+SSE+Keizer+OR&product1=Flood+Watch

...FLOOD WATCH FROM SATURDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH MONDAY MORNING FOR

NORTHWEST OREGON AND SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON...

.A MOIST STORM SYSTEM AND WARM FRONT WILL BRING HEAVY RAIN TO
MUCH OF NORTHWEST OREGON AND SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON ON SATURDAY...
WITH ADDITIONAL PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN ON SUNDAY AND MONDAY. ON
SATURDAY...THE HEAVIEST RAIN IS LIKELY TO BE IN THE NORTH OREGON
COAST RANGE...WILLAPA HILLS...AND SOUTH WASHINGTON CASCADES...WITH
6-HOUR AMOUNTS AS HIGH AS 3 INCHES AND 24-HOUR AMOUNTS AS HIGH AS
6 INCHES. THERE IS AN EXPECTED BREAK IN THE RAINFALL ON SUNDAY...
AND THEN ANOTHER FRONT WILL BRING ADDITIONAL RAINFALL FROM SUNDAY
EVENING THROUGH MONDAY. FREEZING LEVELS WILL BE ABOVE 6000 FEET
FROM MID-DAY SATURDAY THROUGH MONDAY. MANY RIVERS WILL RISE
SHARPLY SATURDAY...WITH FLOODING POSSIBLY AS EARLY AS LATE
SATURDAY AFTERNOON. FLOODING OF CREEKS AND PONDING IN URBAN AREAS
IS ALSO LIKELY.

...and...

...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH MONDAY
MORNING FOR NORTHWEST OREGON AND SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PORTLAND HAS ISSUED A

* FLOOD WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHWEST OREGON AND SOUTHWEST
WASHINGTON...INCLUDING THE NORTH AND CENTRAL OREGON COAST AND
COAST RANGE...WILLAPA HILLS...INLAND VALLEYS OF NORTHWEST OREGON
AND SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON...AND THE NORTH OREGON AND SOUTH
WASHINGTON CASCADES AND FOOTHILLS.

* FROM SATURDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH MONDAY MORNING

* HEAVY RAIN SATURDAY WILL DRIVE RIVER LEVELS UP SHARPLY STARTING
SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND INTO SUNDAY.

* SEVERAL RIVERS MAY REACH FLOOD STAGE AS EARLY AS SATURDAY
AFTERNOON...WITH THE FLOOD THREAT CONTINUING INTO MONDAY.

SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON RIVERS OF MOST CONCERN INCLUDE...
THE GRAYS RIVER IN WAHKIAKUM COUNTY
THE COWLITZ RIVER IN COWLITZ COUNTY

NORTHWEST OREGON RIVERS OF MOST CONCERN INCLUDE...
NEHALEM RIVER IN TILLAMOOK COUNTY
WILSON RIVER IN TILLAMOOK COUNTY
TRASK RIVER IN TILLAMOOK COUNTY
SILETZ RIVER IN LINCOLN COUNTY
UPPER TUALATIN RIVER IN WASHINGTON COUNTY
LUCKIAMUTE RIVER IN POLK AND BENTON COUNTIES
JOHNSON CREEK IN MULTNOMAH COUNTY
PUDDING RIVER IN CLACKAMAS AND MARION COUNTIES

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A FLOOD WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR FLOODING BASED ON
CURRENT FORECASTS.

LANDSLIDES AND DEBRIS FLOWS ARE POSSIBLE DURING THIS FLOOD EVENT.
PEOPLE...STRUCTURES AND ROADS LOCATED BELOW STEEP SLOPES...IN
CANYONS AND NEAR THE MOUTHS OF CANYONS MAY BE AT SERIOUS RISK
FROM RAPIDLY MOVING LANDSLIDES.

YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE ALERT FOR POSSIBLE
FLOOD WARNINGS. THOSE LIVING IN AREAS PRONE TO FLOODING SHOULD BE
PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION SHOULD FLOODING DEVELOP.

THE NEXT UPDATE FOR THIS WATCH WILL BE ISSUED BY 5 AM PST SATURDAY.

At the same time, FEMA Region X has issued a statement regarding the incoming weather.

PINEAPPLE EXPRESS PROMISES WET WEEKEND FOR OREGON AND WASHINGTON

SEATTLE—The National Weather Service has reported record rainfall in Portland and has issued flood watches for western Washington counties. Current projections include snow in higher elevations, switching to rain over the weekend that could well soak inland communities, and according to FEMA Regional Administrator Ken Murphy, emergency managers across the region are carefully monitoring weather
effects.

“Our state and local governments have done solid work preparing for this year’s winter storms, updating their websites and working closely with radio, television, and print media to inform and advise the public,” said Murphy. “I urge our citizenry to heed winter warnings from local emergency managers, and to exercise extreme caution when utilizing alternative sources of heat, power and transportation.”

In commending residents to review and update emergency plans and inventory and replenish disaster kits, Murphy stressed that emergency power needs can rank right up there with food, water, first aid kits and shelter.

If the power goes out:
• Don’t call 9-1-1 for information—use your battery-powered radio for emergency bulletins.
• Plan on cell phones or corded phones for emergency calls. Cordless phones require electricity.
• Turn off major appliances to protect against surges when the power resumes.
• Turn off all lights but one (to alert you when the power comes back on).
• Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed to prevent food spoilage.
• Be particularly careful with generators, and never operate them indoors.
• Flashlights and electric lanterns are safer than candles.

“We’re all vulnerable if disaster strikes while we are driving, and emergency kits in every car and truck can be real life savers,” continued Murphy. “Disaster driving is one part preparedness, one part common sense, and one-part learning from experience. Avoid driving in severe winter storms or heavy rains, and keep
vehicle fuel tanks full, just in case.”

When driving in dangerous weather is unavoidable, Murphy offers the following safety tips:

• If caught in a storm or blizzard, and your car is immobilized, stay in the vehicle and await rescue.

• Do not attempt to walk from the car unless you can see a definite safe haven at a reasonable distance. Turn on the auto engine for brief periods to provide heat, but always leave a down-wind window open slightly to avoid deadly carbon monoxide poisoning (make sure the exhaust pipe is clear of snow). Leave the dome light on at night to signal rescuers, and exercise occasionally by clapping hands or moving around.

• Never attempt to drive through water on a road. Water can be deeper than it appears and water levels can rise quickly. Cars buoyed by flood-waters can float out of control. Wade through flood waters only if the water is not flowing rapidly and only in water no higher than the knees. If the car stalls in floodwater, get out quickly and move to higher ground (flood waters may still be rising and the car could be swept away.

• Auto emergency kits should contain as a minimum: blankets and warm clothing, booster cables and tools, bottled water, emergency rations, a first aid kit, flashlight and batteries, traction mats or chains, a shovel, and emergency prescription medications.

For information on FEMA’s Resolve to be Ready in 2011 initiative, Ready Campaign and Citizen Corps, visit Ready.gov and CitizenCorps.gov.

Follow FEMA online at www.twitter.com/fema, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema. Also, follow Administrator Craig Fugate's activities at www.twitter.com/craigatfema. The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

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.

For more information about the weather forecast, you can go to www.weather.gov and click to your location to get the up-to-date weather forecast from the National Weather Service.