Is Oregon ready for an earthquake like the one in Haiti - read this article and see.
http://wweek.com/editorial/3612/13620/#comments_add
Quake-Up Call
There’s a massive earthquake in Portland’s future—and a government “prophet of doom” will tell you all about it.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Thursday, January 28, 2010
News Release from: Oregon State Police
MEDIA ADVISORY: "FANS DON'T LET FANS DRIVE DRUNK" PRE-SUPER BOWL WEEKEND DUII AWARENESS EVENT IN EUGENE
Posted: January 28th, 2010 10:58 AM
Photo/sound file: http://www.flashalertnewswire.net/images/news/2010-01/1002/DUIICrackdown_sign_1.jpg
***
The Oregon Governor's Advisory Committee on DUII, in partnership with the Oregon State Police, Oregon Association of Chiefs of Police, Oregon State Sheriff's Association and the Oregon Department of Transportation, announces that police officers statewide will be intensifying efforts Super Bowl Sunday, February 7th, as part of the national "Fans Don't Let Fans Drive Drunk" campaign. To kick off the state's participation, traffic safety partners will hold an alcohol impairment awareness demonstration in Eugene. The goal: raise awareness about the importance of driving sober so we can save lives.
When:
February 2, 2010
12 noon – 4:00 p.m.
10:00 a.m. – Event kickoff/Briefing with volunteer drinkers
12 noon – Media briefing and interviews with invited guests and law enforcement representatives
1:00 p.m. – Field sobriety demonstrations
3:00 p.m. – Final breath tests and event wrap-up
Where:
Lane Events Center (Fairgrounds)
796 W. 13th Avenue
Eugene, Oregon 97402
(Link to map & directions: http://www.laneeventscenter.org/maps.html)
What:
In what is called the "Super Bowl HVE Media-wet lab", volunteers will consume various amounts of alcohol and will be tested by police officers to demonstrate the intoxicating effects of alcohol and how these effects relate to driving. The field sobriety tests to be demonstrated at the event will include the horizontal gaze nystagmus eye test, the walk and turn test, and the one-leg stand test.
Who:
Several individuals will be present at the DUII awareness event to discuss some of the impaired driving legislation passed during the last session. Key area law enforcement personnel will also be present to discuss their agencies' special enforcement activities.
Additional:
Related information and two OSP in-car videos of DUII drivers will be made available to media for use following the event.
### www.oregon.gov/OSP ###
Posted: January 28th, 2010 10:58 AM
Photo/sound file: http://www.flashalertnewswire.net/images/news/2010-01/1002/DUIICrackdown_sign_1.jpg
***
The Oregon Governor's Advisory Committee on DUII, in partnership with the Oregon State Police, Oregon Association of Chiefs of Police, Oregon State Sheriff's Association and the Oregon Department of Transportation, announces that police officers statewide will be intensifying efforts Super Bowl Sunday, February 7th, as part of the national "Fans Don't Let Fans Drive Drunk" campaign. To kick off the state's participation, traffic safety partners will hold an alcohol impairment awareness demonstration in Eugene. The goal: raise awareness about the importance of driving sober so we can save lives.
When:
February 2, 2010
12 noon – 4:00 p.m.
10:00 a.m. – Event kickoff/Briefing with volunteer drinkers
12 noon – Media briefing and interviews with invited guests and law enforcement representatives
1:00 p.m. – Field sobriety demonstrations
3:00 p.m. – Final breath tests and event wrap-up
Where:
Lane Events Center (Fairgrounds)
796 W. 13th Avenue
Eugene, Oregon 97402
(Link to map & directions: http://www.laneeventscenter.org/maps.html)
What:
In what is called the "Super Bowl HVE Media-wet lab", volunteers will consume various amounts of alcohol and will be tested by police officers to demonstrate the intoxicating effects of alcohol and how these effects relate to driving. The field sobriety tests to be demonstrated at the event will include the horizontal gaze nystagmus eye test, the walk and turn test, and the one-leg stand test.
Who:
Several individuals will be present at the DUII awareness event to discuss some of the impaired driving legislation passed during the last session. Key area law enforcement personnel will also be present to discuss their agencies' special enforcement activities.
Additional:
Related information and two OSP in-car videos of DUII drivers will be made available to media for use following the event.
### www.oregon.gov/OSP ###
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Who is going to help?
Whenever there is a storm or other type of disaster in Oregon, questions come to us about financial and other types of assistance. We hear “Who is going to help us?” and “How can we get state or federal assistance?”
I would love to be able to tell you that the government has enough money to fix everything for everyone but you know that’s not true. We do what we can under the laws that we have and that includes a process that must be followed. Having enough home and flood insurance is the best way to protect your property.
Response to a disaster begins at the local level. Each town, city and county is prepared to assist their citizens immediately during an event. If the disaster uses up all of their resources, county officials can ask the Governor for an emergency declaration. If the Governor agrees, state resources are provided, coordinated by Oregon Emergency Management (OEM), to assist the counties. If the disaster becomes a burden on the state, the Governor may ask the President for a federal declaration.
This is a simplified explanation of the process. There is always a lot of paperwork involved, information must be gathered and rules followed. Unfortunately when the storm hits you, it seems like everything takes forever.
Remember - Your first responders are working diligently to make things safe and secure and your local officials are following procedures to get you the assistance you need. Follow instructions from your local emergency managers and be prepared for the next one – it is still winter.
I would love to be able to tell you that the government has enough money to fix everything for everyone but you know that’s not true. We do what we can under the laws that we have and that includes a process that must be followed. Having enough home and flood insurance is the best way to protect your property.
Response to a disaster begins at the local level. Each town, city and county is prepared to assist their citizens immediately during an event. If the disaster uses up all of their resources, county officials can ask the Governor for an emergency declaration. If the Governor agrees, state resources are provided, coordinated by Oregon Emergency Management (OEM), to assist the counties. If the disaster becomes a burden on the state, the Governor may ask the President for a federal declaration.
This is a simplified explanation of the process. There is always a lot of paperwork involved, information must be gathered and rules followed. Unfortunately when the storm hits you, it seems like everything takes forever.
Remember - Your first responders are working diligently to make things safe and secure and your local officials are following procedures to get you the assistance you need. Follow instructions from your local emergency managers and be prepared for the next one – it is still winter.
A Message from DHS:
The images from Haiti continue to illustrate the devastating impact of natural disasters. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is working hard to support the international response effort to help our neighbors recover from this tragedy.
Emergency preparation may not be possible for every individual, or for every type of emergency, but we cannot overstate the importance of preparedness planning. The U.S. federal government, along with many of our partners in the private sector, provides abundant resources for preparing your family for disasters.
We encourage you to utilize these resources and prepare your family to the fullest extent you can. If you live in a region prone to earthquakes, you are probably aware of the risks they pose. Knowing the risks within your community is the first step in evaluating the preparedness level of your family. DHS encourages you to research the potential risks in your area, evaluate how you should best respond, and prepare your family accordingly. Forethought and planning will help you make sound decisions during a crisis and keep your family safe.
Consider the following tips for preparing your family for emergencies: Visit the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) website and click any state to see the common local risks and how to best respond. Find out what your community is doing to prepare for emergencies and volunteer. Visit the websites of organizations and government programs like Ready.gov, Citizen Corps, and the National Safety Council and utilize the resources they provide. Subscribe to the free Citizen Corps news email service for community preparedness news and updates. Visit the website of the Home Safety Council to learn how you can make your home safer for you and your family.
Take classes in lifesaving skills, such as CPR/AED and first aid, or in emergency response, such as CERT. Work with parent-teacher organizations to discuss how you can support their emergency plans and drills. The Office of Safe and Drug Free Schools and Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools will have information on school emergency preparedness and response. Help children prepare for emergencies at their own pace and maturity level. Monetary contributions remain the best way to support the relief efforts in Haiti.
Emergency preparation may not be possible for every individual, or for every type of emergency, but we cannot overstate the importance of preparedness planning. The U.S. federal government, along with many of our partners in the private sector, provides abundant resources for preparing your family for disasters.
We encourage you to utilize these resources and prepare your family to the fullest extent you can. If you live in a region prone to earthquakes, you are probably aware of the risks they pose. Knowing the risks within your community is the first step in evaluating the preparedness level of your family. DHS encourages you to research the potential risks in your area, evaluate how you should best respond, and prepare your family accordingly. Forethought and planning will help you make sound decisions during a crisis and keep your family safe.
Consider the following tips for preparing your family for emergencies: Visit the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) website and click any state to see the common local risks and how to best respond. Find out what your community is doing to prepare for emergencies and volunteer. Visit the websites of organizations and government programs like Ready.gov, Citizen Corps, and the National Safety Council and utilize the resources they provide. Subscribe to the free Citizen Corps news email service for community preparedness news and updates. Visit the website of the Home Safety Council to learn how you can make your home safer for you and your family.
Take classes in lifesaving skills, such as CPR/AED and first aid, or in emergency response, such as CERT. Work with parent-teacher organizations to discuss how you can support their emergency plans and drills. The Office of Safe and Drug Free Schools and Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools will have information on school emergency preparedness and response. Help children prepare for emergencies at their own pace and maturity level. Monetary contributions remain the best way to support the relief efforts in Haiti.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
El Nino helping Green River Valley
http://www.StatesmanJournal.com
El Nino helping Green River Valley
avoid floods
By GEORGE TIBBITS
Associated Press Writer
January 26, 2010
SEATTLE — With winter half gone, some weather experts say the Green River Valley south of
Seattle may have avoided catastrophic flooding, at least this season.
The El Nino weather pattern affecting the Pacific Coast has helped bring a warm January to
the Pacific Northwest, along with drenching rains and snow to California. Here, it’s a huge
contrast to a year ago when record rains fell in the Green River watershed in the Cascade
foothills southeast of Seattle. That weakened a reservoir wall at the Howard Hanson flood
control dam, imperiling the heavily developed valley downstream.
Cliff Mass, professor of atmospheric science at the University of Washington, said the current
mild weather could lead to Seattle’s warmest January on record. And in this region, he said,
“Once you get past the 20th of February, one month from now, I mean, winter’s over.”
For those living and working below the dam, “I think they’re home free at this point,” he said.
So has the worst passed?
“You can’t say that,” said J. Brent Bower, hydrologic program manager for the National
Weather Service in Seattle.
Bower points out that Washington suffered one of its most devastating floods in February
1996, which caused more than $300 million in damage throughout the state. The Green River
Valley escaped serious harm, but the 1996 combination of heavy rain and melting mountain
snow is precisely what worries emergency officials now.
El Nino is a periodic ocean warming along the equatorial Pacific that affects the climate.
Western Washington, meteorologists say, is having a typical El Nino season: normal winter
weather until around Jan. 1, then mostly milder, warmer and wetter conditions than usual.
Bower and Mass both say there’s no major storm in sight for the Seattle area for the next week
or so.
Meteorologist Larry Schick at the Army Corps of Engineers’ Seattle District says that while the
bulk of the flood season appears over, there’s no guarantee.
“We’re not quite there yet,” he said. “We’re close, though.”
Bower likewise says he’s getting more optimistic as the days go by, but that’s still tempered
with a large dose of caution.
“I think it would be a mistake to say the worst is over,” he said, “because this is the weather
business and that’s not a prudent tack to take.”
The series of rainstorms that have soaked Southern California resulted from a weather pattern
that pushed the storm track south, Bower said. Without that pattern, “instead of hitting down
there, it could have come up here.”
After the rains weakened the Hanson Dam’s right abutment a year ago, the Army corps, which
operates the dam, quickly drained the reservoir and drastically restricted the amount of water it
could hold. Over the summer, the corps hurriedly made temporary repairs, but by fall, corps
officials warned there was still a 1-in-25 chance that heavy rains might force them to release
enough water to cause flooding in the valley.
Downstream, millions of dollars have been spent to sandbag the meandering river’s channel
and to urge residents to protect their property and possibly evacuate. Besides the suburbs of
Auburn, Kent, Renton and Tukwila, the valley has one of the largest warehouse areas on the
West Coast and is home to a major Boeing factory and Starbucks’ regional coffee roasting
plant.
King County is still passing out free sand and sacks to valley residents and businesses, and
valley cities are patrolling levees and the sandbags atop them to make sure they remain
sound. Officials say they aren’t slacking off just because the weather’s been good.
“Oh my goodness, no,” said Christine Lange, spokeswoman for County Executive Dow
Constantine. “We’re in full force, just making sure people are aware of the risk.”
As it does every winter, the corps has kept the dam’s reservoir essentially empty so it can
absorb heavy flows from the watershed, Schick said.
While Seattle had a lot of rain earlier this month, Schick said precipitation at the dam has been
close to normal. Rainfall that’s spread over a week or more isn’t really a problem, he said: “It’s
the short, intense storms like last year that dump a lot of rain in just a few hours.”
Meteorologists said the downpour in early 2009 was exactly that: a powerful, moisture-laden
“Pineapple Express” storm track from the mid-Pacific that directly hit the Green’s watershed.
El Nino helping Green River Valley
avoid floods
By GEORGE TIBBITS
Associated Press Writer
January 26, 2010
SEATTLE — With winter half gone, some weather experts say the Green River Valley south of
Seattle may have avoided catastrophic flooding, at least this season.
The El Nino weather pattern affecting the Pacific Coast has helped bring a warm January to
the Pacific Northwest, along with drenching rains and snow to California. Here, it’s a huge
contrast to a year ago when record rains fell in the Green River watershed in the Cascade
foothills southeast of Seattle. That weakened a reservoir wall at the Howard Hanson flood
control dam, imperiling the heavily developed valley downstream.
Cliff Mass, professor of atmospheric science at the University of Washington, said the current
mild weather could lead to Seattle’s warmest January on record. And in this region, he said,
“Once you get past the 20th of February, one month from now, I mean, winter’s over.”
For those living and working below the dam, “I think they’re home free at this point,” he said.
So has the worst passed?
“You can’t say that,” said J. Brent Bower, hydrologic program manager for the National
Weather Service in Seattle.
Bower points out that Washington suffered one of its most devastating floods in February
1996, which caused more than $300 million in damage throughout the state. The Green River
Valley escaped serious harm, but the 1996 combination of heavy rain and melting mountain
snow is precisely what worries emergency officials now.
El Nino is a periodic ocean warming along the equatorial Pacific that affects the climate.
Western Washington, meteorologists say, is having a typical El Nino season: normal winter
weather until around Jan. 1, then mostly milder, warmer and wetter conditions than usual.
Bower and Mass both say there’s no major storm in sight for the Seattle area for the next week
or so.
Meteorologist Larry Schick at the Army Corps of Engineers’ Seattle District says that while the
bulk of the flood season appears over, there’s no guarantee.
“We’re not quite there yet,” he said. “We’re close, though.”
Bower likewise says he’s getting more optimistic as the days go by, but that’s still tempered
with a large dose of caution.
“I think it would be a mistake to say the worst is over,” he said, “because this is the weather
business and that’s not a prudent tack to take.”
The series of rainstorms that have soaked Southern California resulted from a weather pattern
that pushed the storm track south, Bower said. Without that pattern, “instead of hitting down
there, it could have come up here.”
After the rains weakened the Hanson Dam’s right abutment a year ago, the Army corps, which
operates the dam, quickly drained the reservoir and drastically restricted the amount of water it
could hold. Over the summer, the corps hurriedly made temporary repairs, but by fall, corps
officials warned there was still a 1-in-25 chance that heavy rains might force them to release
enough water to cause flooding in the valley.
Downstream, millions of dollars have been spent to sandbag the meandering river’s channel
and to urge residents to protect their property and possibly evacuate. Besides the suburbs of
Auburn, Kent, Renton and Tukwila, the valley has one of the largest warehouse areas on the
West Coast and is home to a major Boeing factory and Starbucks’ regional coffee roasting
plant.
King County is still passing out free sand and sacks to valley residents and businesses, and
valley cities are patrolling levees and the sandbags atop them to make sure they remain
sound. Officials say they aren’t slacking off just because the weather’s been good.
“Oh my goodness, no,” said Christine Lange, spokeswoman for County Executive Dow
Constantine. “We’re in full force, just making sure people are aware of the risk.”
As it does every winter, the corps has kept the dam’s reservoir essentially empty so it can
absorb heavy flows from the watershed, Schick said.
While Seattle had a lot of rain earlier this month, Schick said precipitation at the dam has been
close to normal. Rainfall that’s spread over a week or more isn’t really a problem, he said: “It’s
the short, intense storms like last year that dump a lot of rain in just a few hours.”
Meteorologists said the downpour in early 2009 was exactly that: a powerful, moisture-laden
“Pineapple Express” storm track from the mid-Pacific that directly hit the Green’s watershed.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Maximum height of extreme waves up dramatically in Pacific Northwest | ScienceBlog.com
CORVALLIS, Ore. -- A major increase in maximum ocean wave heights off the Pacific Northwest in recent decades has forced scientists to re-evaluate how high a "100-year event" might be, and the new findings raise special concerns for flooding, coastal erosion and structural damage. See rest of article at:
Maximum height of extreme waves up dramatically in Pacific Northwest ScienceBlog.com
Maximum height of extreme waves up dramatically in Pacific Northwest ScienceBlog.com
Friday, January 22, 2010
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Wednesday brought a fourth straight day of wintry wind, white and wet to the north state.
Nathan Morgan/Record Searchlight
http://www.redding.com/news/2010/jan/21/storm-strands-motorists-truckers-in-redding/#
Today promises more showers. But the far northern Sacramento Valley and surrounding mountains should get a chance to pick up tree limbs and shovel out of snow banks through the weekend before more storms strike early next week, according to the National Weather Service.
Snow closed Interstate 5 north of Redding from midmorning Wednesday through late midafternoon, forcing travelers off their routes. Passenger vehicles with chains were allowed through about 4:30 p.m.
Later in the evening, California Department of Transportation crews began escorting big rigs 50 at a time up northbound I-5. At 9 p.m., truck drivers were backed up to Oasis Road and facing three-hour delays. About an hour later, Caltrans abandoned the plan and started diverting trucks southbound at Mountain Gate while cars and pickups carrying chains were allowed through.
A trip that normally takes Raff about 8 1/2 hours had stretched toward 72 hours by Wednesday evening as snow closed I-5 for a second straight day.
"My son said to me, 'Mom, maybe you should just turn back. I know you love me, but is it worth it?' " Raff said. "But moms do what they have to do."
Raff said she will try one more time to get to Eugene today.
Wednesday's storm dumped up to 2 feet of heavy, wet snow on Mount Shasta, where officials declared a local emergency. Falling tree limbs snapped power lines all over town, cutting off electricity to 5,700 customers, including the Mt. Shasta Ski Park, which was closed all day.
Some Mount Shasta streets will go unplowed until downed tree limbs and power lines are cleared, police said.
As of 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Pacific Gas and Electric Co. had restored power to all but 18 of its Shasta County customers, a PG&E spokesman said. About 3,500 Shasta County residents had been without power from midmorning into late afternoon Wednesday, PG&E spokesman Paul Moreno said.
One outage darkened nearly 2,000 homes and businesses from northeast Redding out through Bella Vista and Ingot, Moreno said. Another took out roughly 1,500 customers east of Shingletown.
A tree brought down by Wednesday's storm cut power to 130 customers along Butte Street from 10:30 to 11:25 a.m., said Paul Hauser, Redding Electric Utility director.
Wind gusts hit 47 mph at Redding Municipal Airport some time between 9 and 10 a.m. Wednesday. While robust, those winds weren't nearly as strong as they were Tuesday, when the Redding airport recorded a 61-mph gust.
But Wednesday was wetter than Tuesday, at least in the Redding area, where 1 to 3 inches of rain fell during a thick downpour lasting several hours.
Rainfall totals from midnight through 5 p.m. Wednesday include 2.96 inches in the Summit City area of Shasta Lake, 2 inches in west Redding, 1.32 inches in Enterprise, 1.14 inches at the Redding airport and 0.36 inches in Shingletown.
Some north state spots have sopped up impressive precipitation totals since the series of storms started Sunday. Gibson, an outpost in the Sacramento River Canyon north of Lakehead, has recorded just over 15 inches.
Other four-day precipitation totals are 9.68 inches at Shasta Dam, 8.04 inches in Summit City, 5.36 inches in west Redding and 2.69 inches at the Redding airport.
The recent rains have helped boost Lake Shasta since Jan. 1, according to U.S. Bureau of Reclamation data.
Precipitation totals at the airport are running slightly ahead of normal for January so far. But rainfall this season to date at the airport remains only 72 percent of normal, according to National Weather Service figures.
A major adjustment in the hemispheric circulation brought the recent spate of chilly, windy storms to California.
An immense dome of polar air that had sat over Hudson Bay and brought bitter cold to the eastern United States shifted west late last week. Some of this Arctic air spilled over the Aleutian Islands, creating a deep trough over the northeastern Pacific that contributed to Tuesday's and Wednesday's low snow levels.
The cold air pushing south from the Gulf of Alaska interacted with moist air in the subtropics, spawning jet stream winds up to 240 mph.
The stormy pattern will shift south today, leaving the north state with lighter winds and spotty showers, according to forecast models. Shower chances will further shrink Friday and disappear Saturday as a surge of warmer, drier air displaces the cold, turbulent trough.
Another trough could cross Northern California early next week. But that storm does not look particularly potent.
Reporter Scott Mobley can be reached at 225-8220 or at smobley@redding.com.
Reporter Dylan Darling contributed to this report.
http://www.redding.com/news/2010/jan/21/storm-strands-motorists-truckers-in-redding/#
Today promises more showers. But the far northern Sacramento Valley and surrounding mountains should get a chance to pick up tree limbs and shovel out of snow banks through the weekend before more storms strike early next week, according to the National Weather Service.
Snow closed Interstate 5 north of Redding from midmorning Wednesday through late midafternoon, forcing travelers off their routes. Passenger vehicles with chains were allowed through about 4:30 p.m.
Later in the evening, California Department of Transportation crews began escorting big rigs 50 at a time up northbound I-5. At 9 p.m., truck drivers were backed up to Oasis Road and facing three-hour delays. About an hour later, Caltrans abandoned the plan and started diverting trucks southbound at Mountain Gate while cars and pickups carrying chains were allowed through.
A trip that normally takes Raff about 8 1/2 hours had stretched toward 72 hours by Wednesday evening as snow closed I-5 for a second straight day.
"My son said to me, 'Mom, maybe you should just turn back. I know you love me, but is it worth it?' " Raff said. "But moms do what they have to do."
Raff said she will try one more time to get to Eugene today.
Wednesday's storm dumped up to 2 feet of heavy, wet snow on Mount Shasta, where officials declared a local emergency. Falling tree limbs snapped power lines all over town, cutting off electricity to 5,700 customers, including the Mt. Shasta Ski Park, which was closed all day.
Some Mount Shasta streets will go unplowed until downed tree limbs and power lines are cleared, police said.
As of 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Pacific Gas and Electric Co. had restored power to all but 18 of its Shasta County customers, a PG&E spokesman said. About 3,500 Shasta County residents had been without power from midmorning into late afternoon Wednesday, PG&E spokesman Paul Moreno said.
One outage darkened nearly 2,000 homes and businesses from northeast Redding out through Bella Vista and Ingot, Moreno said. Another took out roughly 1,500 customers east of Shingletown.
A tree brought down by Wednesday's storm cut power to 130 customers along Butte Street from 10:30 to 11:25 a.m., said Paul Hauser, Redding Electric Utility director.
Wind gusts hit 47 mph at Redding Municipal Airport some time between 9 and 10 a.m. Wednesday. While robust, those winds weren't nearly as strong as they were Tuesday, when the Redding airport recorded a 61-mph gust.
But Wednesday was wetter than Tuesday, at least in the Redding area, where 1 to 3 inches of rain fell during a thick downpour lasting several hours.
Rainfall totals from midnight through 5 p.m. Wednesday include 2.96 inches in the Summit City area of Shasta Lake, 2 inches in west Redding, 1.32 inches in Enterprise, 1.14 inches at the Redding airport and 0.36 inches in Shingletown.
Some north state spots have sopped up impressive precipitation totals since the series of storms started Sunday. Gibson, an outpost in the Sacramento River Canyon north of Lakehead, has recorded just over 15 inches.
Other four-day precipitation totals are 9.68 inches at Shasta Dam, 8.04 inches in Summit City, 5.36 inches in west Redding and 2.69 inches at the Redding airport.
The recent rains have helped boost Lake Shasta since Jan. 1, according to U.S. Bureau of Reclamation data.
Precipitation totals at the airport are running slightly ahead of normal for January so far. But rainfall this season to date at the airport remains only 72 percent of normal, according to National Weather Service figures.
A major adjustment in the hemispheric circulation brought the recent spate of chilly, windy storms to California.
An immense dome of polar air that had sat over Hudson Bay and brought bitter cold to the eastern United States shifted west late last week. Some of this Arctic air spilled over the Aleutian Islands, creating a deep trough over the northeastern Pacific that contributed to Tuesday's and Wednesday's low snow levels.
The cold air pushing south from the Gulf of Alaska interacted with moist air in the subtropics, spawning jet stream winds up to 240 mph.
The stormy pattern will shift south today, leaving the north state with lighter winds and spotty showers, according to forecast models. Shower chances will further shrink Friday and disappear Saturday as a surge of warmer, drier air displaces the cold, turbulent trough.
Another trough could cross Northern California early next week. But that storm does not look particularly potent.
Reporter Scott Mobley can be reached at 225-8220 or at smobley@redding.com.
Reporter Dylan Darling contributed to this report.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Don't wait until the power goes out again - the Curry Pilot
http://www.currypilot.com/20100120114569/Opinion/Editorials/Dont-wait-until-the-power-goes-out-again
January 20, 2010 01:09 pm
Imagine a time when there was no such thing as Internet, e-mail, ATM and credit cards, cell phones or 911 service. Now think back further to a time when they was no electricity – no TV, refrigerators, electric heaters or water pumps.
How did people survive without such amenities?
Many Curry County residents found out Sunday as power went out from Port Orford to the California border for eight to 12 hours.
All it took was high winds – which are forecast to continue through Friday.
While Brookings-Harbor and the surrounding area escaped the brunt of the storm physically, individuals and businesses throughout the region found themselves unable to connect to the Internet, use e-mail, cell phones and fax machines. Shoppers had to use cash and write checks because ATM and credit card machines were inoperable.
Here at the Curry Coastal Pilot we couldn’t e-mail news alerts or post important information on our Web site for our readers. It was frustrating, to say the least.
We were also alarmed to hear that, during Sunday’s power outage, many motorists were not stopping at unlit intersections, placing other motorists in mortal danger. Oregon state law states that all interections where traffic lights are inoperable are to be treated as four-way stops.
This week’s series of storms is showing just how vulnerable we and our technology are to Mother Nature’s malevolence. It’s important that we have the means to survive, for days if necessary, without power, Internet, cell phones and our credit cards.
This means having enough food, water, first aid kits, candles, batteries, flashlights, blankets, gas in the car and cash. If you don’t have these things, get them now before the power goes out again.
This wasn’t the first major storm of winter. It won’t be the last.
January 20, 2010 01:09 pm
Imagine a time when there was no such thing as Internet, e-mail, ATM and credit cards, cell phones or 911 service. Now think back further to a time when they was no electricity – no TV, refrigerators, electric heaters or water pumps.
How did people survive without such amenities?
Many Curry County residents found out Sunday as power went out from Port Orford to the California border for eight to 12 hours.
All it took was high winds – which are forecast to continue through Friday.
While Brookings-Harbor and the surrounding area escaped the brunt of the storm physically, individuals and businesses throughout the region found themselves unable to connect to the Internet, use e-mail, cell phones and fax machines. Shoppers had to use cash and write checks because ATM and credit card machines were inoperable.
Here at the Curry Coastal Pilot we couldn’t e-mail news alerts or post important information on our Web site for our readers. It was frustrating, to say the least.
We were also alarmed to hear that, during Sunday’s power outage, many motorists were not stopping at unlit intersections, placing other motorists in mortal danger. Oregon state law states that all interections where traffic lights are inoperable are to be treated as four-way stops.
This week’s series of storms is showing just how vulnerable we and our technology are to Mother Nature’s malevolence. It’s important that we have the means to survive, for days if necessary, without power, Internet, cell phones and our credit cards.
This means having enough food, water, first aid kits, candles, batteries, flashlights, blankets, gas in the car and cash. If you don’t have these things, get them now before the power goes out again.
This wasn’t the first major storm of winter. It won’t be the last.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
From snowflakes to earthquakesOregon City News
I used to espouse preparing for the worst-case scenario, a Cascadia Magnitude 9 earthquake for the western side of Oregon and a devastating tsunami along ...
http://www.oregoncitynewsonline.com/opinion/story.php?story_id=126393044494027400
Article by Jay Wilson, former Geological Hazards Specialist for Oregon Emergency Managment
http://www.oregoncitynewsonline.com/opinion/story.php?story_id=126393044494027400
Article by Jay Wilson, former Geological Hazards Specialist for Oregon Emergency Managment
FEMA Encourages Volunteerism Through Citizen Corps
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- On January 18, Americans will volunteer in a Day of Service to honor Martin Luther King, Jr., transforming the federal holiday into a national day of volunteerism where people of all ages and backgrounds can come together to strengthen their community.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) encourages volunteerism and civic engagement for all-hazards emergency preparedness and resilience through its Citizen Corps program. This year, Citizen Corps Councils across the country have organized Day of Service volunteer preparedness activities such as assembling emergency preparedness kits to be delivered to the homebound, replenishing supplies at local food pantries, conducting health fairs with influenza prevention outreach and hosting emergency preparedness education classes.
FEMA’s Citizen Corps is the grassroots community preparedness and resilience movement that asks everyone in America to be an active participant in making themselves and their communities safer, stronger and better prepared to handle any emergency situation. Over 2,400 local communities nationwide have created Citizen Corps Councils to strengthen collaboration between government and civic leaders and to educate, train and involve the public in all-hazards emergency preparedness.
For more information about FEMA and Citizen Corps, visit http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=bWFpbGluZ2lkPTY5MjUwMCZtZXNzYWdlaWQ9UFJELUJVTC02OTI1MDAmZGF0YWJhc2VpZD0xMDAxJnNlcmlhbD0xMjE1NjUzOTE2JmVtYWlsaWQ9amJhaWxleUBvZW0uc3RhdGUub3IudXMmdXNlcmlkPWpiYWlsZXlAb2VtLnN0YXRlLm9yLnVzJmV4dHJhPSYmJg==&&&100&&&http://www.fema.gov/ and http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=bWFpbGluZ2lkPTY5MjUwMCZtZXNzYWdlaWQ9UFJELUJVTC02OTI1MDAmZGF0YWJhc2VpZD0xMDAxJnNlcmlhbD0xMjE1NjUzOTE2JmVtYWlsaWQ9amJhaWxleUBvZW0uc3RhdGUub3IudXMmdXNlcmlkPWpiYWlsZXlAb2VtLnN0YXRlLm9yLnVzJmV4dHJhPSYmJg==&&&101&&&http://www.citizencorps.gov/.
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.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) encourages volunteerism and civic engagement for all-hazards emergency preparedness and resilience through its Citizen Corps program. This year, Citizen Corps Councils across the country have organized Day of Service volunteer preparedness activities such as assembling emergency preparedness kits to be delivered to the homebound, replenishing supplies at local food pantries, conducting health fairs with influenza prevention outreach and hosting emergency preparedness education classes.
FEMA’s Citizen Corps is the grassroots community preparedness and resilience movement that asks everyone in America to be an active participant in making themselves and their communities safer, stronger and better prepared to handle any emergency situation. Over 2,400 local communities nationwide have created Citizen Corps Councils to strengthen collaboration between government and civic leaders and to educate, train and involve the public in all-hazards emergency preparedness.
For more information about FEMA and Citizen Corps, visit http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=bWFpbGluZ2lkPTY5MjUwMCZtZXNzYWdlaWQ9UFJELUJVTC02OTI1MDAmZGF0YWJhc2VpZD0xMDAxJnNlcmlhbD0xMjE1NjUzOTE2JmVtYWlsaWQ9amJhaWxleUBvZW0uc3RhdGUub3IudXMmdXNlcmlkPWpiYWlsZXlAb2VtLnN0YXRlLm9yLnVzJmV4dHJhPSYmJg==&&&100&&&http://www.fema.gov/ and http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=bWFpbGluZ2lkPTY5MjUwMCZtZXNzYWdlaWQ9UFJELUJVTC02OTI1MDAmZGF0YWJhc2VpZD0xMDAxJnNlcmlhbD0xMjE1NjUzOTE2JmVtYWlsaWQ9amJhaWxleUBvZW0uc3RhdGUub3IudXMmdXNlcmlkPWpiYWlsZXlAb2VtLnN0YXRlLm9yLnVzJmV4dHJhPSYmJg==&&&101&&&http://www.citizencorps.gov/.
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.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Storm System to Hit North California and South Oregon
A series of winter storms are expected to batter California starting Sunday, and local forecasters say there likely will be significant amounts of rain and gusty winds in Southern Oregon and the Siskiyou Mountains, too.
National Weather Service forecasters in Medford said the weather system is expected to bring inches of rain and feet of snow to much of California, and it's large enough to reach at least as far north as the Siskiyous. Snow levels should be low enough to bring generous amounts of new snow to Mount Ashland and especially Mount Shasta.
A weather service advisory issued Friday in Sacramento spoke of "virtually a storm a day" from Sunday through next Friday, which could bring as much as 10 feet of snow in higher elevations of the Sierras by the end of next week.
The wet weather is expected to persist in the Siskiyous at least through Thursday, meteorologist Brett Lutz said.
You can read the whole article at http://m.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100116/NEWS/1160307&template=wapart
Friday, January 15, 2010
South, Northwest face storms
Friday, January 15, 2010
Storm clouds were expected to gather in the northern Gulf of Mexico today as low pressure began to develop off the coast of Texas.Low pressue was forecast to strengthen throughout the day, producing rain along the coast from Texas to the Florida Panhandle. Gusty winds could develop in the same region. The storm was forecast to move eastward overnight and begin a trek up the East Coast. It was expected to move into the ocean over the weekend.
A second storm was forecast today in the Northwest. A Pacific low pressue system was expected to move into the region near the Olympic Peninsula and bring heavy rain as it moved inland. The storm is anticipated to affect coastal Washington and bring heavy snowfall to the coastal mountain ranges. Rain was expected to spread into Oregon by midday.
Elsewhere, precipitation chances were relatively small. High pressure centered over the Great Basin was forecast to keep skies generally clear through the Rockies. While the western High Plains were expected to see partially overcast skies, no rain or snow was expected.Some cloud cover was expected in the Northeast, especially near the Great Lakes. With the exception of a few mountain snow flurries in New England, precipitation wasn't expected.
On Thursday, temperatures in the Lower 48 states ranged from a low of negative 13 degrees at Berlin, N.H., to a high of 78 degrees at Lake Forest, Calif.
Storm clouds were expected to gather in the northern Gulf of Mexico today as low pressure began to develop off the coast of Texas.Low pressue was forecast to strengthen throughout the day, producing rain along the coast from Texas to the Florida Panhandle. Gusty winds could develop in the same region. The storm was forecast to move eastward overnight and begin a trek up the East Coast. It was expected to move into the ocean over the weekend.
A second storm was forecast today in the Northwest. A Pacific low pressue system was expected to move into the region near the Olympic Peninsula and bring heavy rain as it moved inland. The storm is anticipated to affect coastal Washington and bring heavy snowfall to the coastal mountain ranges. Rain was expected to spread into Oregon by midday.
Elsewhere, precipitation chances were relatively small. High pressure centered over the Great Basin was forecast to keep skies generally clear through the Rockies. While the western High Plains were expected to see partially overcast skies, no rain or snow was expected.Some cloud cover was expected in the Northeast, especially near the Great Lakes. With the exception of a few mountain snow flurries in New England, precipitation wasn't expected.
On Thursday, temperatures in the Lower 48 states ranged from a low of negative 13 degrees at Berlin, N.H., to a high of 78 degrees at Lake Forest, Calif.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
International Response Fund
You can help the victims of countless crises, like the recent earthquake in Haiti, around the world each year by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross International Response Fund, which will provide immediate relief and long-term support through supplies, technical assistance and other support to help those in need. The American Red Cross honors donor intent. If you wish to designate your donation to a specific disaster, please do so at the time of your donation by mailing your donation with the designation to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20013 or to your local American Red Cross chapter. Donations to the International Response Fund can be made by phone at 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish) or online at www.redcross.org.
Information from: Althea Turner Geologic Hazards Program CoordinatorOregon Emergency
Oregon lies at a convergent continental boundary where two tectonic plates are colliding. There are over 1000 earthquakes over magnitude 1.0 in Washington and Oregon every year, with at least two dozen being large enough to be felt. Approximately 17 people have lost their lives due to earthquakes in the Pacific Northwest. Since 1872, there have been 20 damaging earthquakes in Washington and Oregon[1]. The Pacific coast poses special risk from tsunamis associated with a Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake. In addition to Subduction zone earthquakes, Oregon is also susceptible to crustal earthquakes. The two largest earthquakes in recent years in Oregon, Scotts Mills, (magnitude 5.6) and the Klamath Falls, main shocks (magnitude 5.9 and magnitude 6.0) of 1993 were crustal earthquakes[2].
In recognition of this seismic risk, Oregon has taken measures to mitigate and prepare for the inevitable destructive earthquakes and tsunami. In the 1990s, Oregon began to revise the Uniform Building Code to reflect the recent research showing the higher risks from earthquakes[3]. Many schools, public buildings and critical infrastructure were built previous to the newer, more stringent codes, and are susceptible to failure in a seismic event. According to a 2007 Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI) report, over 1000 schools and 200 emergency facilities are at a high or very high risk of “probability that the building will collapse if ground motions occur that are equal to or exceed the maximum considered earthquake at that location.”[4]
[1] http://www.pnsn.org/INFO_GENERAL/faq.html. Retrieved June 24, 2009
[2] http://www.oregon.gov/DOGAMI/earthquakes/EQs.shtml. Retrieved June 24, 2009
[3] http://quake.usgs.gov/prepare/factsheets/PacNW/. Retrieved June 24, 2009
[4] DOGAMI Open-File Report O-07-02. p. iv.
In recognition of this seismic risk, Oregon has taken measures to mitigate and prepare for the inevitable destructive earthquakes and tsunami. In the 1990s, Oregon began to revise the Uniform Building Code to reflect the recent research showing the higher risks from earthquakes[3]. Many schools, public buildings and critical infrastructure were built previous to the newer, more stringent codes, and are susceptible to failure in a seismic event. According to a 2007 Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI) report, over 1000 schools and 200 emergency facilities are at a high or very high risk of “probability that the building will collapse if ground motions occur that are equal to or exceed the maximum considered earthquake at that location.”[4]
[1] http://www.pnsn.org/INFO_GENERAL/faq.html. Retrieved June 24, 2009
[2] http://www.oregon.gov/DOGAMI/earthquakes/EQs.shtml. Retrieved June 24, 2009
[3] http://quake.usgs.gov/prepare/factsheets/PacNW/. Retrieved June 24, 2009
[4] DOGAMI Open-File Report O-07-02. p. iv.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
News release from Oregon State Police
Oregon State Police (OSP) troopers are planning a special enforcement effort Wednesday to educate and increase compliance along Interstate 5 in Marion County. The enhanced enforcement effort will focus on traffic laws, including the new cell phone law and the "Move Over" law.
On January 13, 2010 OSP troopers from the Salem Area Command office will focus enforcement efforts on Interstate 5 between milepost 241 (Linn/Marion County Line) and milepost 280 (Marion/Clackamas County Line). The increased enforcement will start at 6:00 a.m. and continue to midnight.
"Our goals are highway safety, prevent crashes and to continue to educate people through highly visible enforcement of our laws," said OSP Sergeant Derek Bischoff.
Bischoff noted the "Move Over" law has been in effect for six years and recently was changed to include two more clarifications:
* The original law specified law enforcement, fire and ambulance vehicles displaying required warning lights. Drivers must now also move over or slow down when roadside assistance or tow vehicles are providing help along our highways.
* "Slow down" means reducing speed by at least 5 mph below the posted speed limit if making a lane change is unsafe or not required.
In addition to targeting dangerous driving behavior, OSP troopers will be on the lookout for drivers operating a motor vehicle while using a mobile communication device (cell phone law). This new law is a primary offense, meaning that a police officer may stop a driver solely for using a cell phone without using a hands-free accessory or texting while driving.
Enforcement and education efforts toward the new cell phone law since January 1st have been helped by a special message on several ODOT variable message boards over Interstate 5. The message is simple: "NEW PHONE LAW – HANDS FREE ONLY – NO TEXTING".
On January 13, 2010 OSP troopers from the Salem Area Command office will focus enforcement efforts on Interstate 5 between milepost 241 (Linn/Marion County Line) and milepost 280 (Marion/Clackamas County Line). The increased enforcement will start at 6:00 a.m. and continue to midnight.
"Our goals are highway safety, prevent crashes and to continue to educate people through highly visible enforcement of our laws," said OSP Sergeant Derek Bischoff.
Bischoff noted the "Move Over" law has been in effect for six years and recently was changed to include two more clarifications:
* The original law specified law enforcement, fire and ambulance vehicles displaying required warning lights. Drivers must now also move over or slow down when roadside assistance or tow vehicles are providing help along our highways.
* "Slow down" means reducing speed by at least 5 mph below the posted speed limit if making a lane change is unsafe or not required.
In addition to targeting dangerous driving behavior, OSP troopers will be on the lookout for drivers operating a motor vehicle while using a mobile communication device (cell phone law). This new law is a primary offense, meaning that a police officer may stop a driver solely for using a cell phone without using a hands-free accessory or texting while driving.
Enforcement and education efforts toward the new cell phone law since January 1st have been helped by a special message on several ODOT variable message boards over Interstate 5. The message is simple: "NEW PHONE LAW – HANDS FREE ONLY – NO TEXTING".
Monday, January 11, 2010
More Storms to Track this Week
A series of Pacific storms that are loaded with moisture will continue to bring additional heavy rainfall to the Pacific Northwest coast and up into western BC through Wednesday. Snow levels in the Coastal Range will continue to be fairly high through Tuesday as they fall to about 4,000-4,500 feet during the day then to 3,500 feet by Wednesday.
Due to the prolonged period of rainfall, river flooding is a concern.
http://www.accuweather.com/mt-news-blogs.asp?partner=accuweather&blog=Anderson&pgurl=/mtweb/content/Anderson/archives/2010/01/st.asp
Due to the prolonged period of rainfall, river flooding is a concern.
http://www.accuweather.com/mt-news-blogs.asp?partner=accuweather&blog=Anderson&pgurl=/mtweb/content/Anderson/archives/2010/01/st.asp
Amber Alert Awareness Day - January 13, 2010
News Release from: Oregon State Police
AMBER ALERT AWARENESS DAY - JANUARY 13, 2010
Posted: January 11th, 2010 12:46 PM
Photo/sound file: http://www.flashalertnewswire.net/images/news/2010-01/1002/amber_alert.jpg
Thirteen years since the abduction and murder of Amber Hagerman in Arlington, Texas, January 13, 2010, commemorates the nation's fourth AMBER Alert Awareness Day. Since that tragic day in 1997, AMBER Alert programs have played a role in the recovery of nearly 500 children. Last year there were 3 AMBER Alert activations in Oregon, all of which ended in the safe recovery of a child.
Nationwide, there are 29 regional, 38 local, and statewide plans in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In November 2002, the State of Oregon announced its implementation of a statewide AMBER Alert Plan. Oregon's AMBER Alert Plan - America's Missing Broadcast Emergency Response - is a voluntary partnership between law enforcement agencies and local broadcasters to send an emergency alert to the public when a child has been abducted and it is believed the child's life is in danger.
Oregon's AMBER Plan Criteria are:
1. Law enforcement confirms a child has been abducted (*) 2. The child is 17 years or younger 3. The child may be in danger of serious bodily harm or death 4. There is enough descriptive information about the child, abductor, and/or suspect's vehicle to believe an immediate broadcast alert will help.
5. The child's name and other critical data elements - including the child abduction (CA) and AMBER Alert (AA) flags will/have been entered into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) system.
(* This alert system is not to be used when a child runs away or involves a custodial situation.)
Oregon State Police is the designated law enforcement agency which local law enforcement agencies contact to initiate an AMBER Alert. When all the AMBER guidelines and criteria have been met, the AMBER Alert Plan is activated using the AMBER Web Portal. Since Oregon's AMBER Alert plan implementation, there have been 15 activations and the successful recovery of 17 children.
The following is a brief review of Oregon's 2009 AMBER Alert activations:
* On March 2nd Oregon launched an AMBER Alert related to a reported abduction of a 3-year-old girl in Yreka, California. The child was found safe by California Highway Patrol in northern California and her alleged abductor arrested.
* On April 22nd an AMBER Alert was activated in Oregon related to the reported abduction of a 5-year-old boy in Hines. The child was found safe by Humboldt County Sheriff's Office and Nevada Highway Patrol after being sighted near Denio, Nevada just across the border. Both suspects were detained.
* On July 22nd an AMBER Alert was activated in Oregon related to a reported missing 12-year-old girl believed to be in danger. The girl was found safe in Myrtle Creek and her 40-year old father was arrested on a felony child abuse charge.
Oregon's AMBER Alert plan sends out alerts through radio and television, highway advisory signs, email and to wireless subscribers who opt to receive the text messages on their wireless devices. Anyone may sign-up at no cost to be notified of Oregon's AMBER Alerts through the AMBER Alert Web Portal.
Unfortunately, Oregon and many states around the country noted several incidents of false text message alerts during the last couple years. Many of these so-called AMBER Alerts that circulate by text message and e-mail involve cases that had already been resolved or were outright hoaxes.
Oregon's co-AMBER Alert Review Committee chairs, Klamath County Sheriff Tim Evinger and OSP Lieutenant Molly Cotter, reminds everyone that AMBER Alerts coming from an official source provides initial notification, updates, and a cancellation.
"AMBER Alerts from unknown sources could lead to a delayed response from the public and jeopardizes the integrity of the entire AMBER Alert plan. Forwarding text messages can circulate indefinitely without a cancellation, so don't forward this message if you receive something similar without knowing it is a confirmed AMBER Alert" said Evinger and Cotter.
Oregon joins the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children encouraging all wireless subscribers to sign up for Wireless AMBER Alerts. More information about Wireless AMBER Alerts and national AMBER Alert Awareness Day is available at:
http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/PageServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US&Pageld=3902
Information about the AMBER Alert Plan in Oregon is available at the Oregon State Police web site at: http://www.oregon.gov/OSP/AMBERLERT/index.shtml
More information about Amber Alert's is available at www.amberalert.gov
### www.oregon.gov/OSP ###
Contact Info: Lieutenant Molly Cotter
Oregon State Police
Office: (503) 378-8754
Sheriff Tim Evinger
Klamath County Sheriff's Office
Office: (541) 883-5130
AMBER ALERT AWARENESS DAY - JANUARY 13, 2010
Posted: January 11th, 2010 12:46 PM
Photo/sound file: http://www.flashalertnewswire.net/images/news/2010-01/1002/amber_alert.jpg
Thirteen years since the abduction and murder of Amber Hagerman in Arlington, Texas, January 13, 2010, commemorates the nation's fourth AMBER Alert Awareness Day. Since that tragic day in 1997, AMBER Alert programs have played a role in the recovery of nearly 500 children. Last year there were 3 AMBER Alert activations in Oregon, all of which ended in the safe recovery of a child.
Nationwide, there are 29 regional, 38 local, and statewide plans in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In November 2002, the State of Oregon announced its implementation of a statewide AMBER Alert Plan. Oregon's AMBER Alert Plan - America's Missing Broadcast Emergency Response - is a voluntary partnership between law enforcement agencies and local broadcasters to send an emergency alert to the public when a child has been abducted and it is believed the child's life is in danger.
Oregon's AMBER Plan Criteria are:
1. Law enforcement confirms a child has been abducted (*) 2. The child is 17 years or younger 3. The child may be in danger of serious bodily harm or death 4. There is enough descriptive information about the child, abductor, and/or suspect's vehicle to believe an immediate broadcast alert will help.
5. The child's name and other critical data elements - including the child abduction (CA) and AMBER Alert (AA) flags will/have been entered into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) system.
(* This alert system is not to be used when a child runs away or involves a custodial situation.)
Oregon State Police is the designated law enforcement agency which local law enforcement agencies contact to initiate an AMBER Alert. When all the AMBER guidelines and criteria have been met, the AMBER Alert Plan is activated using the AMBER Web Portal. Since Oregon's AMBER Alert plan implementation, there have been 15 activations and the successful recovery of 17 children.
The following is a brief review of Oregon's 2009 AMBER Alert activations:
* On March 2nd Oregon launched an AMBER Alert related to a reported abduction of a 3-year-old girl in Yreka, California. The child was found safe by California Highway Patrol in northern California and her alleged abductor arrested.
* On April 22nd an AMBER Alert was activated in Oregon related to the reported abduction of a 5-year-old boy in Hines. The child was found safe by Humboldt County Sheriff's Office and Nevada Highway Patrol after being sighted near Denio, Nevada just across the border. Both suspects were detained.
* On July 22nd an AMBER Alert was activated in Oregon related to a reported missing 12-year-old girl believed to be in danger. The girl was found safe in Myrtle Creek and her 40-year old father was arrested on a felony child abuse charge.
Oregon's AMBER Alert plan sends out alerts through radio and television, highway advisory signs, email and to wireless subscribers who opt to receive the text messages on their wireless devices. Anyone may sign-up at no cost to be notified of Oregon's AMBER Alerts through the AMBER Alert Web Portal.
Unfortunately, Oregon and many states around the country noted several incidents of false text message alerts during the last couple years. Many of these so-called AMBER Alerts that circulate by text message and e-mail involve cases that had already been resolved or were outright hoaxes.
Oregon's co-AMBER Alert Review Committee chairs, Klamath County Sheriff Tim Evinger and OSP Lieutenant Molly Cotter, reminds everyone that AMBER Alerts coming from an official source provides initial notification, updates, and a cancellation.
"AMBER Alerts from unknown sources could lead to a delayed response from the public and jeopardizes the integrity of the entire AMBER Alert plan. Forwarding text messages can circulate indefinitely without a cancellation, so don't forward this message if you receive something similar without knowing it is a confirmed AMBER Alert" said Evinger and Cotter.
Oregon joins the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children encouraging all wireless subscribers to sign up for Wireless AMBER Alerts. More information about Wireless AMBER Alerts and national AMBER Alert Awareness Day is available at:
http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/PageServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US&Pageld=3902
Information about the AMBER Alert Plan in Oregon is available at the Oregon State Police web site at: http://www.oregon.gov/OSP/AMBERLERT/index.shtml
More information about Amber Alert's is available at www.amberalert.gov
### www.oregon.gov/OSP ###
Contact Info: Lieutenant Molly Cotter
Oregon State Police
Office: (503) 378-8754
Sheriff Tim Evinger
Klamath County Sheriff's Office
Office: (541) 883-5130
Resolve to be Ready
With the New Year approaching, the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Ready Campaign is reminding Americans to Resolve to be Ready in 2010. Resolve to be Ready is an annual initiative encouraging individuals, families, businesses and communities to make preparedness a part of their New Year resolutions.
“This holiday season, as family and friends come together to celebrate, it is also a great time to talk about the importance of being prepared,” said Administrator Fugate. “Families can start small, by ensuring they have a communications plan in place before an emergency happens, a little bit of planning can make all the difference in an emergency. The public is the most critical member of our national emergency response team, and the more they do now to be prepared, the better our response.”
Being Ready for emergencies can be an easy New Year's resolution to keep by following the Ready Campaign's three simple steps: 1) Get an emergency supply kit; 2) Make a family emergency plan; and 3) Be informed about the types of emergencies and appropriate responses.
Taking these steps and having an emergency supply kit both at home and in the car, will help prepare people for winter power outages and icy roads. Each of these kits should include basic necessities such as water, food and first aid supplies to help you survive if you are without power or become stranded in your vehicle. Complete checklists for each kit are available at www.ready.gov.
In addition, by visiting www.ready.gov or the Spanish-language Web site www.listo.gov, or calling 1-800-BE-READY or 1-888-SE-LISTO, individuals can access free materials that will help them make and keep a New Year's resolution that will bring their families peace of mind. The Ready campaign has been produced in partnership with the Ad Council.
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.
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 at www.twitter.com/femainfocus and on FaceBook at www.facebook.com/fema .
“This holiday season, as family and friends come together to celebrate, it is also a great time to talk about the importance of being prepared,” said Administrator Fugate. “Families can start small, by ensuring they have a communications plan in place before an emergency happens, a little bit of planning can make all the difference in an emergency. The public is the most critical member of our national emergency response team, and the more they do now to be prepared, the better our response.”
Being Ready for emergencies can be an easy New Year's resolution to keep by following the Ready Campaign's three simple steps: 1) Get an emergency supply kit; 2) Make a family emergency plan; and 3) Be informed about the types of emergencies and appropriate responses.
Taking these steps and having an emergency supply kit both at home and in the car, will help prepare people for winter power outages and icy roads. Each of these kits should include basic necessities such as water, food and first aid supplies to help you survive if you are without power or become stranded in your vehicle. Complete checklists for each kit are available at www.ready.gov.
In addition, by visiting www.ready.gov or the Spanish-language Web site www.listo.gov, or calling 1-800-BE-READY or 1-888-SE-LISTO, individuals can access free materials that will help them make and keep a New Year's resolution that will bring their families peace of mind. The Ready campaign has been produced in partnership with the Ad Council.
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.
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 at www.twitter.com/femainfocus and on FaceBook at www.facebook.com/fema .
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Freezing Rain Advisory
ODOT/Willamette Valley, No. Coast: The National Weather Service has issued a Freezing Rain Advisory for the Northern Oregon Cascades, including Santiam Pass, from 10 p.m. Thursday until 4 a.m. Friday.
Motorists should carry chains and be prepared for extreme winter conditions if traveling over mountain passes or on secondary roads leading to the mountain passes, including eastern Marion and Linn counties.Know Before You Go by checking www.TripCheck.com or by calling 511 for highway conditions.Learn about winter driving tips by visiting ODOT's website: http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/COMM/winterdriving.shtml
For more information, contact:TripCheck.com, 5-1-1, 800-977-6368
Motorists should carry chains and be prepared for extreme winter conditions if traveling over mountain passes or on secondary roads leading to the mountain passes, including eastern Marion and Linn counties.Know Before You Go by checking www.TripCheck.com or by calling 511 for highway conditions.Learn about winter driving tips by visiting ODOT's website: http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/COMM/winterdriving.shtml
For more information, contact:TripCheck.com, 5-1-1, 800-977-6368
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Flight from Portland to Hawaii Returned to Portland
The TSA has released a press announcement about an aircraft that returned to Portland after trouble with a passenger.
“Today on Hawaiian Airlines Flight 39 from Portland International Airport (PDX) to Kahului Airport (OGG), the captain made a decision to return the plane to Portland due to a suspicious passenger who made threatening remarks and refused to store his carry-on bag.
At 16:16 pm. EST the plane landed at PDX without further incident. Currently, law enforcement officers and TSA are interviewing the passenger in question.”
“Today on Hawaiian Airlines Flight 39 from Portland International Airport (PDX) to Kahului Airport (OGG), the captain made a decision to return the plane to Portland due to a suspicious passenger who made threatening remarks and refused to store his carry-on bag.
At 16:16 pm. EST the plane landed at PDX without further incident. Currently, law enforcement officers and TSA are interviewing the passenger in question.”
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
A reminder to have supplies with you in the car
http://www.koinlocal6.com/news/state/story/Motorists-rescued-after-3-days-stuck-in-snow/EFyIyeKfUka4mhJfFNmRIw.cspx?rss=1103
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. (AP) — Sheriff's deputies rescued two people who were stranded when their car got stuck in a foot of snow at the Klamath and Lake County line near Silver Lake.
Sheriff Tim Evinger of Klamath County told the Herald and News newspaper the two were stuck for three days before getting to an area where they could make a cell phone call for help at about noon Sunday.
Evinger says a deputy helped free the car late in the afternoon.
He says the pair were headed to Redmond for Christmas when they made a wrong turn onto a forest service road. Their names were not immediately available.
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Information from: Herald and News, http://www.heraldandnews.com
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. (AP) — Sheriff's deputies rescued two people who were stranded when their car got stuck in a foot of snow at the Klamath and Lake County line near Silver Lake.
Sheriff Tim Evinger of Klamath County told the Herald and News newspaper the two were stuck for three days before getting to an area where they could make a cell phone call for help at about noon Sunday.
Evinger says a deputy helped free the car late in the afternoon.
He says the pair were headed to Redmond for Christmas when they made a wrong turn onto a forest service road. Their names were not immediately available.
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Information from: Herald and News, http://www.heraldandnews.com
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