The Office of State Fire Marshal (OSFM), Oregon fire service, natural resource agencies, Oregon fireworks wholesalers, and safety experts encourage Oregonians to keep it legal and keep it safe when using fireworks. The 2011 Oregon fireworks sales season opens today, June 23 and runs through July 6. The OSFM and their partners want everyone to know what are legal fireworks in Oregon, where they are permitted, and the important steps everyone can take for fireworks safety.
"Legal fireworks may be purchased only from Oregon permitted fireworks retailers and stands," advises Interim State Fire Marshal Jim Walker. "And regulations limit where those fireworks may be used. For example, fireworks are prohibited on all Oregon beaches, in parks, and campgrounds."
Oregon law bans possession, use or sale of fireworks that fly, explode or travel more than six feet on the ground or 12 inches into the air. Fireworks commonly called bottle rockets, Roman Candles, and firecrackers are ILLEGAL in Oregon.
Under Oregon law, officials may seize illegal fireworks and fine offenders up to $500 per violation. Those who misuse fireworks or allow fireworks to cause damage are liable and may be required to pay fire suppression costs or other damage. Parents are also liable for fireworks damage caused by their children.
There were 117 reported fireworks-related fires in Oregon during 2010, resulting in more than $1.6 million in property damage. Over the past five years from 2006 through 2010 there were 1,057 reported fireworks-related fires in Oregon resulting in one death, 62 civilian injuries, and more than $4.7 million in property damage.
"All Oregonians share the responsibility to use only legal fireworks and use them carefully," adds Walker.
The OSFM encourages everyone to use the four Bs of safe fireworks use:
*Be Prepared before lighting fireworks: keep water available by using a garden hose or bucket.
*Be Safe when lighting fireworks: keep children and pets away from fireworks.
*Be Responsible after lighting fireworks: never relight a dud. Wait 15 to 20 minutes then soak in a bucket of water before disposal.
*Be Aware: use only legal fireworks and use them only in legal places.
The four B's of fireworks safety brochure is available here:
http://www.oregon.gov/OSP/SFM/docs/Licensing_permits/fireworks/4BesFireworks.pdf.
Tips in Spanish are also available at: http://www.oregon.gov/OSP/SFM/docs/Licensing_permits/fireworks/Fireworks_4Bs_Spanish.pdf.
More fireworks information is available at:
http://www.oregon.gov/OSP/SFM/Licensing_Fireworks_Home.shtml
Showing posts with label Oregon emergencies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Oregon emergencies. Show all posts
Friday, June 24, 2011
Friday, May 13, 2011
Tsunami Evacuation Drills at the Oregon coast beginning next week!
May 13, 2011
Portland, Oregon: As part of the ongoing Tsunami Outreach Oregon education and awareness program administered by the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI) and Oregon Emergency Management (OEM), several coastal communities will be holding tsunami evacuation drills in the next 2 weeks.
The coastal communities of Pacific City and Neskowin and surrounding communities will be holding a voluntary Tsunami Evacuation Drill Tuesday, May 17, beginning at 10 AM. For more information on this drill, please contact Fire Captain Jim Kusz at (541) 407-0801.
Gold Beach, Port Orford and surrounding communities will be holding voluntary Tsunami Evacuation Drills Thursday, May 19, beginning at 10 AM. For more information on these drills contact South Coast Tsunami Outreach Coordinator Dave Lacey at (541) 373-0487 or Don Kendall, Curry County Sheriff’s Office, Emergency Services Coordinator at (541) 247-3208.
On May 25 at 10 AM, the City Of Warrenton, nearby unincorporated areas, and Warrenton area schools will hold their voluntary Tsunami Evacuation Drill. For more information on this drill contact North Coast Tsunami Outreach Coordinator Patrick Wingard at (503) 717-3995.
The community wide drills in Pacific City, Gold Beach and Port Orford will also incorporate an aircraft broadcasting a message about the drill using an airborne public address system developed by Guardians From Above and the Power Sonix Corporation. This same type of airborne public address system has been used in search and rescue efforts by the Civil Air Patrol throughout the region and has been demonstrated in tsunami drills as an additional method of alerting coastal residents of a distant tsunami warning issued by the National Weather Service where sirens have limited coverage.
Read the complete news release in the attached PDF or go online at: http://www.OregonGeology.org
Portland, Oregon: As part of the ongoing Tsunami Outreach Oregon education and awareness program administered by the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI) and Oregon Emergency Management (OEM), several coastal communities will be holding tsunami evacuation drills in the next 2 weeks.
The coastal communities of Pacific City and Neskowin and surrounding communities will be holding a voluntary Tsunami Evacuation Drill Tuesday, May 17, beginning at 10 AM. For more information on this drill, please contact Fire Captain Jim Kusz at (541) 407-0801.
Gold Beach, Port Orford and surrounding communities will be holding voluntary Tsunami Evacuation Drills Thursday, May 19, beginning at 10 AM. For more information on these drills contact South Coast Tsunami Outreach Coordinator Dave Lacey at (541) 373-0487 or Don Kendall, Curry County Sheriff’s Office, Emergency Services Coordinator at (541) 247-3208.
On May 25 at 10 AM, the City Of Warrenton, nearby unincorporated areas, and Warrenton area schools will hold their voluntary Tsunami Evacuation Drill. For more information on this drill contact North Coast Tsunami Outreach Coordinator Patrick Wingard at (503) 717-3995.
The community wide drills in Pacific City, Gold Beach and Port Orford will also incorporate an aircraft broadcasting a message about the drill using an airborne public address system developed by Guardians From Above and the Power Sonix Corporation. This same type of airborne public address system has been used in search and rescue efforts by the Civil Air Patrol throughout the region and has been demonstrated in tsunami drills as an additional method of alerting coastal residents of a distant tsunami warning issued by the National Weather Service where sirens have limited coverage.
Read the complete news release in the attached PDF or go online at: http://www.OregonGeology.org
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
May 3, 2011
By Megan Taylor
Storm Tracker 9
http://kohd.com/news/local/211340
The second topic of Severe Weather Awareness Week is tornadoes and waterspouts. This topic comes during a time that a large corner of the Southeast U.S. is cleaning up from a devastating April. We'll get to that event in a moment, but first let's talk specifically about tornadoes around our area.
The Pacific Northwest sees about seven tornadoes a year. The most common months for tornadoes are July and August. However, tornadoes have been reported in every month of the year. The most common time is between 1 p.m. and 9 p.m., but they still can occur at any time.
Severe thunderstorms that produce tornadoes are a little more difficult to produce in our part of the world. That's mostly because the Pacific Ocean prevents major temperature differentials, which is one of the primary requirements for violently convective weather. However, it DOES happen. There are also a lot of hills and mountains that help keep the air moving, and can aid rotation. The worst part about Pacific Northwest tornadoes is that they are a little harder to predict and therefore harder to warn for. That means the area's citizens have to be extra prepared. Here are a few quick safety tips should a tornado occur in your area.
Come up with a tornado plan BEFORE the tornado is occurring. Waiting for a warning is too late. Designate a time ever year that you and your family put together a disaster plan. This doesn't have to be limited to just tornadoes, but it can include your earthquake or tsunami, and fire plan as well.
If faced with a tornado or your area is placed under a warning, seek shelter immediately.
If you are in a building or home:
Get away from windows and exterior walls, such as the interior-most room of the building or a closet.
Get on the lowest level of the structure. A basement is the best place during a tornado.
Get under a sturdy piece of furniture. It could block you from falling debris.
If you are in a car, buckle your seat belt and drive to a nearby sturdy structure. If debris hits your vehicle, pull over. If you can find a lower level in the road than where you are, get out and lay down with your hands over your head. YOU ARE NOT A STORM CHASER, DO NOT DRIVE TOWARD THE TORNADO. If you cannot tell which way to drive, look to see which way the tornado is heading. If it looks like it is not moving, it is likely moving straight toward you. Make a 90 degree turn and drive away quickly, but safely.
If you are in mobile home, GET OUT if time permits. Even when tied down, mobile homes lead to most of the injuries and deaths related to tornadoes. When setting up your disaster plan, make sure to pick a location to go during a tornado warning that is sturdy.
Don't wait for the sirens. Tornadoes can form and begin destroying very quickly. Just because the sirens are not sounding doesn't mean the tornado will stop and wait. If you see a tornado, take shelter immediately. Some signs of an approaching tornado include roaring sounds, large hail and falling debris. Even if you can't see the tornado, seeing debris could mean one is nearby.
Oregon and Washington average around two tornadoes a year, but as many as 14 in one year have been recorded (Washington, 1997). Recent tornadoes include a small EF-0 tornado that destroyed a barn south of Pendleton in March 2011, a likely cold-air funnel that caused damage to a house and numerous trees in Creswell in December 2010, and the Aumsville EF-2 tornado that caused tens of thousands of dollars in damage and injured two in December 2010. Waterspouts are a little more common, but due to the vastness of the Pacific Ocean, they are often not seen. In the event of a waterspout, the NWS will issue a special marine warning. Waterspouts are dangerous and cause damage boats and harbors. Waterspouts CAN move onto land, becoming what is called a "land spout."
Other parts of the country are obviously more prone to tornadoes and severe weather, but this year has been especially deadly in areas in the Southeast U.S. The area known as Dixie Alley has seen two separate major outbreaks in April, both of which left numerous people dead. Here is a quick recap of the most recent historic outbreak.
The outbreak lasted from 8 a.m. April 26 to 8 a.m. April 28. During that time, a preliminary estimate of 312 tornadoes occurred. The most active day was April 27 when 226 estimated tornadoes pummeled through parts of Dixie Alley, Texas, Oklahoma, Georgia, the Carolinas and even into the Northeast. On that day, at least 344 people were killed. While the rise in the death toll has finally decreased, given the damage, it will not likely be official until all of the rubble is sifted through. Overall, the two-day total was the most people killed since 1936 when an outbreak killed 454 people, most of which were in Mississippi and Georgia.
The deadliest tornado was the Tri-State Tornado which killed just shy of 700 people. This tornado occurred in an outbreak in March 1925 where well over 700 total fatalities occurred. Given the preliminary count for April, a few records were broken. The previous record for the most tornadoes in April was 267 which was set in 1974. The previous record for the most tornadoes recorded in any month was 542 tornadoes which was set in May 2003. Both of those records have been broken with April's preliminary 600 tornadoes this year. The record number of tornadoes in any single year is 1,817 which was set in 2004. So far, 2011 has seen 881 tornadoes with the most active month of May still occurring.
The Storm Tracker 9 Weather Team will be happy to answer any questions about tornadoes that you have.
Thank you Storm Tracker 9 Weather Team!!!
By Megan Taylor
Storm Tracker 9
http://kohd.com/news/local/211340
The second topic of Severe Weather Awareness Week is tornadoes and waterspouts. This topic comes during a time that a large corner of the Southeast U.S. is cleaning up from a devastating April. We'll get to that event in a moment, but first let's talk specifically about tornadoes around our area.
The Pacific Northwest sees about seven tornadoes a year. The most common months for tornadoes are July and August. However, tornadoes have been reported in every month of the year. The most common time is between 1 p.m. and 9 p.m., but they still can occur at any time.
Severe thunderstorms that produce tornadoes are a little more difficult to produce in our part of the world. That's mostly because the Pacific Ocean prevents major temperature differentials, which is one of the primary requirements for violently convective weather. However, it DOES happen. There are also a lot of hills and mountains that help keep the air moving, and can aid rotation. The worst part about Pacific Northwest tornadoes is that they are a little harder to predict and therefore harder to warn for. That means the area's citizens have to be extra prepared. Here are a few quick safety tips should a tornado occur in your area.
Come up with a tornado plan BEFORE the tornado is occurring. Waiting for a warning is too late. Designate a time ever year that you and your family put together a disaster plan. This doesn't have to be limited to just tornadoes, but it can include your earthquake or tsunami, and fire plan as well.
If faced with a tornado or your area is placed under a warning, seek shelter immediately.
If you are in a building or home:
Get away from windows and exterior walls, such as the interior-most room of the building or a closet.
Get on the lowest level of the structure. A basement is the best place during a tornado.
Get under a sturdy piece of furniture. It could block you from falling debris.
If you are in a car, buckle your seat belt and drive to a nearby sturdy structure. If debris hits your vehicle, pull over. If you can find a lower level in the road than where you are, get out and lay down with your hands over your head. YOU ARE NOT A STORM CHASER, DO NOT DRIVE TOWARD THE TORNADO. If you cannot tell which way to drive, look to see which way the tornado is heading. If it looks like it is not moving, it is likely moving straight toward you. Make a 90 degree turn and drive away quickly, but safely.
If you are in mobile home, GET OUT if time permits. Even when tied down, mobile homes lead to most of the injuries and deaths related to tornadoes. When setting up your disaster plan, make sure to pick a location to go during a tornado warning that is sturdy.
Don't wait for the sirens. Tornadoes can form and begin destroying very quickly. Just because the sirens are not sounding doesn't mean the tornado will stop and wait. If you see a tornado, take shelter immediately. Some signs of an approaching tornado include roaring sounds, large hail and falling debris. Even if you can't see the tornado, seeing debris could mean one is nearby.
Oregon and Washington average around two tornadoes a year, but as many as 14 in one year have been recorded (Washington, 1997). Recent tornadoes include a small EF-0 tornado that destroyed a barn south of Pendleton in March 2011, a likely cold-air funnel that caused damage to a house and numerous trees in Creswell in December 2010, and the Aumsville EF-2 tornado that caused tens of thousands of dollars in damage and injured two in December 2010. Waterspouts are a little more common, but due to the vastness of the Pacific Ocean, they are often not seen. In the event of a waterspout, the NWS will issue a special marine warning. Waterspouts are dangerous and cause damage boats and harbors. Waterspouts CAN move onto land, becoming what is called a "land spout."
Other parts of the country are obviously more prone to tornadoes and severe weather, but this year has been especially deadly in areas in the Southeast U.S. The area known as Dixie Alley has seen two separate major outbreaks in April, both of which left numerous people dead. Here is a quick recap of the most recent historic outbreak.
The outbreak lasted from 8 a.m. April 26 to 8 a.m. April 28. During that time, a preliminary estimate of 312 tornadoes occurred. The most active day was April 27 when 226 estimated tornadoes pummeled through parts of Dixie Alley, Texas, Oklahoma, Georgia, the Carolinas and even into the Northeast. On that day, at least 344 people were killed. While the rise in the death toll has finally decreased, given the damage, it will not likely be official until all of the rubble is sifted through. Overall, the two-day total was the most people killed since 1936 when an outbreak killed 454 people, most of which were in Mississippi and Georgia.
The deadliest tornado was the Tri-State Tornado which killed just shy of 700 people. This tornado occurred in an outbreak in March 1925 where well over 700 total fatalities occurred. Given the preliminary count for April, a few records were broken. The previous record for the most tornadoes in April was 267 which was set in 1974. The previous record for the most tornadoes recorded in any month was 542 tornadoes which was set in May 2003. Both of those records have been broken with April's preliminary 600 tornadoes this year. The record number of tornadoes in any single year is 1,817 which was set in 2004. So far, 2011 has seen 881 tornadoes with the most active month of May still occurring.
The Storm Tracker 9 Weather Team will be happy to answer any questions about tornadoes that you have.
Thank you Storm Tracker 9 Weather Team!!!
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