"The biggest game in Civil War history", "once in a lifetime opportunity", "for all the marbles" – these are just a few ways Saturday's ‘Civil War' football game in Corvallis has been described. As football fans across the state and the country watch what happens in the game, police and transportation officials remind travelers to stay focused on their game day driving before and after the game.
Oregon State Police (OSP) troopers, county deputies and several city police agencies will be on the alert for problems associated with extra traffic-related congestion and drivers who may be impatient, aggressive or impaired. An estimated 15,000 extra vehicles on Interstate 5 and roads leading into Corvallis will affect travel time and increase the potential for unanticipated problems. ODOT incident response personnel will be available to assist police and respond to reported incidents to help keep traffic moving on area roads.
Keep in mind these simple safety tips and reminders:
* Have a game plan before you leave
* Be alert and patient so you can make safe driving decisions
* Avoid distractions and keep your emotions in check while driving and when at the game
* Fasten your safety belt and have a sober, rested driver behind the wheel of your vehicle before and after the game
OSP Lieutenant Jeff Lanz urges all fans attending Saturday's game to conduct themselves in a manner that is courteous and non-offensive to those around them. Any fan that sees something dangerous or someone negatively affecting others from enjoying the game is encouraged to notify the nearest police officer, security personnel or usher.
"The safety of all fans, players, coaches and officials remain our number one priority at the game. Remember that possessing alcohol, being overly intoxicated or acting in a disruptive or obnoxious manner are some of the actions that will get you removed from the stadium and/or cited," said Lanz.
State, county and city police along with ODOT encourage reporting any possible intoxicated or dangerous driver by calling 9-1-1 or OSP dispatch at 800-24DRUNK (800-243-7865).
Up to the minute road and traffic condition updates are available on ODOT's travel information web site at www.TripCheck.com or by calling 5-1-1. For anyone who can't access 5-1-1, road and weather information can also be accessed toll-free within Oregon by dialing 800-977-ODOT (6368).
### www.oregon.gov/OSP ###
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
If the Power goes out!
Until power does return, here are some home safety tips:
Use alternative heat sources safely.
Do not burn anything inside without adequate ventilation.
Never use gas ovens, gas ranges, barbecues, hibachi, and most portable or propane heaters for indoor heating. These units burn up oxygen, create deadly carbon monoxide, and are a likely cause of fire.
Have firefighting materials on hand: dry powder, fire extinguisher, heavy tarp or blanket, and water.
Use portable generators only as independent sources of power.
Do not connect generators to your home’s main service panels.
Make sure generators are used where there is good ventilation.
Keep doors to refrigerators and freezers shut to conserve heat.
Use foods that can spoil rapidly first.
“If in doubt, throw it out”.
Lastly and most important, we ask that you please check on your neighbors to make sure they are being taken care of during this extensive power outage.
Use alternative heat sources safely.
Do not burn anything inside without adequate ventilation.
Never use gas ovens, gas ranges, barbecues, hibachi, and most portable or propane heaters for indoor heating. These units burn up oxygen, create deadly carbon monoxide, and are a likely cause of fire.
Have firefighting materials on hand: dry powder, fire extinguisher, heavy tarp or blanket, and water.
Use portable generators only as independent sources of power.
Do not connect generators to your home’s main service panels.
Make sure generators are used where there is good ventilation.
Keep doors to refrigerators and freezers shut to conserve heat.
Use foods that can spoil rapidly first.
“If in doubt, throw it out”.
Lastly and most important, we ask that you please check on your neighbors to make sure they are being taken care of during this extensive power outage.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Tips for getting through till the power comes back on
The repair of the power grids has been difficult and power surges from appliances left on have hampered their success. Citizens are asked to shut off all unnecessary appliances in anticipation of power restoration. Until power does return, here are some home safety tips:
Use alternative heat sources safely.
Do not burn anything inside without adequate ventilation.
Never use gas ovens, gas ranges, barbecues, hibachi, and most portable or propane heaters for indoor heating. These units burn up oxygen, create deadly carbon monoxide, and are a likely cause of fire.
Have firefighting materials on hand: dry powder, fire extinguisher, heavy tarp or blanket, and water.
Use portable generators only as independent sources of power.
Do not connect generators to your home’s main service panels.
Make sure generators are used where there is good ventilation.
Keep doors to refrigerators and freezers shut to conserve heat.
Use foods that can spoil rapidly first.
“If in doubt, throw it out”.
Lastly and most important, we ask that you please check on your neighbors to make sure they are being taken care of during this extensive power outage.
Use alternative heat sources safely.
Do not burn anything inside without adequate ventilation.
Never use gas ovens, gas ranges, barbecues, hibachi, and most portable or propane heaters for indoor heating. These units burn up oxygen, create deadly carbon monoxide, and are a likely cause of fire.
Have firefighting materials on hand: dry powder, fire extinguisher, heavy tarp or blanket, and water.
Use portable generators only as independent sources of power.
Do not connect generators to your home’s main service panels.
Make sure generators are used where there is good ventilation.
Keep doors to refrigerators and freezers shut to conserve heat.
Use foods that can spoil rapidly first.
“If in doubt, throw it out”.
Lastly and most important, we ask that you please check on your neighbors to make sure they are being taken care of during this extensive power outage.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
FEMA: PREVENT FIRES THIS THANKSGIVING
WASHINGTON- As our nation comes together to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and its United States Fire Administration (USFA) would like to remind all residents to Put a Freeze on all Fires.
According to data from the USFA, an estimated 2,000 Thanksgiving Day fires in residential buildings occur annually in the United States, resulting in an estimated average of five deaths, 25 injuries and $21 million in property loss each year. The leading cause of all Thanksgiving Day fires in residential buildings is cooking. In addition, these fires occur most frequently in the afternoon hours from noon to 4 p.m. And unfortunately, smoke alarms were not present in 20 percent of Thanksgiving Day fires that occurred in occupied residential buildings.
"Disasters can happen any time, any where, but some emergencies at home can be avoided by taking a few simple steps for safety," said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. "And don't forget this holiday season, while gathered around the table with family and friends, is a great time to talk about your family emergency plan, and what you would do in the case of a disaster."
FEMA and USFA have issued a special report examining the characteristics of Thanksgiving Day fires in residential buildings. The report, Thanksgiving Day Fires in Residential Buildings, was developed by USFA's National Fire Data Center and is further evidence of FEMA's commitment to sharing information with fire departments and first responders around the country to help them keep their communities safe during this holiday. Read the report for more information.
The USFA also suggests these safety cooking tips:
Make sure you have smoke alarms on every level of your home, outside each sleeping area, and in every bedroom. Test smoke alarms monthly and replace them if they are 10 years old or older.
Keep a close watch on your cooking. You should never leave cooking food unattended.
Keep oven food packaging and other combustibles away from burners and heat sources.
Heat cooking oil slowly and watch it closely; it can ignite quickly.
Don't wear loose sleeves while working over hot stove burners - they can melt, ignite or catch on handles of pots and pans spilling hot oil and other liquids.
Have a "kid-free zone" of at least three-feet around the stove and areas where hot foods or drinks are prepared or carried.
Keep a lid nearby to smother small grease fires. Smother the fire by sliding the lid over the pan and turn off the stovetop. Leave the pan covered until it is completely cool.
"Thanksgiving marks the start of a very busy time for all firefighters," said Acting Fire Administrator Glenn Gaines. "Holiday decorations, heating, and increased indoor cooking all present just some of the causes of residential fires. Your place of residence should be the safest place of all. Protect it with working smoke alarms and know what to do if a fire should occur."
Deep-fried turkey has quickly grown in popularity but safety experts are concerned that backyard chefs may be sacrificing fire safety for good taste. If you absolutely must use a turkey fryer, please use the following tips:
Turkey fryers should always be used outdoors a safe distance from buildings and any other flammable materials.
Never use turkey fryers in a garage or on a wooden deck.
Make sure the fryers are used on a flat surface to reduce accidental tipping.
Never leave the fryer unattended. Most units do not have thermostat controls. If you do not watch the fryer carefully, the oil will continue to heat until it catches fire.
Never let children or pets near the fryer even if it is not in use. The oil inside the cooking pot can remain dangerously hot hours after use.
To avoid oil spillover, do not overfill the fryer.
Use well-insulated potholders or oven mitts when touching pot or lid handles. If possible, wear safety goggles to protect your eyes from oil splatter.
Make sure the turkey is completely thawed and be careful with marinades. Oil and water do not mix, and water causes oil to spill over causing a fire or even an explosion hazard.
The National Turkey Federation (NTF) recommends thawing the turkey in the refrigerator approximately 24 hours for every five pounds in weight.
Keep an all-purpose fire extinguisher nearby.
Never use water to extinguish a grease fire. If the fire is manageable, use your all-purpose fire extinguisher. If the fire increases, immediately call the fire department for help.
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.
According to data from the USFA, an estimated 2,000 Thanksgiving Day fires in residential buildings occur annually in the United States, resulting in an estimated average of five deaths, 25 injuries and $21 million in property loss each year. The leading cause of all Thanksgiving Day fires in residential buildings is cooking. In addition, these fires occur most frequently in the afternoon hours from noon to 4 p.m. And unfortunately, smoke alarms were not present in 20 percent of Thanksgiving Day fires that occurred in occupied residential buildings.
"Disasters can happen any time, any where, but some emergencies at home can be avoided by taking a few simple steps for safety," said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. "And don't forget this holiday season, while gathered around the table with family and friends, is a great time to talk about your family emergency plan, and what you would do in the case of a disaster."
FEMA and USFA have issued a special report examining the characteristics of Thanksgiving Day fires in residential buildings. The report, Thanksgiving Day Fires in Residential Buildings, was developed by USFA's National Fire Data Center and is further evidence of FEMA's commitment to sharing information with fire departments and first responders around the country to help them keep their communities safe during this holiday. Read the report for more information.
The USFA also suggests these safety cooking tips:
Make sure you have smoke alarms on every level of your home, outside each sleeping area, and in every bedroom. Test smoke alarms monthly and replace them if they are 10 years old or older.
Keep a close watch on your cooking. You should never leave cooking food unattended.
Keep oven food packaging and other combustibles away from burners and heat sources.
Heat cooking oil slowly and watch it closely; it can ignite quickly.
Don't wear loose sleeves while working over hot stove burners - they can melt, ignite or catch on handles of pots and pans spilling hot oil and other liquids.
Have a "kid-free zone" of at least three-feet around the stove and areas where hot foods or drinks are prepared or carried.
Keep a lid nearby to smother small grease fires. Smother the fire by sliding the lid over the pan and turn off the stovetop. Leave the pan covered until it is completely cool.
"Thanksgiving marks the start of a very busy time for all firefighters," said Acting Fire Administrator Glenn Gaines. "Holiday decorations, heating, and increased indoor cooking all present just some of the causes of residential fires. Your place of residence should be the safest place of all. Protect it with working smoke alarms and know what to do if a fire should occur."
Deep-fried turkey has quickly grown in popularity but safety experts are concerned that backyard chefs may be sacrificing fire safety for good taste. If you absolutely must use a turkey fryer, please use the following tips:
Turkey fryers should always be used outdoors a safe distance from buildings and any other flammable materials.
Never use turkey fryers in a garage or on a wooden deck.
Make sure the fryers are used on a flat surface to reduce accidental tipping.
Never leave the fryer unattended. Most units do not have thermostat controls. If you do not watch the fryer carefully, the oil will continue to heat until it catches fire.
Never let children or pets near the fryer even if it is not in use. The oil inside the cooking pot can remain dangerously hot hours after use.
To avoid oil spillover, do not overfill the fryer.
Use well-insulated potholders or oven mitts when touching pot or lid handles. If possible, wear safety goggles to protect your eyes from oil splatter.
Make sure the turkey is completely thawed and be careful with marinades. Oil and water do not mix, and water causes oil to spill over causing a fire or even an explosion hazard.
The National Turkey Federation (NTF) recommends thawing the turkey in the refrigerator approximately 24 hours for every five pounds in weight.
Keep an all-purpose fire extinguisher nearby.
Never use water to extinguish a grease fire. If the fire is manageable, use your all-purpose fire extinguisher. If the fire increases, immediately call the fire department for help.
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.
Vernonia Schools Groundbreaking Celebration
To all who have helped us reach this big milestone, come join us at the GROUNDBREAKING On December 2!
**10am Groundbreaking at the new school site, with Governor Kulongoski and the leadership team
**11am Student Assembly in the Washington Grade School gym
**11:30am Appreciation Reception hosted by Oregon Solutions in the Vernonia High School gym
We will celebrate the many recent developments that led to this exciting event, including the $1 million challenge grant by the Ford Family Foundation (see www.vernoniaschools.org) as well as financial and in-kind contributions by many other partners. See details in the electronic invitation attached below--and feel free to forward to your colleagues who have been involved. We hope to see you there!
**10am Groundbreaking at the new school site, with Governor Kulongoski and the leadership team
**11am Student Assembly in the Washington Grade School gym
**11:30am Appreciation Reception hosted by Oregon Solutions in the Vernonia High School gym
We will celebrate the many recent developments that led to this exciting event, including the $1 million challenge grant by the Ford Family Foundation (see www.vernoniaschools.org) as well as financial and in-kind contributions by many other partners. See details in the electronic invitation attached below--and feel free to forward to your colleagues who have been involved. We hope to see you there!
Monday, November 22, 2010
Counties prep for 2-1-1 help line
By Alex Paul, Albany Democrat-Herald | Posted: Monday, November 22, 2010 9:00 am
By next summer, residents of Linn, Benton and Lincoln counties will be able to make a single phone call to learn how they can seek help with health care, transportation, food pantries and other needs.
A 2-1-1 phone program is expected to be up and running by then, according to Greg Roe, executive director of United Way of Linn County, and Jennifer Moore, executive director of United Way in Benton and Lincoln counties.
Two-one-one operates much like the well-known 911 for emergencies, they say. It has been operating in the Portland area and in seven Oregon counties with great success. The goal is to have 2-1-1 in effect in every county in the state by 2013.
Calls are answered Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The service received more than 260,000 calls last year.
There have been more than 5,000 calls from people in Linn, Benton and Lincoln counties to the Portland 2-1-1 program in the last year, according to Roe.
“People have heard about it and are looking for help where they can find it,” he said.
Moore said data is being compiled at a “hub” in Lincoln County. Once that work is done, the data manager will begin work in Benton and then Linn County.
“We are developing relationships and updating information for entire counties, not just with specific towns,” Moore said. “When someone from one of the three counties calls 2-1-1, the operator will be able to tell them not only where the nearest resource is available to them, but also, what materials are needed to qualify for help, hours of operation, and in some cases, how many vouchers are available at a given time so they aren’t wasting their time.”
Information compiled locally will be available through the 2-1-1 center in Portland. The goal is to make all information available statewide.
Also, the information will be available on-line for anyone with Internet access, Roe and Moore said.
Linn, Benton and Lincoln counties already share many services, and sharing one data manager helps reduce overhead costs, they added.
“There is a lot of need right now in all of the counties,” Moore said.
United Way in each of the counties will pay a share of the local program’s start-up cost, projected to be about $115,000.
Roe and Moore will soon start visiting local civic organizations to provide information about the 2-1-1 project and to seek monetary support.
Moore added that developing assistance referral data base systems in in each county’s 10-year plan to end homelessness.
“People’s needs change all of the time, so we will have to be able to change with them,” Roe said. “Right now, adult dental care is an issue since so many people have lost their insurance coverage.”
To learn more about the 2-1-1 program, or to have a United Way representative speak to your civic group, contact Roe at 541-926-5432 or Moore at 541-757-7717.
By next summer, residents of Linn, Benton and Lincoln counties will be able to make a single phone call to learn how they can seek help with health care, transportation, food pantries and other needs.
A 2-1-1 phone program is expected to be up and running by then, according to Greg Roe, executive director of United Way of Linn County, and Jennifer Moore, executive director of United Way in Benton and Lincoln counties.
Two-one-one operates much like the well-known 911 for emergencies, they say. It has been operating in the Portland area and in seven Oregon counties with great success. The goal is to have 2-1-1 in effect in every county in the state by 2013.
Calls are answered Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The service received more than 260,000 calls last year.
There have been more than 5,000 calls from people in Linn, Benton and Lincoln counties to the Portland 2-1-1 program in the last year, according to Roe.
“People have heard about it and are looking for help where they can find it,” he said.
Moore said data is being compiled at a “hub” in Lincoln County. Once that work is done, the data manager will begin work in Benton and then Linn County.
“We are developing relationships and updating information for entire counties, not just with specific towns,” Moore said. “When someone from one of the three counties calls 2-1-1, the operator will be able to tell them not only where the nearest resource is available to them, but also, what materials are needed to qualify for help, hours of operation, and in some cases, how many vouchers are available at a given time so they aren’t wasting their time.”
Information compiled locally will be available through the 2-1-1 center in Portland. The goal is to make all information available statewide.
Also, the information will be available on-line for anyone with Internet access, Roe and Moore said.
Linn, Benton and Lincoln counties already share many services, and sharing one data manager helps reduce overhead costs, they added.
“There is a lot of need right now in all of the counties,” Moore said.
United Way in each of the counties will pay a share of the local program’s start-up cost, projected to be about $115,000.
Roe and Moore will soon start visiting local civic organizations to provide information about the 2-1-1 project and to seek monetary support.
Moore added that developing assistance referral data base systems in in each county’s 10-year plan to end homelessness.
“People’s needs change all of the time, so we will have to be able to change with them,” Roe said. “Right now, adult dental care is an issue since so many people have lost their insurance coverage.”
To learn more about the 2-1-1 program, or to have a United Way representative speak to your civic group, contact Roe at 541-926-5432 or Moore at 541-757-7717.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
