Health and Prevention Fair

Looking for something fun to do on Saturday?  Check out the Health and Prevention Fair at Youth and Family Link from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Youth and Family Link Building on Douglas St. in Longview.  There will be lots of information booths, games and chances to win great prizes!  Come see us and enter to win a one-person 72-hour disaster supply kit.

PUD Senior Fair Coming Up

Don't forget, Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. is the PUD sponsored Senior Fair!  Stop by the PUD Auditorium at 961 12th Avenue to enjoy refreshments, learn about local services and opportunities for Cowlitz County seniors and enter to win great prizes.  DEM will be on hand to talk about preparedness needs for seniors. 

Dogapawlooza!

Are you and your pooch looking for something fun to do this weekend?  Come to the Cowlitz County Fairgrounds and check out the 5th Annual DOGAPAWLOOZA!  This event will be Saturday and Sunday from 9-5 at the Fairgrounds.  There will be a Flyball tournament, peanut butter eating contest, costume contest, wiener dog races and much, much more. 

DEM will be there with a table all about getting your pets prepared for a disaster.  You can enter to win a "Doggone It Disaster Kit" and learn all about making your own 72-hour disaster supply kit. 

This event is so much fun, we've attended for the past 3 years and have always had a blast.  Hope to see you there!

Some Thoughts on September 12th

Yes, this a re-run of what I wrote last year, but it's still timely. 

The attacks on September 11th are my generation's Kennedy Assassination. People in my parents' age group can usually tell me what they were doing when they found out Kennedy was assassinated and how it changed that feeling of security, that feeling that America was somehow untouchable, charmed maybe.


That is what September 12th means to me. The 11th was surreal, the 12th was very, very real. I was 20 years old, living on my own and learning the ropes as a card carrying adult. September 12th, 2001 was when I realized America wasn't what I thought it was. It was like the first time you realized your parents didn't have all the answers, when you realized the Wizard of Oz was just a guy behind a curtain. America wasn't untouchable, wars didn't just happen to other people on the other side of the world.

This was terrifying to me as a young adult. I wasn't a child that could trust that I would be taken care of by "the grown ups." I was the grown up now. I had to not only take care of myself should attacks become more widespread, this also meant I had to really think about my decisions as a voter and as an American.

I had no control over what happened on September 11th. Neither did you. But I do have control over how I will be ready should similar events happen in the future. So do you. September 12th is a day to take control. Make a plan, make a kit, be aware of your surroundings. Use September 11th as a day to reflect and to mourn what was lost. Use today as a day to become stronger and ready to take on whatever is next.

Fire Trucks on the Lake

Looking for something fun to do in the sun tomorrow? Come to Horseshoe Lake in Woodland and check out "Fire Trucks on the Lake," an event that brings antique fire apparatus together with local fire, police and EMS agencies. Lots of displays, demonstrations and fun. We'll be there--you should be too!

PUD Launches Automated Outage System

Cowlitz PUD launches automated system to handle outage calls


During an electrical outage, Cowlitz PUD’s focus is to restore power as quickly as possible while providing accurate and timely information about the outage. On September 4, 2012, Cowlitz PUD launched its new Outage Alert Hotline to facilitate this process.

In the event of an electrical outage, PUD customers are encouraged to call the Outage Alert Hotline at (360) 423-1200 to provide information specific to their particular outage situation. Cowlitz PUD customers calling from outside the area may do so toll-free at 1-855-49POWER.

Customers will benefit by getting a quick response and by receiving pertinent outage information. Often an area-specific message, with information about the type and/or cause of the outage, will greet the caller. Sweeping outages may offer a broader message. The PUD will benefit by being able to concentrate on restoring power as quickly as possible, while keeping customer and employee safety as its top priority.

The new automated system—using phone numbers provided by customers—will recognize the caller, ask them to verify their address and log the caller’s information. Since the Outage Alert Hotline requires a current customer phone number to work properly, customers are asked to keep their contact information up to date with the PUD.

Customers may update their contact information by going to www.cowlitzpud.org/outagealert, or by calling a customer services representative at (360) 423-2210. To ensure data privacy, customers will be asked to verify their identity with information found on their Cowlitz PUD bill prior to making a phone number change. Information collected will ONLY be used to update PUD account information.

PUD Senior Fair is Coming!

In case the picture doesn't show up for those of you who are subscribers, the Cowlitz County PUD will hold their 2nd annual Senior Fair on September 20th from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the John Searing Auditorium at 961 12th Avenue in Longview (PUD Building).  The fair is a fantastic way to learn more about opportunities for seniors in our community, ways to save money and lots, lots more.  There will be lots of prizes, including a 1 person 72-hour disaster supply kit.  Stop by and see us!