It's That Time Again

No...not time for Santa to come down the chimney. It's time for the annual Emergency Community Notification System test. On December 17th at 9:15 a.m., some residents in the Mint Valley area of Longview will receive a test phone call from the Emergency Community Notification System (ECNS). ECNS is an automated call that originates from our office with a pre-recorded message to a specified geographic area. This technology could be used in the event of hazardous materials releases, volcanic activity, nearby criminal activity or any event that poses an imminent danger to the health or safety of local citizens. Residents are asked to allow the 35-second message to play through completely. The public's cooperation is requested so that the system can be tested and adjusted properly to reach optimal performance.

So, to reiterate, if you receive an automated call regarding the testing of the ECNS, please do not panic, it is only a test. To make the experience more enjoyable for the populace that will be receiving our call, the voice will be the dulcet tones of our very own director, Grover Laseke, not a robot voice. We aim to please here at the Department of Emergency Management. As always, if you have any questions or concerns regarding the test, please contact us at 577-3130 or at DEM@co.cowlitz.wa.us.

Deck the Halls...Safely!

Have a safe and happy holiday season by following these safety tips:

TREES
· When purchasing an artificial tree, look for the label "Fire Resistant." Although this label does not mean the tree won't catch fire, it does indicate the tree will resist burning and should extinguish quickly.
· When purchasing a live tree, check for freshness. A fresh tree is green; needles are hard to pull from branches and when bent between your fingers, needles do not break. The trunk butt of a fresh tree is sticky with resin, and when tapped on the ground, the tree should not lose many needles (watch "A Christmas Story" for a visual demonstration).
· When setting up a tree at home, place it away from fireplaces and radiators. Because heated rooms dry live trees out rapidly, be sure to keep the stand filled with water. Place the tree out of the way of traffic and do not block doorways.




LIGHTS
· Indoors or outside, use only lights that have been tested for safety by a recognized testing laboratory, which indicates conformance with safety standards.
· Check each set of lights, new or old, for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections, and throw out damaged sets.
· Use no more than three standard-size sets of lights per single extension cord (for a lesson on what not to do, I recommend viewing "Christmas Vacation" starring Chevy Chase).
· Never use electric lights on a metallic tree. The tree can become charged with electricity from faulty lights, and a person touching a branch could be electrocuted. Or just return your metallic tree to 1961 where it belongs.
· Fasten outdoor lights securely to trees, house walls, or other firm supports to protect the lights from wind damage. Use only insulated staples, not nails or tacks, to hold strings in place. Or, run strings of lights through hooks (available at hardware stores).
· Turn off all lights when you go to bed or leave the house. The lights could short out and start a fire.
· For added electric-shock protection, plug outdoor electric lights and decorations into circuits protected by ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs). Portable outdoor GFCIs can be purchased where electrical supplies are sold. GFCIs can be installed permanently to household circuits by a qualified electrician (not your cousin-in-law Darryl).
DECORATIONS
· Use only non-combustible or flame-resistant materials to trim a tree. Choose tinsel or artificial icicles of plastic or nonleaded metals. Leaded materials are hazardous if ingested by children.
· Never use lighted candles on a tree or near other evergreens. Always use non-flammable holders, and place candles where they will not be knocked down.
· In homes with small children, take special care to avoid decorations that are sharp or breakable, keep trimmings with small removable parts out of the reach of children to avoid the child swallowing or inhaling small pieces, and avoid trimmings that resemble candy or food that may tempt a child to eat them.
· Wear gloves to avoid eye and skin irritation while decorating with spun glass "angel hair." Follow container directions carefully to avoid lung irritation while decorating with artificial snow sprays.


FIREPLACES
· Use care with "fire salts," which produce colored flames when thrown on wood fires. They contain heavy metals that can cause intense gastrointestinal irritation and vomiting if eaten. Keep them away from anyone who might find them tempting to ingest.
· Do not burn wrapping papers in the fireplace. A flash fire may result as wrappings ignite suddenly and burn intensely.
· Have your chimney inspected every year.
· Install a carbon monoxide detector as an extra precaution.


Most tips courtesy of US Consumer Products Safety Commission, others were embellished by staff.

How bad will the next flood be? That could be up to you!

--Excerpt from Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency blog--
“Floods are acts of God, but flood damages are acts of man”. This quote, courtesy of former King County Emergency Management Director Eric Holdeman, is only partly true, since removing water-absorbing surfaces from river basins and adding roads and buildings to floodplains can add to flood waters. But it’s absolutely true that the decisions that we make about where we live, work, and develop will be the determining factor in how our community is impacted by the next flood. We can choose not to develop in a flood-prone area. Yes, riverfront properties are the sites for many dream homes but what’s the long term price homeowners will pay? For folks who already live in a flood-prone area you can ensure that your living space is up at a safe elevation. You can also build structures that are made out of durable and water resistant materials so that they flood safely. The Washington State Department of Ecology wrote an excellent guide, Living With the River, which has more essential information that can help you make smart choices to reduce flood risks.Do you know what the flooding risk is where you live, work, and travel? If you live near a waterway (usually within a quarter of a mile) you might be at risk of flooding. You also need to determine how you’ll protect your home and your family from the next flood event. If you need them, where will you get sandbags? Home improvement stores and other local vendors often carry sandbags. During flood events, we’ll let you know where to pick up sandbags through this blog or through news releases. If your home could take on water in floods, you should also consider having sandbags that are ready to go. More information about responding to floods is available on this Washington State Emergency Management Division website.

Flood Safety Tips

Floods occur regularly in this region, causing evacuations and widespread damage. Here are a few tips you can use to lessen damage and stay safe:

*Consider purchasing flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program.
*Stay tuned to radio or TV for updates. *Never walk through moving water more than 6 inches deep.
*Cars can easily be swept away in just 2 feet of moving water. (Remember, driving a truck doesn't make you invincible!!!)
For more flood safety information, visit our website at www.co.cowlitz.wa.us/DEM.

Rainy Days and Mondays Always Get Me Down....

The National Weather Service (NWS) - Portland has alerted us that over the next few days we can expect heavy rain and winds. Forecast is for 4 to 8+ inches of rain and winds to 40 mph on Tuesday and Wednesday in the valley . Heavy rain will start tonight and last through Thursday. Heaviest rain can be expected on Tuesday (2 to 4 inches) and Wednesday (1.5 to 4 inches).

The Cowlitz River is expected to go to 18.5 feet by Wednesday afternoon. Most SW Washington rivers are expected to crest by Wednesday night. In addition to the heavy rain there will be exceptionally high tides during the period which may impact coastal rivers. Freezing levels are expected to be above 10,000 feet during the rain period.

DEM will be monitoring the weather and distribute information as it becomes available. Because of the Veterans Day holiday you may wish to keep an eye on the weather and take appropriate actions to prepare.

More information can be obtained by going to the NWS website at: http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/pqr/

Prepare your home and family for blustery days ahead

A news release from the Washington State Emergency Management Division

Camp Murray, Wash. – Forecasts for stormy weather in the coming days mean it is time for action to prepare for winds, rain and floods.

“Fall is our stormy time of year, and a few preparedness steps now can make a big difference in protecting your home and family,” said Jim Mullen, director, Washington Emergency Management Division, Washington Military Department.

Mullen said one huge preparedness step home- and business-owners can take is to clean out gutters and street drains which could clog with leaves and create urban flooding problems. “You’d be amazed,” he said, “how this simple step will keep traffic moving through your neighborhood and free up city crews to focus on other pressure points.”

Other preparedness tips:
· Listen to your radio or television for winter storm forecasts and other information.
· Check on your disaster preparedness kit to ensure it contains food, light sticks, water, flashlights, a battery-powered radio and a wind-up clock.
· Know how to safely use a generator so it will not create a dangerous indoor carbon monoxide buildup.
· Never burn charcoal or use a generator indoors or in carport.
· Stay away from downed power lines.
· Call 9-1-1 only for emergencies. Dial 2-1-1 for other information.

Preparing to drive in heavy rains:
· Equip your vehicle with all-season tires.
· Fill your gas tank before stormy weather hits.
· Dress to keep warm and dry if you become stranded and have to walk.
· Allow extra time to reach your destination.
· Take routes that avoid low-lying roads that may be underwater.
· Follow official emergency evacuation routes.
· Do not go around “Road Closed” barriers.
· Do not drive or walk through standing water.
· If you vehicle stalls in floodwater, get out quickly and move to higher ground.

Further preparedness information can be found at the Cowlitz County Department of Emergency Management website at www.co.cowlitz.wa.us/dem.

Community Voicemail

Press Release from Lower Columbia Community Action Program:

A new voice mail service provided by Lower Columbia Community Action Program (CAP) will soon help social service, government, healthcare, churches and other organizations to keep in touch with their clients in need.

CAP is the local host organization for the Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Community Voice Mail (CVM), the local affiliate of the Community Voice Mail Federation, headquartered in Seattle.

“For many people, Community Voice Mail serves as their only telephone connection to critical services such as housing, food, shelters and medical facilities,” said Mike Chapman, CVM Manager at CAP. “If someone is homeless, in transition or crisis, or perhaps needs confidentiality or protection due to domestic violence, CVM enables them to keep in contact with these services.”

CAP is currently promoting the service to local organizations for their clients.
“The key to ensuring that CVM is available to everyone who needs it is to have a large number of organizations that offer the service,” said Chapman.

CVM is simple to use for both an organization and their clients. CAP provides support, training and activity reports specific to the organization. Case workers at the organizations determine who qualifies for CVM. After a brief enrollment and training process, clients are provided with a unique telephone number that connects to their very own voice-mail system. They may provide their phone number to any organization, healthcare office, on their resume for employers, and even to family and friends.

Once a client’s CVM number is activated, case managers or others who have the phone number may call to leave important messages. Callers will not be able to tell the CVM system from any other telephone voice mail service. The client can call from any phone to receive their CVM messages. They may even respond to messages initiated by the organization that provides their CVM.

When the client no longer requires the voice mailbox, the organization can erase all messages in the mailbox and reassign it to another client.

Chapman says that CVM can provide a valuable service during times of disaster, emergency situations, or extreme weather conditions. “We have the ability to send a broadcast message to all CVM users. For example, when Hurricane Ike was bearing down on Houston, the local CVM manager sent a message to over 6,000 of the city’s homeless who were using the Community Voice Mail system, directing them to appropriate emergency shelters. A majority of them weren’t even aware of the impending hurricane.”

Nearly 50 organizations nationwide serve as CVM hosts to their regions, including sites in Los Angeles, Dallas, Houston, Chicago and New York. Collectively, they provided CVM service to over 60,000 people last year.

For more information about CVM, go to the CAP website (www.lowercolumbiacap.org), or contact Mike Chapman at 360-425-3430, Ext. 247, or mikec@lowercolumbiacap.org.