DNR Warns of Increased Fire Danger

From http://www.tdn.com/

This weekend's high temperatures, low humidity and breezy conditions have prompted the state Department of Natural Resources to ask people to be extra careful with fire, tools and other activities when outdoors west of the Cascade Mountains.

Many Washington counties have fire hazard levels rated "high" to "extreme" this weekend due to dry weather and low moisture levels in grasses, trees and other vegetation. Under these conditions, one spark can lead to a catastrophic wildfire, according to DNR.

In an effort to reduce human-caused wildfires, the DNR issued a statewide burn ban on all DNR-protected lands, including all forestlands in Washington except for federal lands, from July 15 through Sept. 30. Recreational fires are allowed in approved fire pits at designated campgrounds, although some campgrounds may have additional burn restrictions in place.

Joe Shramek, manager of DNR's Resource Protection Division, said he's especially concerned about recreational campfires. In recent weeks, the DNR has responded to an unusually high number of unattended campfires that were not completely extinguished and not cool to the touch.

Check local conditions and restrictions by calling 1-800-323-BURN (2876) or visit http://fortress.wa.gov/dnr/firedanger

The Heat is On!

The National Weather Service in Portland has announced an "Excessive Heat Watch" from Saturday afternoon until Monday evening for our area. High temperatures in the mid to upper 90's can be expected Saturday through Monday with some locations reaching 100 degrees on Sunday or Monday.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

An "Excessive Heat Watch" means that a prolonged period of hot temperatures is possible. The heat may create a dangerous situation in which heat related illnesses are likely. Make sure to stay hydrated and out of the sun during the heat of the day. Never, ever leave children or animals in a closed car as heat stroke can occur in minutes.

New Alert System for River Levels

The USGS now has a text message and e-mail alerting system for their river gauges. It is available at: http://water.usgs.gov/wateralert/

The WaterAlert system allows you to subscribe to receive information about river gauge heights/flow rates. You can set parameters so that, for example, you can receive notification if a river gauge exceeds a specific gauge height/flow rate.

StreaMail allows you to send an e-mail or text message to streamail@usgs.gov and it will immediately return the height/flow for the river that you specified.

This is a great tool if you live near a local river, as they tend to flood every once in a while.

Check Out Cowlitz County Dive Rescue!

Be sure to take some time to check out the Cowlitz County Dive Rescue's updated webpage here and become a fan on Facebook. The Cowlitz County Dive Rescue Team is your only local dive rescue and recovery team. They are a dedicated group of volunteers that work in partnership with the Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office, the Department of Emergency Management, and other law enforcement and public safety agencies to respond to water-related incidents in Cowlitz County. They respond to in-water distress calls, recoveries and help provide a first line of defense against accidental drowning. They provide this service for free. It's not their job, they do it because they care.

The Cowlitz County Dive Rescue Team is also called upon when items become lost in the water or evidence must be recovered from our waterways to help solve crimes. They have training in crime scene preservation and recovery.

All of the services of the team are rendered on a 100% volunteer basis. They are all trained to professional, public-safety diving levels and work diligently to train as often as possible. This can be difficult when volunteer members must provide their own vehicles, dive gear and pay for their own training.

In 2009 alone, they responded to over 20 emergency calls and logged nearly 400 hours of mission time, with 400 hours of training time. Dives account for 35% of all requests for emergency management volunteers. In short, they are the smallest team that takes on the most dangerous and costly missions.

The funding for the team comes mostly from small government grants and donations from local businesses and individuals. The Cowlitz County Dive Rescue Team would greatly appreciate your support by making a donation or becoming a sponsor of the team. As they are a non-profit entity, all donations are tax-deductible and a receipt will be issued to you upon request. Checks can be sent to Cowlitz County Dive Rescue Association c/0 Cowlitz County DEM, 312 SW First Ave, Kelso, WA (make checks payable to Cowlitz County Dive Rescue) or you can donate online by clicking here with most major credit cards or a PayPal account.

Want to Help Build a Better Cowlitz County?

The Cowlitz County Comprehensive Plan is in the process of being updated and retooled. The purpose of the Plan is to manage the County's growth in an orderly, positive, and constructive fashion. Do you have an opinion on what you'd like to see happen in the county in the future? What are your priorities for the next generation of Cowlitz County residents? Take a few minutes to fill out this survey by clicking here and make your voice heard! To read the current Comprehensive Plan, click here.

Reporting Terrorism--What To Watch Out For

Info courtesy of Channing-Bete Company

Reporting terrorist threats is an important part of Homeland Security. Terrorists try to promote their beliefs by threatening and committing violence, disrupting daily life and creating uncertainty, panic and fear. Our government is working hard to defend our homeland by preventing and responding to terrorism threats and by bringing the people behind them to justice. You can help defend our country too! Through vigilance and common sense, you can make a difference--by reporting suspicious activities and materials to the proper authorities.

Targets of terrorism include--

Symbols of a nation, city or institution:
* government buildings
* financial districts
* major monuments
* tourist attractions
* other landmarks
Utilities
* power plants
* water supplies
Transportation systems
* airports or airplanes
* public transit
* bridges
Public safety areas
* hospitals
* police stations
* fire stations
* military bases
Communications systems
* phone services
* internet networks
* mail delivery service

Be aware of strange behavior--but don't take matters into your own hands. Alert your supervisor, or the police at once if a person:

*Seems to be hiding something such as a package or a weapon

*Tries to enter a facility or use a vehicle without the required credentials

*Seeks access to restricted areas or supplies (for example: water wells at food processing plants, municipal reservoirs, chemicals, fertilizers or other hazardous materials)

*Hangs around a facility or drives past it several times

*Leaves a possession such as a briefcase, suitcase or backpack in a place that might be a target.

If you are interested in learning more join us for an informative class all about Terrorism Awareness and Prevention. The class is taught by former Homeland Security Consultant and current Longview Fire Battalion Chief Kevin Taylor and will cover such topics as: What is terrorism, international and domestic terrorism, how to report suspected activity and how to keep your community safe. This course is designed to provide a basic awareness of terrorist activities on an international and local level. The course is free and open to the public. The class will be held on Wednesday,August 25th from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Cowlitz County Administration Building, 207 N. 4th Avenue in Kelso. If you are interested in attending, please email DEM@co.cowlitz.wa.us or call us at (360) 577-3130.

It's National Night Out!

From Katu.com
PORTLAND, Ore. – Neighborhoods across the nation will be taking a "National Night Out" on Tuesday, Aug. 3. The goal? To strengthen neighborhood spirit and send a message to criminals that neighborhoods are fighting back.

The Department of Emergency Management will be at Tam O'Shanter Park in Kelso tonight from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. along with several other agencies. Join us for free activities, games, prizes and refreshments!