Weather Spotter Training Coming Up!

Looking for something interesting to do on March 31st?  Sure you are.  Come join the National Weather Service and the Cowlitz County Department of Emergency Management for Weather Spotter Training.

The National Weather Service Weather Spotter Program is a network of volunteers trained in identifying irregular weather events.  These volunteers call in to report abnormal weather conditions where they live.

The training will cover:  cloud identification, gauging rainfall, measuring hailstones, types of severe wind, rating snowfall, NWS weather terminology and knowing when to call in a report.

This FREE training will be held on Tuesday, March 31st from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the back training room of Cowlitz 2 Fire and Rescue at 701 Vine Street in Kelso.

For more information call Jennifer at 577-3130 or email DEM@co.cowlitz.wa.us.

Wireless Emergency Alerts

From FEMA.GOV

Have you ever noticed a unique sound and vibration coming from your cell phone?  You may have received a Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) - a nationwide emergency alert system notifying you of a pending emergency in your area. These messages provide information about extreme weather warnings, local emergencies, AMBER Alerts™, and Presidential Alerts during a national emergency.

WEAs look like a text message and show the type and time of the alert, any action you should take, and the agency issuing the alert. If you receive a WEA, follow any directions advised by the message and seek additional information from local media or authorities.

WEAs are sent by authorized government agencies through your mobile carrier. Government partners include local and state public safety agencies, FEMA, the Federal Communications Commission, the Department of Homeland Security, and the National Weather Service.

WEA messages can save lives! To learn more check, out FEMA’s WEA Public Service Announcements and the Be Smart. Know Your Alerts and Warnings guide from America’s PrepareAthon!

Food Safety Following a Power Outage

From FEMA.GOV

Loss of power can jeopardize the safety of the food stored in your home refrigerator or freezer. In the event of a blackout, do you know how to determine if your food is safe to eat? The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) offers tips to minimize the potential loss of food and lower the risk of foodborne illness.

Before a blackout:

·        Gather an emergency supply of shelf-stable food, packaged foods, boxed or canned milk, bottle water, and canned goods;

·        Have coolers and frozen gel packs on hand to keep refrigerated food cold if the power goes out longer than four hours; and

·        Keep freezer items close together—this helps the food stay cold longer.

Bacteria in food grow rapidly at temperatures between 40 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit. The USDA instructs setting your refrigerator at or below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. If the power is out for less than four hours and the refrigerator door is kept closed, your food should be safe.

Following a blackout:

·        Discard any perishable food items such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and leftovers that have been exposed to temperatures above 40 degrees Fahrenheit for two hours or more;

·        Use a food thermometer to test the temperature of food – never taste it!  You can’t rely on appearance and odor to determine whether food is safe; and

·        Discard any items in the refrigerator that have come into contact with raw meat, seafood, or poultry juices.

Power outages can occur anywhere at any time of the year. Make sure you and your family are prepared and know what to do to avoid getting sick.

Windy Weekend

The National Weather Service predicts strong east to northeast winds to develop Saturday night and continue into Monday across SW Washington and NW Oregon.  The winds will increase late Saturday and reach their peak late Saturday night then decrease Monday afternoon. 

Gusts could reach up to 40 mph in the Portland and Vancouver area and farther north into Cowlitz County at times.

 

QuakeSmart for Business

From www.ready.gov

“With earthquakes, it’s not a matter of if; it’s a matter of when.” This video message from the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) illustrates the unpredictability of earthquakes and the impact tremors can have on businesses. Therefore, it is important for business owners to take steps to the ensure safety of their employees and customers.

FEMA and FLASH created the QuakeSmart Community Resilience Program to walk business owners through a step-by-step process to:

·        Identify their risk by completing the “Back to Business” self-assessment;

·        Develop a plan to reduce potential injury and property damage (mitigation); and

·        Take action using the QuakeSmart Business Toolkit.

In addition, the program allows employers to apply for recognition as a member of the QuakeSmart Community. Benefits of participating in the program include:

·        A QuakeSmart Resilient Community Member window cling to announce to customers and employees that you’ve taken steps to secure your business;

·        A QuakeSmart Resilient Community Member web badge to display on your company website; and

·        A sample news release to announce your participation in the QuakeSmart Community Resilience Program.

The Small Business Association estimates that 75 percent of organizations without a continuity plan will fail within three years of a disaster. Get prepared by joining the QuakeSmart Community Resilience Program today! Employers can also find valuable information in the America’s PrepareAthon! Prepare Your Organization for an Earthquake Playbook, which provides businesses with tools and resources to support preparedness discussions, tabletop exercises, and more.   

Lots of Rain on the Way

From National Weather Service:

The next storm system arrives Monday as strong low pressure off the California coast moves toward Western Oregon, bringing gusty winds and moderate to heavy rain through Monday. The latest forecast guidance indicates winds will not be quite as strong as the Saturday morning storm. Expect gusts to 55 mph for the Coast and exposed locations in the Coast Range, with gusts to 40 mph in the Willamette Valley. Rainfall will continue through Monday night, with showers and snow levels down to 4000 feet Tuesday. Periods of heavy rainfall Sunday night through Monday evening will cause river rises, especially for the central Oregon Coastal rivers and the central and south Willamette Valley; however, no flooding is currently forecast.



  


 

Rain and wind on the way

National Weather Service says there is rain and wind in store from tonight until this weekend.  While there will be periodic heavy rains, it won't be enough to cause flooding concerns.