Nasty Weather Ahead

According to the Portland office of the National Weather Service, our area is in for some more ugly Spring Break weather. Snow is beginning to accumulate in the Coastal Mountains and in the Cascade Foothills. Very cool air has lowered snow levels to around 2000 feet this morning. Heavy rain showers will continue tonight and on into Wednesday. There remains a good chance of isolated thunderstorms throughout the day today. The snow level may drop to 1500 feet tonight before climbing back up to 2000 tomorrow. In other words, it's a good day to stay inside and watch a great movie.

Preparing for Chemical Emergencies

*From Preparing for Hazardous Chemical Emergencies in Your Community, from the Washington State Emergency Management Division

Communities throughout the Pacific Northwest are subject to a number of chemical-related disasters. While we all hope that such occurrences never happen, it has been shown time and time again that being prepared for disaster is always the best bet.

One hazard that many people forget to prepare for is a major chemical emergency. Our own community has many industrial facilities that produce or maintain a variety of hazardous chemicals. Cowlitz County also has major railways and a freeway that often are used to transport chemicals.

What to do during a major chemical emergency:

• You can be notified of a major chemical emergency by authorities. If you hear a siren or other warning signal, turn on a radio or television for information.


• To get your attention, a siren could sound, you could be called from the county's Emergency Community Notification System, or emergency personnel may drive by and give instructions over a loudspeaker.

One of the basic instructions you may be given in a chemical emergency is to shelter-in-place. This is a basic precaution to keep you and your family safe while remaining in your home.

Steps to Shelter-in-Place

• Go indoors immediately


• Go into a room with the fewest doors and windows (bathrooms are usually safe bets)


• Take your disaster supply kit with you (you have one, right?)


• Seal gaps and cracks under doorways and windows with wet towels and duct tape


• Listen to local radio or television stations, or a NOAA Weather Radio for further instructions


• If time permits, close off nonessential rooms such as storage areas, laundry rooms, and extra bedrooms


• Seal gaps around air conditioning units, bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans, and stove and dryer vents with duct tape and plastic sheeting, wax paper, or aluminum foil.


• Stay in the room and listen to your radio or television until you are told all is safe, or you are told to evacuate. Local officials may call for evacuation in specific areas at greatest risk in your community. Following the advice of local authorities is your safest choice.


• If you are told there is danger of explosion, close the window shades, blinds or curtains. To avoid injury, stay away from the windows.


• You can provide a minimal amount of breathing protection by covering your mouth and nose with a damp cloth. Many chemicals can cause damage to breathing passages.


• Immediately after the shelter-in-place announcement, fill bathtubs or large containers for an additional water supply, and turn off the intake valve to the house. Water supplies may become contaminated. Preserve the water you have available.


• Avoid eating or drinking any food or water that may be contaminated.

Happy Flood Safety Awareness Week

The National Weather Service has deemed March 15-19 as Flood Safety Awareness Week. Flooding is a threat in most areas, ours included. We're looking pretty good right now, but areas of the midwest, east and south are experiencing some heavy flooding at this time. Let's hope we stay nice and dry this spring!

US Census 2010

April 1st is fast approaching for the 2010 U.S. Census. In 2000, Cowlitz County had a response rate between 69%-74% and Wahkiakum County rate was between 63%-68% compared to the national rate of 74%.
The U.S. Census Bureau began mailing advance letters to about 120 million addresses nationwide, notifying households that 2010 Census forms will be arriving March 15-17. The one-page letter urges households to complete the 10-question census form when it arrives and to return it in the accompanying prepaid envelope as soon as possible.
Census Bureau research shows that reaching out to respondents with an advance letter and reminder postcard if necessary can boost census mail-back rates and save money. For every 1% increase in households that respond by mail, taxpayers save about $85 million in operational costs associated with census takers going door to door to follow up with households that did not mail back the form.
Need to know why you should care? Check out this link. It is important and it does matter. Please take the take to fill out the forms and return them.

Set your clocks, check your stocks

No, not your Microsoft stocks, your emergency stockpiles!

When it’s time to change your clocks because of daylight saving time, remember to check your preparedness kit to make sure your emergency stockpile isn’t missing any items and that the food hasn’t expired. APHA’s Get Ready: Set Your Clocks, Check Your Stocks campaign is reminding people to refresh their emergency supplies before a disaster occurs.

If you haven’t created a stockpile yet, now is the time to create one! (And as always, don’t forget to check the batteries in your smoke alarms.) This information is good year-round: You don't have to wait for the clock change to update your stockpile.

I checked my emergency kit yesterday and was I ever glad that I did! I had a handful of hard candy on the bottom that somehow turned to sticky goo and got all over some of my emergency food and first aid kit. I was able to get that cleaned up (and by I, I mean my husband) and then go through and rotate out the water that was getting ready to expire and swap out some canned foods. I feel all warm and fuzzy now and I know if an emergency were to hit and I needed my kit, it wouldn't be covered in cinnamon goo and infested with ants. Good times!

And You Thought Winter Was Over.....

Just when you thought it was safe to put away the gloves and scarves....Mother Nature has a way of reminding us who is in charge. According to the National Weather Service, some *snow* (dare we say it!) is on the way, so don't be surprised if the lawn you mowed this Saturday is sprinkled with some little white stuff. Now for the official info straight from NWS Portland:

Dramatically colder air spreading into southwest Washington
and northwest Oregon this morning...

After January and February brought one of the mildest starts to
the year in much of southwest Washington and northwest Oregon...
the lowest snow levels since last December were already spreading
into southwest Washington and northwest Oregon early this morning.

Snow levels had already fallen below 2000 feet across southwest
Washington and parts of northwest Oregon early this morning. A
cold front was moving through the Cascades but was weakening and
precipitation was decreasing. The snow level will continue to fall
today... to around 1000 feet this afternoon. However... snow amounts
will be limited as showers will not be very numerous. Only a
couple of inches of snow are expected during the day today in the
mountains... and just light amounts at lower elevations.

Snow levels will continue to fall tonight and will likely go below
1000 feet... however showers will continue to decrease tonight and
early Tuesday... so amounts will be limited.

Snow levels will remain very low as the next, more moist
and organized frontal system, moves in later Tuesday and Tuesday
evening. Snow levels could start out as low as 1000 feet... and
possibly even a bit lower.

Snow levels will likely rise for the following system expected
late in the week.

6.4 Earthquake Hits Taiwan

Sixty-four people were injured today as a powerful 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck Taiwan. For more on this story, click here. What do all these earthquakes mean? Who knows for sure, but it might be a good time to go over your emergency plans with your family. Just sayin'....