Two sessions of volunteer orientation will be held in October for the Pacific County Medical Reserve Corps. The first will be Monday, October 19, 2009 in the large conference room at the Pacific County Administration Facility in Long Beach. The second session is Monday, October 26, 2009 in the Commissioner's meeting room at the Courthouse Annex in South Bend. Both sessions will be from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm and dinner will be served. To RSVP or for questions please contact Annie Merritt at (360) 481-2609 or email [email protected].
Pacific County has been informed that the National Weather Service website has posted information in error regarding the Tsunami Advisory resulting from a M8.0 earthquake that occurred of the coast of American Samoa. The NWS websitehttp://www.wrh.noaa.gov/pqr/ indicates that the West Coast Alaska Tsunami Warning Center has issued a Tsunami Advisory for the coast of Pacific County. This is an error in geo-coding that cannot be corrected at this time. Based upon the best available forecast information, there WILL NOT be issuing a Tsunami Advisory for the coast of Washington State, British Columbia, or Alaska. A TSUNAMI ADVISORY MEANS THAT A TSUNAMI CAPABLE OF PRODUCING STRONG CURRENTS OR WAVES DANGEROUS TO PERSONS IN OR VERY NEAR THE WATER IS IMMINENT OR EXPECTED. SIGNIFICANT WIDESPREAD INUNDATION IS NOT EXPECTED FOR AREAS UNDER AN ADVISORY. CURRENTS MAY BE HAZARDOUS TO SWIMMERS... BOATS... AND COASTAL STRUCTURES AND MAY CONTINUE FOR SEVERAL HOURS AFTER THE INITIAL WAVE ARRIVAL. Wave heights for CA and OR may be up to 55 cm (appx. 1.8 feet). Projected heights for WA at Neah Bay and Toke Point are forecast to be smaller, around 6 cm (appx. 0.19 ft.) The arrival time for the West Coast is expected to be approximately 6 hours from now around 9 pm PDT and arrival in Hawaii will occur within 2 hours.
Pacific County has received an update on the M8.0 earthquake that occurred of the coast of American Samoa. According to Paul Whitmore, Director of the West Coast Alaska Tsunami Warning Center, a tsunami was generated and reports indicated a wave of +/- 1 meter (about 3 ft.) struck the coast of American Samoa. The WCATWC has issued a Tsunami Advisory for the coast of California and Oregon. Based upon the best available forecast information, they WILL NOT be issuing a Tsunami Advisory for the coast of Washington State, British Columbia, or Alaska. A TSUNAMI ADVISORY MEANS THAT A TSUNAMI CAPABLE OF PRODUCING STRONG CURRENTS OR WAVES DANGEROUS TO PERSONS IN OR VERY NEAR THE WATER IS IMMINENT OR EXPECTED. SIGNIFICANT WIDESPREAD INUNDATION IS NOT EXPECTED FOR AREAS UNDER AN ADVISORY. CURRENTS MAY BE HAZARDOUS TO SWIMMERS... BOATS... AND COASTAL STRUCTURES AND MAY CONTINUE FOR SEVERAL HOURS AFTER THE INITIAL WAVE ARRIVAL. Wave heights for CA and OR may be up to 55 cm (appx. 1.8 feet). Projected heights for WA at Neah Bay and Toke Point are forecast to be smaller, around 6 cm (appx. 0.19 ft.) The arrival time for the West Coast is expected to be approximately 6 hours from now around 9 pm PDT and arrival in Hawaii will occur within 2 hours.
South Bend, Washington – The Pacific County Emergency Management Agency is participating in a NOAA Weather Radio Promotion on Saturday, September 26, 2009, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Customers will be able to purchase a NOAA weather radio and have it programmed on site by amateur radio operators, other volunteers, or staff. Participating locations in Pacific County are: North Pacific County o Bud’s Lumber, 220 W Robert Bush Drive, South Bend o Dennis Company TV & Appliance, 124 4th Street, Raymond o Radio Shack, 704 Willapa Place, Raymond South Pacific County o Dennis Company, 201 N Pacific, Long Beach o Jack’s Country Store, 26006 Highway 103, Ocean Park oWirkkala Radio Shack, 4912 Pacific Avenue, Long Beach Weather radios alert local residents to many immediate, life-threatening hazards, like weather, tsunamis, volcanoes, hazardous releases, and other dangerous events. Without a weather radio, a critical emergency warning message from local emergency authorities could be missed. NOAA Weather Radio is a service of the National Weather Service, a part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the U.S. Dept of Commerce. NOAA Weather Radio is the voice of theNational Weather Service, broadcasting the latest area weather forecasts and conditions 24 hours a day. Additional NOAA Weather Radio information is available at http://www.emd.wa.gov. The NOAA Weather Radio Promotion is coordinated between the Washington State Emergency Management Division, Grays Harbor Public Utility District, retailers and local businesses, and the Washington coastal counties of Pacific, Grays Harbor, Clallam, and Jefferson to promote National Preparedness and NOAA Weather Radio Awareness Month.
South Bend, Washington – The Pacific County Hazard Mitigation Plan is near complete and is currently available for public review at the Timberland Regional Library in Raymond, South Bend, Naselle, Ilwaco, and Ocean Park or on the Pacific County Emergency Management Agency (PCEMA) website atwww.co.pacific.wa.us/pcema. The review period will end on September 30, 2009.
Pacific County and its respective municipalities have been working together the past 18 months to prepare the multi-jurisdictional all hazard mitigation plan. The purpose of this plan is to identify and assess our community's disaster risks and determine how to best minimize or manage those risks. The goals of hazard mitigation planning include:
Citizens with questions or comments should contact the PCEMA office at (360) 875-9340 or (360) 642-9340. The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a Special Weather Statement. One more hot spell is on tap for Southwest Washington and Northwest Oregon this week. Today, afternoon temperatures over the inland areas are expected to approach 90 degrees. The hot spell will continue Tuesday with afternoon highs over the interior approaching 95 with coastal temperatures close to 80. Wednesday currently looks to be the hottest day of this stretch with interior areas possibly flirting with 100 degrees. Precautionary/Preparedness actions:Remember to drink plenty of clear liquids and stay hydrated this week. Avoid extra exertion during the heat of the day and use plenty of sun screen if you are outside. For the most up to date weather information from the NWS please visithttp://www.weather.gov/portland. This page brings up all advisories, watches, and warnings for the southwest Washington area.
South Bend, Washington – We have not seen the last of the swine flu that appeared this spring in Mexico and spread throughout world. Cases of pandemic H1N1 influenza, the new flu virus, have dropped in number over the last few weeks in Western Washington, but are still occurring at a low rate. Flu is quite unusual during summertime and predicts that the flu season this year may well be a tough one. As of July 24th, Washington State has reported 658 confirmed cases and 7 deaths from H1N1 influenza since April. Of those, 122 resulted in hospitalizations. Most of those cases have been in urban areas; however, Pacific County has had a small share with at least one seriously ill person requiring transfer out of the county for ongoing hospital care. In June the World Health Organization declared a “pandemic” meaning that there is sustained spread of H1N1 influenza virus in many countries on multiple continents. Currently countries in the wintertime of the southern hemisphere are experiencing the most cases. The H1N1 flu is expected to return to us this fall and winter with full force. School absences and need for medical care are expected to be high. The most severe H1N1 influenza infections are striking people in younger age groups. Older people appear to be relatively spared probably because they had exposure to a similar influenza type that circulated seasonally in the population prior to 1957 giving them partial immunity. Unfortunately, since spring, hospitalizations and deaths have predominantly been in less than 30 year olds. Influenza is spread by droplets sneezed or coughed by an infected individual. The droplets are either inhaled by a susceptible person in close proximity, or settle on surfaces later to be picked up on hands and transferred to the nose or eyes. Transmission is interrupted by covering coughs and careful, frequent hand washing. Hand sanitizers also work. Masks may be of some benefit, particularly when placed on infected coughing patients to protect those around them. Initial symptoms are usually cough and abrupt high fever perhaps with sore throat or nasal congestion, and, particularly in children, maybe nausea and vomiting. Complications in severe cases are usually in the lungs with pneumonia, but can sometimes be in the brain with a meningitis-like illness. When influenza severely attacks the lungs, often with associated bacterial infections, respiratory failure may lead to the need for mechanical ventilation or even to death. Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza) are two drugs that can be used to treat H1N1 infection, although rare cases of resistance have been identified in Asia and Europe. There are currently good supplies of both drugs available commercially and a reserve supply provided by the federal government under secure storage in Pacific County and other counties throughout Washington. The drugs are recommended only in high risk patients, those most likely to develop severe disease. Ideally they should be used in the first couple of days of the onset of illness. High risk groups are those under age five, pregnant women, chronically ill people with immune suppression, and those over age 65. Vaccine for H1N1 has been developed and as of the end of July is being tested for safety and efficacy. It is expected to be available this fall in small amounts with increasing supplies coming in over the course of the influenza season. Unlike the usual seasonal flu vaccine (which will also be available this fall), all the H1N1 vaccine this year will be distributed through public health agencies, not through usual commercial supply routes. The initial supplies will be prioritized to those at most risk of infection and/or most at risk for complications to likely include school age children, pregnant women, and front line health care workers. As over time supplies become readily available, vaccine will be offered to the public at large, just as seasonal influenza vaccine routinely is. Still to be clarified is whether one or two doses will be required initially. Public recommendations will be to get your routine flu shot this fall, and when available, to also get your H1N1 influenza vaccination(s). Discuss with your health care provider as to whether you fall into one of the priority risk groups. One tactic actively being considered is whether to vaccinate children at school. That would be voluntary, requiring parental permission, and will depend upon whether it makes sense when vaccine supplies become sufficient. Pacific County Public Health, both county hospitals, medical care providers, and Shoalwater Bay Tribe along with hospitals and public health departments statewide are developing plans to deal with the anticipated autumn uptick in influenza. Those include anticipating increased patient loads, providing vaccinations as vaccine becomes available, and judiciously using antiviral medications. The Pacific County Health and Human Services Department welcomes medically skilled volunteers to help with these efforts. If you think you can help, call the South Bend office at (360) 875-9343. As the flu season approaches and progresses, practice covering your cough, washing your hands, and staying home from work when you are sick.
The National Weather Service (NWS) in Portland has issued a fire weather watch which is in effect from Sunday afternoon through Tuesday afternoon. An upper level low pressure system will remain off of the California coast through early next week. The hot temperatures during the last week have dried out fuels to critical levels across the area. An unstable southeast to south flow aloft will bring the necessary ingredients into place for the development of scattered thunderstorms Sunday across northwest Oregon and southwest Washington. The combination of lightning and critically dry fuels will result in an elevated risk for multiple ignitions. The highest potential for significant lightning producing thunderstorms will be Sunday and Monday afternoon and evenings. However, most days through midweek have some chance of getting thunderstorms. Any thunderstorms that do develop should be high based with little precipitation and a lot of lightning. Also, these type of storms are capable of producing gusty winds. Storms should progressively become more wet by mid week. A fire weather watch means that critical fire weather conditions are forecast to occur. For the most up to date weather information from the NWS please visit http://www.weather.gov/portland. This page brings up all advisories, watches, and warnings for the southwest Washington area.
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