Fire Corps and CERT Training Starts Soon

Two great Citizen Corps programs, Fire Corps and CERT, have training sessions starting very soon in Clark/Vancouver.

We’re very excited to announce that Vancouver Fire Department’s Fire Corps has their inaugural training academy starting February 2. Fire Corps volunteers are critical for non-emergency support functions focusing on education and prevention. Their training will include Smoke Alarm awareness and installation, Home Safety and Small Hazard house training, Fire Extinguisher training and much more. In addition, each volunteer in the program will receive CPR, AED and First Aid training. Click here for information on how to register for their program.

Clark County Fire District 6 is starting their spring session of the highly desired Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training on February 16. This 20+ hour course will follow the national curriculum and help Clark County citizens become more prepared to survive disasters and help their community respond in times of great need. The cost is $30 and you must submit your application with payment before you are on the roster. Click here to see their schedule and registration.

If you need more information regarding other Clark County or City of Vancouver Citizen Corps volunteer programs please email Cindy.Stanley@clark.wa.gov.

Register for Emergency Alerts in Clark County

SIGN UP HERE
Did you hear that the City of Portland is having a big emergency notification test today? This has created quite a buzz as people scramble to get registered. Do you live or work in Clark County and want to receive emergency notifications for your address? Register your cell phones or Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) phone numbers now.

Although Clark County is not participating in this test we want to ensure that you get notified of actual emergencies in your neighborhood. Examples of situations where we have notified our neighbors of emergency situations include hazardous materials spill, urgent police actions or incidents, lost children and sometimes a lost or endangered adult. You may be asked to evacuate your home immediately, to remain safely inside your premises or be on the lookout for a lost person who was last seen in your neighborhood. Please remember to always keep a pen and paper handy by your phone to record important information that may be relayed and to communicate with your loved ones of these important instructions.

SIGN UP HERE

Follow this link for more information on our notification system.

NWS Cancels Flood Watch for SW Washington

The National Weather Service (NWS) has cancelled the flood watch for Southwest Washington. Only the Cowlitz River at Kelso remains at "action stage" and will remain below flood stage. Only scattered showers are expected today, with a weak cold front arriving tonight which will increase showers and lower temperatures. Further information is available at: http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/pqr/

Continue to "be prepared" for winter weather emergencies and we at CRESA will continue to monitor for any changes from the NWS.

Storm Parade Starts with Possible Freezing Rain Tonight

This very active weather pattern will continue for the next several days. We'll have just about all forms of severe weather. Clark County residents should keep tabs on weather, river, and travel conditions and take precautions. Here's the rundown:

• Most urgently, there is a Freezing Rain Advisory for areas to the east of I-205 in East Clark County. An ice storm is underway in the Gorge. Forecasters are watching strong, cold east winds push freezing rain father west than was originally forecasted. The freezing rain may get to Camas and Washougal and possibly as far as I-205, starting in the early evening and ending around midnight.



• Another storm front will enter the region tonight bringing another .5 to 1" of rain to the inland valleys. No Clark County rivers are expected to reach flood stage at this point.



• There is a Wind Advisory in effect from 10 PM tonight through 10 AM tomorrow. Winds 25-35 MPH, with gusts to 40-45. Strongest winds will occur from midnight to 8 AM. This is of particular concern because of the rain saturated soils. Trees may be more likely to break or fall, blocking roads and cutting powerlines.



• Another storm system will come to the region on Sunday that will be similar to tonight's storm.



• The good news is that in the short term we don't expect any rivers in Clark County to rise to a level of concern.

Longer term, we're keeping an eye on another heavy rain storm around Tuesday and Wednesday next week. As it stands now, forecasters predict this may be similar to the rain storm we had on Wednesday and Thursday this week. This may bring another 1.5 - 3" of rain in the inland valleys.

Helpful Hints

• Be very careful if you are travelling in the East County area tonight. If you have travel plans that take you east on SR-14 or Hwy 84, you should reconsider.



• Be on the lookout for falling trees and exposed powerlines later tonight. To report a power outage in Clark County call Clark Public Utilities at (360) 992-8000.



• Also be on the lookout for landslides and other debris flows. These extended periods of heavy rain and snowmelt can often result in landslides.

After a Short Break . . . Another Round of Rain

It's been a busy soggy day in Clark County. Lots of high water everywhere, lots of flooded basements, and lots of calls to 911 and public works agencies asking for assistance with flooded roads. Fortunately, we haven't had any major damage or serious incidents in this round of wet weather. But there is another round coming.

The Weather Service tells us that the current rain will shift to the east and become lighter into the evening. It's stopped raining here at CRESA. It should come to a full stop in the region by 10 PM. But we will have another heavy rain system Friday afternoon through Saturday morning that could bring another inch or more to the inland valleys.

At this point, no Clark County rivers are expected to flood. However, we remain under a Flood Watch through tomorrow. Keep your eyes out for high water, small stream flooding, bank erosion, and landslides. If you come across high water and you can't get around it, just go another way. Driving through high water can be very dangerous.

Sandbags
Sandbags are available to the public from Clark County Public Works at 4700 NE 78th St., at the main entrance. You might also be able to access sandbags at your hardware store. Call ahead to make sure.

Useful Contacts
Clark County Public Works (360) 397-2446
Vancouver Public Works (360) 696-8177 / after hours (360) 693-9302
Clark Public Utilities - to report power outages (360) 992-8000

Be Aware of Flood Hazards Over the Next Few Days

We're in for a nice stretch of wet weather over the next few days. We may get up to an inch tomorrow. Heavy rain along with the melting low- and mid-elevation snow that's accumulated over the past few days can sometimes be a recipe for flooding. As of this morning, Clark County is under a Flood Watch through Friday. Minor flooding is possible on faster responding rivers this evening, with slower responding rivers cresting Thursday and Friday. Street flooding and ponding is also a possibility with the slushy snow and heavy rain. If you live near a waterway, be on the lookout for flooding and erosion (keep in mind that these weather patterns can lead to landslides as well). You can monitor river levels on your own through this Weather Service river gauge website.

The overnight storm we had generated a lot of power outages throughout the county. We've been monitoring Clark Public Utilities' progress throughout the day in restoring power. The cool thing is that you can do this to. Check out CPU's Outages Map to see a great visual depiction of the location of outages.

Be Prepared for an Ugly Commute on Wednesday Morning

Clark County commuters should be prepared for a difficult commute on Wednesday morning. Make sure you have fuel, traction devices, and other emergency supplies in your car. Also, leave plenty of extra time to allow for safe, slow driving. You don't want to be in a rush.

The National Weather Service says that a heavy band of moisture will enter the area tonight over the very cold air in place now. This could result in snow accumulation of 1-3 inches down to the lowest elevations. Most precipitation would fall between midnight tonight and 8 AM Wednesday, which is perfectly timed to interfere with the morning commute.

It is difficult to predict the specific time and location of the transition from snow to rain. It's possible that any snowfall would primarily be to the north and at higher elevations. However, drivers should be prepared for accumulating snow at low elevations.

Will it snow here?

Yes, a little bit of snow is in our forecast. We'll just have to wait to see if it becomes a reality.

The National Weather Service Portland has issed a Special Weather Statement for our area for some possible winter weather conditions. While the cold air is expected to arrive beginning late Saturday, Sunday and into Monday is our best chance for snow down to the valley floor, if at all.

Please take precautions when traveling later this holiday weekend, pay attention to your local evaluation forecast and spend a little time taking stock of how to prepare for winter weather conditions. Keep your gas tank filled with gas, have emergency supplies both at home and in your car and pick up your needed medications before the weather is expected to arrive. This way you can stay safe and dry inside, regardless of what happens.

We have included links to some of our previous blog articles with some great winter preparedness tips.

Is Your Home Ready For Winter? (2010)
Winter Weather Enroute? (2011)
Winter Weather Advisory Issued (2010)

Stage 1 Burn Ban Declared for Clark County

The Southwest Clean Air Agency (SWCAA) has issued a Stage 1 Burn Ban for Clark County effective now through Saturday, 14, 2012 at 1 pm. This is due to stagnant weather pattern forecasts and rising fine particle pollution levels. The use of all fireplaces and uncertified wood stoves and inserts and all outdoor burning is prohibited. If wood burning is your only adequate source of heat, you are exempt.

When the burn ban is lifted, the SWCAA has many tips on their website to burn wood more efficiently. See their following articles on their home page. "Burn Dry Seasoned Firewood & Get a Moisture Meter", "Clean Air Tips" and "Top 10 Cleaner Wood Burning Tips".

Citizens invited to apply for police NOW program

Police can’t be on every corner, but you can!

Neighbors On Watch (NOW), the Vancouver Police Department's citizen patrol program, is accepting applications for volunteer citizen patrollers through January 26, 2012. Applicants must live in the city limits, be a U.S. Citizen, and be at least 21-years old. NOW volunteers receive specialized training to become “extra eyes and ears” in the community, as part of the police department’s Community Oriented Policing efforts.

Currently the NOW program has 87 civic leaders who represent 39 neighborhoods. All NOW volunteers are asked to commit to patrolling at least four hours per month. Citizen volunteers receive a minimum of 26 hours of training in observation skills, police radio communications, crime detection, personal protection and how to report crimes or suspicious activity. All training is provided by the Vancouver Police Department at no cost to the volunteer.

NOW is helping keep things safe while you shop this holiday season. Take a look at this recently filmed video depicting NOW volunteers in action: Operation Christmas Presence!

For more information about the NOW program, visit this Web page or contact Volunteer Coordinator Kelly Cheney at (360) 487-7467 or by e-mail at Kelly.Cheney@cityofvancouver.us.