BOCC briefed on LUBA decision

Carrie Bartoldus January 30, 2009

Clatsop County Commissioners updated on Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals decision on Bradwood Landing Land Use Application

At the Wednesday evening Clatsop County Board of County Commissioner meeting, county counsel, Blair Henningsgaard, commended the Board for the work they did on the Bradwood Landing land use application process and stated that he would like it understood that LUBA did not “overturn” the Board’s decision. LUBA remanded one and one half issues back to the County for further action. Henningsgaard also stressed that LUBA denied all of the challenges to the due-process elements of the county’s review of the Bradwood project application.

After the BOCC meeting Henningsgaard was asked to clarify if these issues would have to be reheard. He stated that it was up to the petitioner (Bradwood, in this instance) since it was the petitioner who wanted an action to take place. Bradwood could use the evidence already presented in the findings of over 50,000 pages of documentation or could ask for it to be reheard in order to present additional evidence.

In the case of the terminology used to define “protect” for instance, Henningsgaard elucidated, LUBA said the County findings referenced an incorrect source for the definition of the term “protect” in context of Statewide Planning Goals [16 and 17]. Bradwood Landing will have no problem in answering LUBA’s request for further action, according to Bradwood Landing Senior Vice President for External Affairs Joe Desmond, “This is a definitional issue, since under section 1.035 Rules of Construction, Clatsop County Land and Water Development and Use Ordinance (LWDUO), there is a ranking of how the language should be interpreted. It is an issue that can easily be clarified.”

The second finding that LUBA remanded back to the County for further action dealt with the project scale. LUBA states, “The Bradwood Subarea Plan discusses the “limited potential for small to medium sized” industrial use of the site, but relates that limited potential to the site’s development constraints, including “poor highway access and proximity to the wildlife refuge.” LUBA goes on to clarify, “The county is on stronger footing in citing the Goal 9 comprehensive plan element and the fact that the LWDUO specifically exempts the Bradwood site from building size limitations otherwise applicable in the MI zone.”

In conclusion LUBA writes “…county erred in its primary conclusion that the scale restriction is a mere restatement of the fill limitation, and because the county erred in limiting the scope of “development activities” to the upland acres covered by the LNG facility itself, we conclude that remand is necessary for the county re-evaluate whether the proposed development activities, considered as a whole, comply with the “small or moderate” scale limitation.”

Desmond explains the LUBA ruling thus: “LUBA did not rule the County erred in finding the project small to moderate in scale. Instead, LUBA found that the County is on strong footing in citing the Goal 9 comprehensive plan element and the fact that the LWDUO specifically exempts the Bradwood site from building size limitations otherwise applicable in the Marine Industrial zone is informative. Rather, LUBA said the County’s findings need to reflect that in making its determination, the record covered a broader definition of the term development for things such as in water structures, powerlines, and pipelines. Information related to each of these items is already on the record.”

Ed Wegner, Transportation and Development Services Director, told the board that no appeals of the LUBA ruling are filed by the Feb. 17 deadline, the matter comes back to the Board, which will then have an additional 90 days to review and act on the remanded issues.

Columbia Riverkeepers (CRK) continue to describe the LUBA decision as a big victory that would bring state agencies to a halt in processing a number of necessary permits for Bradwood. CRK also stated that Intervenor-Petitioners, Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission (CRITF), was also successful in its appeal in which they alleged eight substantive and procedural errors in the County’s approval of the Bradwood project. LUBA, in fact, denied all eight and CRITF did not win on a single issue.

Opponents of Bradwood have hotly contested the scale of the Bradwood project. Steve Forrester, editor of the Daily Astorian, and its manager editor, Patrick Webb have played tag team taking turns raking the Board over the coals, accusing them of acting like “drunken sailors” and writing, “One of the commission’s most egregious acts was finding that the proposed liquefied natural gas terminal at Bradwood Landing was not a major development” and “That county’s decree was a howler.”

Columbia Riverkeepers argued to LUBA, “that the nature and scale of the LNG terminal is clearly not “small or moderate.” In a video taped interview a reporter asked Dan Serres, Columbia Riverkeeper conservation director and Program Coordinator with FLOW (Friends of Living. Oregon Waters) How big of a footprint is this facility? Would it be pretty large? Serres replied, “No, actually, they’re not that large. The facilities fit 50 to 100 acres …” (see clip of video below).

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LUBA Approves 90% of Bradwood Landing’s Consolidated Land Use Application

Carrie Bartoldus January 28, 2009

Yesterday, January 27th, The Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA) issued its opinion on the Bradwood Landing Project Consolidated Land Use Application striking down 19 arguments made by Columbia Riverkeepers.

In a major blow to the opposition, LUBA agreed on all points with the County’s analysis in granting a variance for upgrades to enhance the safety of Clifton Road, the terminal access road for the public, including first responders, employees and local residents.

“Today’s 50-page LUBA decision is well reasoned and supported by an exhaustive record comprising 10,000 pages of analysis and studies,” NorthernStar Natural Gas Senior Vice President for External Relations Joe Desmond countered. “By siding with the County’s conclusions in nearly every instance, LUBA has reaffirmed that the County’s original approval was well founded and supported by the record. We are confident the remaining two items remanded by LUBA can be successfully resolved. Today’s decision moves our project closer to providing a much needed economic boost to Clatsop County and helping to stabilize the region’s long-term energy costs.”

When issuing its final opinion and order, LUBA addresses the issues presented in the Petition for Review, setting forth the reasons for its ruling. The order will end with one of the following actions:
• “Affirm” (uphold) the challenged decision;
• “Reverse” (overrule) the challenged decision;
• “Remand” the challenged decision (return it to the local government or special district for further action);
• “Dismiss” the appeal; or in special circumstances
• “Transfer” the appeal to the circuit court per ORS 19.230(4), a Motion to Transfer must be filed by the requesting party.

Two challenged land use decisions were remanded back to Clatsop County to fix. One dealing with clarifying a definition when using the word “protect,” and the other relating to the criteria used to determine the size of a facility.

The Columbia Riverkeepers (CRK) called the LUBA decision a victory. In a press release CRK stated that LUBA had “overturned Clatsop County’s decision to approve the Bradwood Landing liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal and pipeline.” CRK further stated that the LUBA decision halts the Bradwood Landing project in its tracks and “further invalidated Bradwood’s land use permits.”

Recently, however, CRK learned that their assertion that the defeated referendum 4-131 would stop the Bradwood Landing project “in its tracks” and from being issued any further permits was not true, either.

Columbia Riverkeepers, under then director, Brent Foster (currently on staff with Oregon Attorney General Kroger), dispersed fliers to voters opposing referendum 4-131 regarding upholding a land use law. Stating it was dealing with LNG pipelines in parks only, and had nothing to do with the Bradwood Landing project, the fliers stated that even those who were for LNG didn’t want LNG pipelines in their parks.

Within days of the defeat of the referendum on September 16, CRK sent a letter to Oregon’s Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) stating that because of the defeated referendum DEQ must halt processing all permits for Bradwood Landing. Columbia Riverkeeper spokesperson, Olivia Schmidt, appeared at numerous Clatsop County Board of County Commissioner meetings. Schmidt could be heard yelling from the audience, “you’re out of order,” at the Commissioners during meetings because they had not yet responded to a query initiated by CRK from the Department of Justice on behalf of DEQ.

Columbia Riverkeepers finally received a response from the Department of Justice in its quest to have the Clatsop County Board of County Commissioners sanctioned in some way.

Brett [VandenHuevel],

You have asked how DEQ plans to respond to Clatsop County’s delay in answering my October 10th letter. That letter, as you know, asked the County to update the information in its LUCS in response to the successful referral of the County amendment to the OPR zone. This issue is important because a portion of the proposed pipeline (approximately .7 of a mile) lies within the OPR zone. The pending application for Section 401 certification is affected by the referral and the same would be true for a future application to register under the NPDES general permit (1200-C) for construction of the pipeline.

DEQ is aware the County Commission directed planning staff to temporarily withhold a response to the letter. I also sent a similar request to Northern Star and the Company also has asked DEQ for more time to respond. My assumption is that both the County and Northern Star want to find out how LUBA will rule on the validity of the other land use changes before responding. My understanding is that LUBA should make a decision within the next few weeks.

At this point in time, DEQ does not intend to take any action based on the lack of response from the County or Northern Star. As noted above, it is DEQ’s view that this land use issue affects only a portion of the proposed pipeline and at this point Section 401 certification is the only pending application that would be affected by the LUCS. There is a great amount of material that DEQ must review before denial or issuance of certification and much of that work is focused on the impacts of the terminal and associated dredging. While the environmental impacts associated with the pipeline are also substantial, DEQ is not currently focused on those issues, so it is not yet burdened by the lack of a response.

We anticipate that we will have a responses from the County and Northern Star later this month and, if so, that will be acceptable to DEQ. If DEQ doesn’t get responses within this period, we will let the County and Northern Star know of our concerns. DEQ believes that it is important for the County to supplement the LUCS, but under ORS 197.180 and applicable implementing rules DEQ can make its own findings on this issue if the County chooses not to respond.
Larry Knudsen, Assistant Attorney General

Columbia Riverkeepers and other opponents of the Bradwood project contend that the terminal and pipeline would kill endangered salmon, increase foreign fossil fuel dependence, and impose eminent domain on small private landowners.

Bradwood Landing counters that their Salmon Enhancement Initiative (SEI) at $59 million represents the largest private commitment to improve watershed health on the Lower Columbia River. Bradwood plans on obtaining its LNG from Australia, Indonesia and possibly from Alaska. Eminent domain has not entered the picture for the Bradwood holding terminals as it is all being built on private land held by one property owner.

According to Columbia Riverkeepers press release Cheryl Johnson, a 30-year resident of Clatsop County and a volunteer Estuary Coordinator for Columbia Riverkeeper, remained firm that the Bradwood LNG project should not move forward. “LUBA’s decision only adds to the fact that the people of Clatsop County have spoken and spoken clearly: we oppose Bradwood LNG.”

Peter Huhtala, Astoria resident and Executive Director of the Columbia River Business Alliance, stated, “LNG is bad for business in Clatsop County. Not only is LNG more expensive for businesses than domestic natural gas, but relying on Russia and the Middle East for gas supplies creates instability that we just don’t need.”

A regional analysis of the effects of increased natural gas supply from a Columbia River LNG terminal by University of Oregon economist Dr. Phil Romero, showed that Bradwood could reduce the wholesale cost of natural gas by 13 percent. Dr. Romero’s analysis showed this decrease in energy costs would help support the creation of between 5,100 and 20,300 jobs.

“Construction of the Bradwood terminal would put hundreds of people to work providing a new source of natural gas to meet the region’s energy needs,” said Desmond. “While there’s no silver bullet to meet all of the region’s energy needs, clean-burning natural gas can provide a bridge to the renewable energy future we all want.”

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Oregon’s AG protests LNG projects in Oregon - Is against fossil fuel

Carrie Bartoldus January 16, 2009

Oregon’s newly appointed Attorney General, John Kroger, made no secret on the campaign trail that he was against the LNG industry coming to Oregon. In one of his first public outings since taking office January 5th, Kroger spoke to an audience of approximately 100 people protesting LNG projects being proposed in Oregon. “Do you want LNG from Iran and Russia or do you want energy independence?” Kroger shouted. The chorus echoed back, “No!” Last year’s protest at the state’s capital drew a crowd about double the size.

Among those in the audience were the Columbia Riverkeepers (CRK), there to not only protest but to congratulate their former director, Brent Foster, who joined Kroger’s staff as the new environmental crimes prosecutor. Foster sent out emails in December informing the members of his appointment to the AG staff. “Since it’s often the first question I am asked I will tell you that, yes- my work will include helping articulate how the Dept. of Justice will respond to the proposed LNG terminals in Oregon and their related pipelines.” Foster’s follow-up email asked for contributions to be sent to Columbia Riverkeeper’s so the organization would have the money to “stand up to LNG speculators.”



At a recent viewing of the film Crossroads of the Columbia, Cheryl Johnson, an Astoria activist against LNG development invited guests to ask Foster, who was also in attendance, questions regarding the Dept of Justice and where the LNG projects were involved at the state level. However, Tony Green, communications and policy director for the Attorney General’s office, stated that Foster was not at the viewing of the film as a representative of the Department of Justice but merely on a personal basis and that Foster did not answer any questions regarding the Department of Justice and LNG projects at the event.

Green said that Kroger had been invited to attend Tuesday’s rally by Columbia Riverkeepers and his speech had been, “off the cuff”. Kroger told the group that Iran and Russia would be two major sources for liquefied natural gas in Oregon and that protecting the environment and land for farming and forests are good reasons to oppose the terminals. But, Kroger said, the “most decisive reason” is the country’s dependence on foreign fuel.

That isn’t what Bradwood Landing Senior Vice President for External Affairs Joe Desmond thinks. Desmond appeared on the Lars Larson Show later on the same day as the protest and was asked many of the points that Kroger brought up. “The most likely sources for getting our LNG, at this time, is Australia and Indonesia,” said Desmond. When an angry caller asked Desmond to admit that it would be coming from Russia an exasperated Larson wanted to cut him off but Desmond asked him not to so that he could explain how Bradwood would look for the best prices using the least amount of transportation to cut down on costs. Desmond also agreed with another caller’s concern that the renewable energy might be left behind if the state turned to only one source to supply its energy needs. “We have to realize that wind nor solar can take on the energy needs of Oregon at this time, by theirselves, they just aren’t able to and I don’t think anyone in those fields is suggesting they are,” said Desmond. “Oregon needs to approach the issue of energy with a multi-faceted policy, one that makes energy consistent and affordable for the residential consumer and the industries that rely on it.”

Desmond also fielded questions regarding the environment and salmon mitigation, both areas that Bradwood explained in an exhaustive 50,000+ page document that was recently compiled to be sent to the Land Use Board of Appeals. In what is now a private property, Bradwood plans a 500 acre protected habitat which has many potentials including being opened to the public as a park or having some sort of educational or informational project. Also planned is a voluntary Salmon Enhancement Initiative (SEI), which at $59 million, represents the largest private commitment to improve watershed health on the Lower Columbia River.

Peter Hansen, Oregon LNG’s chief executive officer, said that the countries that their facility would be receiving LNG from would be Qatar and Australia, both very friendly nations with the United States. Hansen said that in talking with Northwest Natural Gas about its plans to bring in the Palomar Pipeline and the accusations that prime farmland was being rendered useless because of the route of the pipeline, NW Natural had told him that the total impacted by the pipeline was one acre of vineyards. Because of the fact that they were required to work with landowners and find routes that impacted the land and agriculture the least, the pipeline will have very little economic or ecological impact on the land.

Hansen is dismayed with the misinformation that is circulated about the LNG industry. At one time touted by all environmentalists as a “green” energy, and still done so in Europe and Asian countries, LNG is suddenly being attacked by environmentalists in the United States, leaving Hansen a little perplexed, along with the atmosphere of xenophobia that the “friendly” people at Columbia Riverkeepers like to preserve. Hansen is Danish, but has been an United States citizen for over 20 years. His partner, Mohammed Alrai, is an American born citizen who has been accused of being from many different countries of the middle-east by members of the Columbia Riverkeepers. Ironically, many of CRK’s members belong to the Rural Organizing Project, an advocacy group which has been fighting for the rights of recent immigrants to Columbia County.

Both Bradwood and Oregon LNG stated that another possible place that was considering sending LNG to Oregon could be Alaska. Because of the harsh terrain between where their natural gas fields are where the gas needs to go, Alaska said it would be much easier and more economical for it to ship its gas to the lower states rather than pipe it and it wouldn’t have to deal with Canada in trying to bring the pipeline through that country to supply our country. Newly elected Senator, Jeff Merkley, made a campaign promise that he would support legislature that would force Alaska to sell to the states before shipping to other countries.

Energy Action Northwest, a coalition that advocates for clean, affordable and reliable energy supplies, is weighing in on the side of the LNG corporations. Edward Finklea, a Portland attorney who has an extensive background in energy issues and policy development, is Executive Director of the advocacy group and recently wrote an article in their newsletter titled, Cold Snap: What must we learn? In the article Finklea details the usage of natural gas in December, during the coldest part of the cold snap, over a three day period. During that historic records for natural gas send-outs were set . At the same time, historic records were set for hourly electric system peak loads. Yet, according to Finklea, during much of the cold snap, winds were at or near 0 MPH, so wind generation was not available to meet demand.

Finklea writes, “The Williams system has been constrained for gas coming out of Rockies off and on since November. Some of the region’s gas utilities had to curtail deliveries to interruptible customers to meet firm demand on the coldest days. We’re running at close to capacity for Rockies gas. When capacity was reached, Canadian gas and storage were the only gas supply options we could turn to this winter.” Finklea goes on to conclude that Oregon risks experiencing gas supply shortages during cold snaps if interstate pipeline infrastructure isn’t constructed or liquefied natural gas projects aren’t allowed to come in.

Green was asked what Kroger thought about Alaska shipping its natural gas to Oregon. Green said that Kroger was against Oregon relying on fossil fuel for energy, no matter where it came from. When asked which renewable energy industry Kroger thought was ready to take on the needs of the Oregon’s industries right now and how much of the grid could it take over from natural gas Green said it wasn’t the Attorney General’s place to set energy policies, only to see that energy companies followed Oregon state laws.
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Columbia’s Crossroads previewed by one side of the equation

Carrie Bartoldus January 14, 2009

Tuesday, January 6th, Donna Quinn showed her film Crossroads on the Columbia to a packed room at The Loft in the Red Building in Astoria, Oregon. Cinematographer Spence Palermo shot the footage with Quinn writing the storyline depicting the efforts of the local people who are against LNG development in Clatsop County.

Appearing in the film and narrating, in part, is recent appointee to Attorney General Kroger’s staff, Brett Foster. According to Cheryl Johnson, local activist and one of the evening MC’s, Foster also attended the showing of the film and was available to answer questions on the DOJ and where LNG projects are currently at in the state level.

Also appearing on the film and attending the film debut was newly elected County Commissioner Dirk Rohn, along with Astoria Port Commissioner Kathy Sanders. Rohn was on the County Planning Commission, which made many decisions in the permitting process regarding the Bradwood Landing LNG development. On the film Rohn describes his commitment to following the desires of his constituents regarding the recent defeat of ballot measure 4-131, a land use referendum pertaining to pipelines going through lands zoned OPR (open spaces, parks, and recreation).

The film gave a cursory overview of the two LNG developments progress up to the present time. Peter Hansen, spokesman for Oregon LNG, agreed to appear in the film and gave Donna Quinn an interview. Hansen’s interview is cut to about a minute and concludes with sea lions barking. Hansen said he was under the impression that Quinn was doing a true documentary about the development of LNG on the Columbia River, interviewing people from both sides of the dispute. He was disappointed to find out that the video was being used as a fundraising tool for Columbia Riverkeeper’s efforts to keep LNG development out of the state. Quinn stated at the end of the evening that all money received on the sale of the DVD would be contributed to Columbia Riverkeepers. Hansen said he hadn’t been offered a copy of the movie and couldn’t say much more until he had a chance to view it.

Joe Desmond also appears in the film. Unlike Hansen, Desmond was not interviewed and appears via stock footage. Again, at the end of Desmond talking the sea lions bark. Desmond said that he was unaware that the movie had been shot and had no idea that he was appearing in it. Since he had not seen the movie Desmond was unable to make a comment on his appearance in it.

Cinematographer Spence Palermo is best known in Oregon for his work on the film Ballot Measure 9 described as, “A fast-paced crash course in homophobic legislation and the religious right that details Oregon’s 1992 anti-gay ballot initiative.” Written, directed and produced by Heather MacDonald the film won the audience award for best documentary at the 1995 Sundance Film Festival. A New York Times movie critic stated that:

“… [MacDonald] makes no pretense of even-handedness, she readily shows Mr. Mabon in a disparaging light. But the scenes in which he voices his opinions in small, half-empty rooms are dangerously misleading because the Citizens Alliance efforts proved so effective. “Ballot Measure 9” is best watched as a cautionary study of why this group was able to find such strength in numbers, and what to expect from similar local ballot referendums that have since cropped up in other states.”

Unable to attend the meeting because of flooding in the Elsie region, Representative Deborah Boone asked that the legislation she is sponsoring be read at the meeting. Called The LNG Protection Act the legislation states, among other things, that Oregon agencies can issue leases of State lands, water rights, or wetland fill permits only if there is a demonstrated need for LNG and if the price of LNG does not exceed domestic natural gas. The Oregon Department of Energy (ODE) would determine whether there is a need for LNG in Oregon.

While the crowd at the Tuesday meeting was told that the ODE had already declared LNG was not needed, the LNG corporations are making sure that the legislation comes under close scrutiny. Charles Deister, the project spokesman for Bradwood Landing stated, “The need for natural gas supplies has been well established with the Oregon Public Utility Commission by NW Natural and other utilities. This evidence was submitted as sworn testimony under penalty of law.” Also pointed out by LNG proponents was the fact that ODE’s reference to LNG not being needed in Oregon was based on the condition that additional nuclear and coal plants were built. At this time Columbia Riverkeepers, along with several other conservation groups, is opposed to additional building of either type of plant and have stopped several projects while still in their planning stages.

Another part of the LNG Protection Act calls for LNG facilities to be prohibited when the identified fire-risk zone for the LNG facility overlaps with a high sensitivity use, such as day care centers, hospitals, or elder care facilities. This common-sense requirement keeps LNG facilities away from vulnerable citizens in the event of a low probability but high consequence LNG accident or terrorist attack. Deister responded by stating that LNG facilities have operated safely in Oregon since 1969. Applying the proposed safety standards could shut down these critical facilities and more importantly, would effectively shut down commerce on the Columbia River for any cargo deemed hazardous including gasoline, diesel and fertilizer – common cargoes on the River.

Copies of Crossroads on the Columbia are available from the Columbia Riverkeepers website and are available for $12 with all proceeds to go to the non-profit organization. Locals interested in learning more about the efforts to keep LNG development from progressing are encouraged to attend the meeting at the Alderbrook Community Hall, February 9th, when the group will begin meeting on a regular basis. For further information contact Laurie Caplan, 503-338-6508, email .

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Jewell - A picture is worth a thousand words

Carrie Bartoldus January 5, 2009

(Jewell, Oregon) – A series of photos of the after effects from the first 12 days of winter in Jewell with a short video clip of Fish Hawk Falls managing the runoff of more snowfall than the area has seen in the last 20 years. Numerous outbuildings have fallen from the weight of snow combined with ice on their roofs, burying woodpiles and saturating the wood underneath, leaving homes bitterly cold and people forced to burn furniture after 10 days of being without electricity. Many of the 680 households in the area were without power up to 18 days! Those that had generators watched, in desperation, as snow continued to fall closing roads and restricting their supply of fuel. While most living in this isolated community are prepared for the numerous power outages that happen throughout the winter power is usually restored within three days. Never before had both snow and power outage hit the community at the same time, isolating it for close to two weeks.

These photographs were just taken this Friday and Saturday, Jan 2nd & 3rd, after a “mere” few inches of snowfall added to the three or four feet already laying on the ground. When the snow stops, it will start to melt and a whole new set of problems will arise. The community is determined to face these problems with a group of people leading them that is dedicated to emergency preparedness and response, the East County Rescue, located at the Nehalem Valley Community Church.








A load of wood being loaded up in Knappa for a trip out to Jewell

Highway 202 to Jewell from Astoria. What people need to remember, according to Victor Torrico the Ops Coordinator for East County Rescue, is that although the snow may have melted everywhere else it is still a huge issue out in Jewell, something people have to deal with and figure out how (or if) they can get around it.

Where the pavement is clear of snow the driving doesn’t get any easier and the driver must continue to be alert. Mud slides and flooding are a constant danger along Hwy 202, especially after the amount of snowfall that was recently experienced.

Many homes were snowed in for days, and in some cases for a week or longer. Even after the snow plow had come through, clearing the road, the berms created by the plow further blocked many people who were unaware that the plow had gone by and they would need to immediately dig an opening to the road or face the threat that the freshly piled snow would freeze, virtually blocking all access to the road coming or going.

The storm took out many barns, woodsheds, and various other outbuildings. Some were already on their last legs, others, however, were buildings being used up to the moment the roofs caved in. Wood was soaked and left useless, cows and livestock were left out in the cold, hay and other feed destroyed.

Woodpile at East County Rescue/Nehalem Valley church getting low

Video of Fish Hawk Falls flowing angrily, swollen with runoff.

Photos and video courtesy of Bart Rummell

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Snowbound? Time to bring the box office home, tonight

Carrie Bartoldus January 4, 2009

For those of us trying to pinch a penny, or home bound due to “inclement weather,” after we have finished darning our socks, mending the broken farm tools and have watched the children play “will you stop touching me” for the 40 hundreth time, we want to watch a “good movie” but for many of us, our DVD libraries are usually woefully small.

Even in the advanced neighborhoods where the neighbors actually LIKE one another (you know, have bar-b-ques together, take one anothers’ kids to the pool, or wave when we see someone out at the mail box) swapping DVDs isn’t all that common.

There are those of us who watched as our college kids came home for the holidays with nifty ideas on how to save a buck on entertainment. We watched as they hooked up to OUR internet and spent the next 12 hours downloading one movie only to get half way through and, amid much groaning and swearing, to find out that our download speed was too slow and some glitch had prevented the process from completing.

Later, much to our horror, we watched as a television shows expose told us that we had been part of an act of piracy by allowing an “illegal” download to occur using our internet connection! Horror of horrors! Never again, we would vow. Actually, most of us would hardly be conscious of the fact if a download was taking place in the wee hours of the morning.

Zoom ahead a decade later and the scenario has changed, drastically. Websites now offer the viewer the opportunity to stream a movie, never having to download it to their device. Instantly watch a movie that is playing, right now, down at the movie theater. All one needs is DivX codec & player, or comparable, and you are ready to go. The download for one is free, if you don’t already have one and once you get it you can also use it if you buy a DVD from ZML and store it on your PC for viewing later.

Watch-Movies.net is a free site which, basically, is a giant catalog of all the sites that are streaming the movies that are currently in the theaters, around the world in all the major languages. Also streamed are hundreds of oldies but goodies. You can chose to register or not. Benefits of registering are no more advertising at the bottom of the page and when you first play the movie a pop up spam window wants you to take an IQ test or find a mate or some such spam. You cannot hit ignore button or get rid of this popup by any other means than just accepting it and then deleting it. After that you go right back to the opening window for the movie you selected. Open it wide screen and enjoy.

Movies range from Bedtime Stories and Gran Torino to Goonies or 1952’s High Noon. Independent movies and Foreign films to chose from galore. You can look through the selections based on genre or release date or search for a specific title. That can take a while because every five minutes the site updates, adding and deleting links to the sites that are hosting the movie. So far I have not had a bad experience with losing a movie partially through however I have read of viewers who have been asked to subscribe to MegaVideo with only 20 minutes left to go in their movie (MegaVideo being the host of the video).

If your trying to convince someone to go the online movie route and it is a hard sell your best bet is to allow the movie to buffer all the way through before hitting the play button. It will take a few extra minutes to do this but you will know a head of time whether or not the whole movie is going to be there for viewing.

Another option for those of us who just don’t have the extra bucks to spend $14.99-$22.99 on a DVD is to purchase it for $1.99 – $4.99 online and download it. At Z Movie Library http://www.zml.com/ a couple thousand plus movies are available for download in three different formats. Ipod, DivX and DVD burnable formats are all available for everything from 2009’s Ghost Town to 1925’s Ben Hur: A tale of the Christ and 1948’s Anna Karinina.

Z Movie Library (ZML.com) offers an easy-to-use website featuring thousands of movies — including the latest — that download superfast with high quality to personal computers, iPods or other handheld devices, or can be burned to DVD. Prices range from $2-$5 and there’s no DRM (digital rights management) so you’re free to do whatever you like with the movies. The debate is hot and heavy as to whether or not it is offering a legal product. SongBoom gives a decent review of ZML and walks you through the step by step process of registration and downloading the movie of your choice in the format of your choice.

Watch-Movies.net’s disclaimer states: Watch-Movies.net is absolutely legal and contain only links to other sites on the Internet : ( rapidshare.com, megaupload.com, megashare(s), mega, dailymotion.com, myspace.com, ouou.com, stage6.com, tudou.com, veoh.com, youku.com, youtube.com and others.. ) We do not host or upload any video, films, media files ( avi, mov, flv, mpg, mpeg, divx, dvd rip, mp3, mp4, torrent, ipod, psp ), watch-movies.net is not responsible for the accuracy, compliance, copyright, legality, decency, or any other aspect of the content of other linked sites. If you have any legal issues please contact appropriate media file owners / hosters.

The likelihood of lawsuit to closing down either of these sites is moderately low. According to CNET the big media companies aren’t sitting on their hands when it comes to Web. Several of the largest studios now offer catalog titles on Hulu, and Metro-Goldwyn Mayer recently posted a few films to YouTube.

Even though it was easier 10 years ago to download music than to download the huge digital movie files now, Atlantic Records just became the first label to see Internet sales equal that of CD sales and that benchmark took almost a decade to reach.

Watching from home will have to put a serious gouge in box office sales in order for Hollywood to put the time and money into closing these sites down. Complicating the situation is that these companies are often located in countries that don’t have enforceable copyright laws. If and when watching movies from home starts to put a serious dent in the pocketbook of the big media companies you can bet they will be offering incentives to websites such as Watch-Movies.net and ZML to work for them or set up competitive websites that will be financially beneficial to them.

Box office sales
Movie Title Distributor Weekend Gross Cumulative Gross
Marley & Me 20th Century Fox Distribution $24,050,000 $106,510,000
Bedtime Stories Buena Vista Pictures Distribution $20,317,000 $85,351,000
Case of Benjamin Button Paramount Pictures $18,400,000 $79,011,000
Valkyrie MGM Distribution Company $14,042,000 $60,692,000
Yes Man Warner Bros. Pictures Distribution $13,850,000 $79,413,000
Seven Pounds Sony Pictures Releasing $10,000,000 $60,038,000
The Tale of Despereaux Universal Pictures $7,020,000 $43,742,000
Doubt Miramax Films $5,031,000 $18,730,000
The Day…Earth Stood Still Fox Distribution $4,850,000 $74,299,000
Slumdog Millionaire Fox Searchlight Pictures $4,770,000 $28,779,000
Twilight Summit Entertainment, LLC $4,530,000 $176,815,000
Bolt Buena Vista Pictures Distribution $3,271,000 $109,897,000

Now, hurry up and get that movie streaming or downloaded before the next “weather event” takes the power away!

(NCO disclaimer: NorthCoastOregon.com does not endorse any illegal downloading nor copyright infringement. If in doubt of whether or not any activity is legal, check with appropriate authorities. This article is for entertainment purposes only and is not suggesting, recommending nor endorsing a course of action. Readers act at their own discretion and are responsible for their own actions.)

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State of Emergency Formalized for South-county and Jewell

Carrie Bartoldus December 29, 2008

The Clatsop County Board of Commissioners met in special session Monday afternoon to approve a resolution and order declaring a disaster for several communities in southeastern Clatsop County. The vote formalizes the action the board took on Thursday, Christmas Day, when it approved the resolution via a telephone poll in response to the ongoing hardships faced by citizens in Jewell, Elsie and other rural communities due to the severe winter weather. Commissioner Ann Samuelson originally signed the declaration on behalf of the board when it was first approved on December 25th.

Sheriff Tom Bergin reported to the board that Western Oregon Electric Cooperative, Inc., which serves Jewell (and most of southeastern Clatsop County as well as Vernonia) would have service restored by Monday afternoon. However, as of 6 pm Monday night no place in Vernonia could confirm service had been turned on, though numerous locations were called and as late as 8:30 pm people from the church were still reporting that they had no power.

Residents in the area have been without electricity for up to 17 days, may have been unable to travel because of road closures or high snow blocking their driveways and private roads. According to Sheriff Bergin the county and American Red Cross responded to the storm by providing food, water and other supplies to local residents at the Jewell School, the county’s Nehalem Valley Substation and through direct visits to local residents who were unable to leave their homes.

The Sheriff reported that residents throughout the Jewell area were notified about the availability of supplies and the opening of the substation through the 911 reverse system, which automatically dials all of the residents in the Jewell area delivering a prerecorded message. The Sheriff stated that the system had been tested during the summer to make sure it was working and to educate the Jewell people as to what would happen in case of an emergency. Approximately 180 out of the 680 residents called had phones that could not be reached because they were rotary style. The 911 reverse system will not work with a rotary style phone. The Sheriff indicated that the residents had been informed of this glitch during the summer campaign.

According to the Clatsop County website a disaster declaration authorizes the county Public Works Deparment to assist residents by clearing blocked driveways and private roads, and to coordinate with Wstern Oregon Electric Cooperative and the Oregon Department of Transportation in restoring power to the area. The declaration also allows the county administration to make unplanned expenditures to respond to the situation without formal prior approval of the board of commissioners. The declaration is also a necessary step if the county attempts to seek state or federal assistance or reimbursement for expenses incurred in responding to the crisis.

Bergin reported that snowplows from the county Public Works Department cleared snow from many driveways and private roads. Local ham radio volunteers, coordinated through the county’s Emergency Operations Center, also set up operations at the Sheriff’s substation in Jewell, at the Nehalem Vallery Church and at Baker’s General Store to provide back-up communications capability.

Several other entities also responded, including local Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) from Astoria and Lewis and Clark whose members checked on vulnerable residents bringing them needed supplies. CERTs were able to get to over 90% of the Jewell residents to assess damages, evaluate needs, and respond to requests for supplies and in at least once instance a diabetic’s medicine that was waiting at a pharmacy to be retrieved.

The Nehalem Valley Church reported that it would stay open continuously, as long as the community was still in crisis. Those who wish to can bring sleeping bags and toiletries and can stay at the church. Donations of dry firewood, canned goods, fresh water, and gasoline can be made directly to the church (503-755-2376) or send an email to NorthCoastOregon.com if you need someone to pick up your donation. If you have a generator that you can lend out, please send an email to NorthCoastOregon.com leaving your name, and contact information. While projections from WOEC indicate power restoration is imminent with additional snow and high winds in the forecast how long the power will stay on is questionable.

Manpower to keep snow cleared is still desired. If you plan to travel to the Jewell area to volunteer or bring donations you are cautioned to use high clearance vehicle is the event of running into flood situations and to use a cell phone with Verizon as the carrier. No other cell phone company is operable in the area at this time.

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Jewell’s wish list: Volunteers, dry wood and less snow

Carrie Bartoldus December 29, 2008

The Nehalem Valley Community Church has organized into a local emergency operations center. Under Pastor Abel Baker, Elder Mike Carter and Victor Torrico, and with the Fire Chief Mike Wammack, the church is a hub of activity. Deb Treusdell and Jeanette Nachbar coordinate efforts for disbursement of MREs and blankets while doing triage on requests as information is collected.

Driveways that have been closed since snowfall accumulated over 10 days ago need to be dug out so inhabitants can restock much needed food supplies, gasoline for generators, and clean water. The pumps for wells have gone out and many Jewell residents have been using snow or water from rivers for drinking as well as (limited) bathing purposes.

“One of the most needed things right now,” said Mike Torrico, “is dry firewood. If people could donate dry firewood it would really, really help out. What most people here have is very wet, saturated wood that is hardly better than no wood at all.”

For one group of Jewell residents 17 days have gone by without power, according to Torrico. “People out here are prepared to go three or four days without power, or in snow conditions. No one was prepared for both conditions together. We have had the most snow that has been seen out here in twenty years and had a loss of power for two weeks with some as long as three weeks. You just can’t prepare for that.”

While the community is pulling together through the efforts of their church manpower from the surrounding communities can still be used. “In the lower Nehalem area we need to help people dig out of the snow,” Torrico explained, “we sure could use the help of more volunteers to do that.”

Volunteers are needed to bring wood out to Jewell from people who are donating wood, ferry other supplies that have been donated, to shovel snow out of driveway entrances where snowplows piled excess, and to help remove debris off of roads to make them passable.

Volunteers are encouraged to drive in vehicles that have high clearance. Jewell is under a flood watch at this time as snow melts and the rains continue (with forecasts of more snow in the near future). Volunteers should also have cell phones using Verizon as it is the only one with coverage in the area at the present time and they will need to be able to stay in contact with the command center at the church.

Torrico said that contributions of gasoline are also needed at the present time. While more generators do not appear to be needed, yet, the ones that are in use cost about $10 per day to run. For people who have been unable to make it in to work, at the end of the month and year, an additional $50-$100 out of their budget is not easily affordable.

Torrico has asked that a list of people willing to donate their generators be kept. As more residents of Jewell are contacted with the help of the CERT teams and volunteers the coordinators will have a better idea of how many more are needed. In some spots throughout Jewell the power came on last night, only to be lost again today. According to West Oregon Electric Cooperative, INC the power is expected to be on “soon”.

NorthCoastOregon.com told Torrico that it would keep a list of people who would like to donate their generators. NCO will also take your information if you have a donation of dry firewood or gasoline. Please email your name, phone number and address of where to pick up the item you are donating to
NorthCoastOregon.com.

People may also bring their donations to the Nehalem Valley Community Church 80803 Highway 103, Seaside, OR 97138; 503-755-2376. Volunteers may either call first or just show up at the church. Monetary donations need to go through the church, earmarked for the Jewell relief efforts.

The National Weather Service out of Portland is reporting a cold front arriving this afternoon with the snow level falling to 800 ft by late afternoon and holding through the night. Snow showers will bring one to three inches of snow later this afternoon with another two to five inches possible tonight. The Coast Range of Northwest Oregon-Willapa Hills including the cities of Vernonia, Jewell, Trask, Frances, and Ryderwood are targeted in the forecast.

People in Jewell are asked to continue to check on their neighbors to ensure their safety and to call the Church to apprise the coordinators if they have a need of gasoline, firewood, generators, or people to help them with snow or debris removal. For critical needs or conditions call the Sheriff’s office at 503-325-8635. For emergencies call 911.

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Jewell residents hanging on and helping out as they wait for power to return

Carrie Bartoldus December 27, 2008

Although they are still reeling from the recent winter blast the Jewell community is pulling together to help one another as power for most of the residents is still out. While there is hope that Fishhawk Falls area might see the power on soon, since the trees and debris have been cleared and access to the lines is now available, road crews are still trying to make it up to Nicolai Ridge to make sure a mainline hasn’t been damaged during the latest bout with ice and snow.

Many of the residents have been without power for eight full days, and some had power outages during the week before the power went out for good. Hot showers, along with coffee and conversation, at the Sheriff’s substation was a welcome “treat” for those who couldn’t afford to waste their generator’s gasoline on the hot water tank.

Baker’s General Store finally received a shipment of fuel and while many were on hand to fill up others weren’t sure how much longer they would be able to afford to keep their generators running. Deb Treusdell, a volunteer who is helping out at the substation, said that it is costing, on the average, about ten dollars a day for people to keep their generators running. “That’s not something a lot of people can afford to keep doing,” Treusdell worriedly commented. Treusdell is the project manager for Oregon Emergency-Preparedness Outreach (OEPO). She stressed that there was not a projected time line for when power would be restored and a need for generators has been the most common expressed need.

“The folks out here are pretty self-reliant and prepared to go without power for a couple days or so but now they have been without power for eight days straight,” Treusdell explained, “and they had to cope with a week or so of bad weather before that.”

Treusdell, along with other volunteers at the substation and ham radio operators, have been providing essential care items to those who stop by along with the opportunity to take a hot shower, collect some Meals Ready to Eat (MREs) as well as share information.

“We hear about who has general needs, who has special needs and we pass the information to the Sheriff who will coordinate efforts to get those needs met,” Treusdell explained, “One of the most important ways people can help is to check on their neighbors, especially the elderly and those you haven’t seen for a couple of days.”

Treusdell said they have found out about a woman with children who has been unable to leave her home first because of the ice and snow on the road and then because when the snowplow went by it created mounds of snowdrifts in front of driveways, trapping many vehicles in driveways. The mounds soon harden and when that happens are virtually impossible to move.

The woman had no more food supplies nor fuel for heat. Treusdell said that they were able to get supplies to the woman, but she worries that there are others like her that no one has checked on and no one knows how they are coping.

The substation reports that 5-6 cases of MREs have been distributed, along with cases of bottled water and 21 hot showers. The substation will be open again tomorrow, Sunday, from 10-4 pm. Depending on the information received, regarding the needs of the community, Sheriff Bergin will decide how many days to keep the substation open.

Treusdell said that the Nehalem Valley Church would be used as a back-up if the substation closes. Many supplies have all ready been transferred to the church and the area around it has been plowed to make it more accessible for people. Sunday services will be held tomorrow and those who have concerns or need help are welcome to bring their questions and requests to the church. Pastor Abel Baker is helping to coordinate efforts to get help to those who need it.

One of the greatest needs that has already been brought to the forefront is money to keep generators operating. Jewell has six people who are on dialysis for their kidneys. Three of those kidney patients use at home machines which need power generated to run. At least one of them has now resorted to siphoning gasoline out of their vehicles in order to keep their generator running.

Contributions of cash, gasoline, dry firewood, and food can be made through the Nehalem Valley Community Church (80803 Highway 103, Seaside, OR 97138; 503-755-2376) or Baker’s General Store (44601 Highway 26, Seaside, OR‎ – (503) 755-2739‎) which Pastor Baker’s parents own and operate.

Treusdell has made out a flyer which is available at the general store and the church letting people know what help is available for them and some precautions they can take to help in this situation. Checking frequently on neighbors is very important as those who are able to get past the packed mounds of snow and out of their driveways make their rounds in their neighborhoods. Treusdell encouraged people to contact the Sheriff’s office (503-325-8635) with their concerns and if they have specific issues that need to be immediately addressed.

At this time cellular service in the Jewell area is spotty. AT&T cellular is down and won’t be available until the power outage problem is solved. Verizon is operable and working in those areas where service has always been available. Century Tel brought a generator out so the land lines are operable for those people who still have telephones (rotary style) that can work without electricity.

West Oregon Electric Cooperative, Inc.,the service provider for Jewell’s electricity, say that it has lost the transmission feed from the Bonneville Power Administration at the Mist Substation and the Jewell/Elsie area. It is not yet clear why the transmission feed has been lost. Until crews can cover the whole area and clear the lines of debris it is unknown when power will be returned. Rumor has it that Fishhawk Falls may have power restored as early as tonight with the rest of Jewell sometime between now and Wednesday. West Oregon Electric Cooperative does not offer any such timeline.

What the Cooperative does offer is its website which states the order in which power is restored after a massive outage:
1. SUPPLIER’S TRANSMISSION LINES have to be restored first. Otherwise, there is no power for the rest of the system. We must confirm that our power supplier’s transmission lines are operational and supplying electricity to our substations first.
2. THE COOPERATIVE’S TRANSMISSION LINES (if applicable) come next. Once we can confirm that our supplier’s transmission lines are functioning properly and delivering power to our substations, we must then confirm that our transmission lines are intact ahd delivering power properly.
3. SUBSTATIONS come next. Before we can make any progress and move forward with repairs, we must make any necessary repairs to our substations to get them in working order so there is power available to deliver on the power lines that feed your homes.
4. Then FEEDERS AND MAIN LINES. These distribution lines leave the substation and supply power to the majority of members. Repairs have to be done there before electricity can be delivered to your home or business. Without them operating properly, you will be without electricity.
5. TAP LINES or BRANCH LINES are next. These tap or branch lines come off of the main lines or feeders and supply one or more homes.
6. Finally, INDIVIDUAL SERVICES. Generally these lines serve only one home. Most often they are the lines that go directly to a house from the pole.

The Cooperative’s website also recommends during severe storms that customers be a good neighbor. Its website counsel’s that severe storms usually increase the number of accidents and medical problems. “Remember this increases the response time for service agencies,” is one of the cautionary issues, another suggested, “You may want to organize people in your area to check on each other and lend assistance.”

Treusdell said that while the snow has stopped and the rain is helping to wear down the packed snow mounds that are blocking people’s driveways the next immediate concern is flooding. On many of the highways along the coast landslides caused by rain saturated ground cause as many road closures as trees across the road do in other places. The National Weather Service (NWS) out of Portland calls for a flood watch to remain in effect through Monday afternoon. The NWS states that precipitation over the past 24 hours ranged from two to three inches in the coast range and one to one and ahalf inches in the Cascade Foothills and Columbia River Gorge. Strong south winds ahead of the front combined with the rain falling on the low and mid elevation snowpack will enhance the runoff on rivers and streams in northwest Oregon and southwest Washington. Rivers and streams draining the watersheds of the coastal mountains and cascades and are responding to the runoff and will continue to show some significant rises through Monday. A few rivers will reach or exceed bankfull and may reach flood stage on Sunday. In addition the rain on snow in urban areas may lead to flooding in areas with snow cover.

Contact Information:
Sheriff’s Office Nehalem Valley Substation at 79532 Highway 202 in Jewell, 503-325-8635 (to report concerns and special needs)
Nehalem Valley Community Church 80803 Highway 103, Seaside, OR 97138; 503-755-2376 (to pick up MREs and other essential items, to make donations, to get information)
Baker’s General Store 44601 Highway 26, Seaside, OR‎ 503-755-2739 (to make donations, get information)
West Oregon Electric Cooperative, Inc. 503-429-3021 (to report problems) http://www.westoregon.org/outage.php (for updates on power outage)
Commissioner Jeff Hazen – 503-791-0131 – (if you can loan out your generator to a family in Jewell until power is back on). Hazen has been in the field in Jewell and plans on returning.
Commissioner Ann Samuelson – Email Ann Samuelson (any other issue that isn’t being addressed, or if you need help resolving an issue). Samuelson is in the field through out the day where cell phone coverage is spotty. She will be checking in at the substation, church and store on a regular basis and is able to check her email nightly.

UPDATE
Vernonia, which is also served by West Oregon Electric Cooperative, Inc., had its power restored Sunday morning.

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Severe Weather in Jewell area ~ State of Emergency Imminent

Carrie Bartoldus December 25, 2008

A White Christmas is not what most in Jewell wanted to wake up to this morning as they went into week two of no power, isolation and cold. While many in Jewell have been able to pool resources, taking turns sharing meals at neighbors’ homes, others have been too far away from any close neighbors and with no power and out of cell phone range, are completely isolated. Commissioner Ann Samuelson has been attempting to assess who needs what and where but many in the area are unreachable. “We are in a state of emergency out here,” she stated, “We need to get to people, to find out how they are doing, if they are okay. There are people who need medication, who are elderly and might need heat, food or help. We don’t know because we can’t reach them. Neighbors are taking care of each other, but some people don’t live next door to anyone. They need help, too.”

Declaring a state of emergency would bring in additional man power and additional funds, and help to prioritize Jewell to get its residents’ power turned back on. In the last week over 70,000 homes have lost power in Oregon due to the successive winter storms that have brought unusual weather west of the Coastal Range and Cascades, to the Valley floor and even the coast. Snow in measurable amounts staying for days at a time have wreaked havoc everywhere along the I-5 corridor to the coast. Clatsop County has been isolated frequently for brief amounts of time as three major highways (30, 26 and 101) have been closed, sometimes simultaneously, due to road conditions caused by the weather.

Trees down has been the number one cause of road closures in Clatsop County, while blizzard like conditions have closed summmits and passes elsewhere in the state. Sheriff Bergin wrote a letter expressing his frustration with the beautification strips of trees next to the highways which, in his opinion, are the source of the trees which are now littered all over Clatsop County highways. Sheriff Bergin writes: “Common sense has gone out the window in this state and when will this madness end.” According to Oregon Department of Transportation, however, the beautification strips are a result of 1960s federal Highway Acts and in order for Oregon to continue receiving highway funds it must adhere to the guidelines of the act.

Whether or not funds are jeopardized if a federal highway act is avoided, many are not pleased with the hazards that the trees falling across the highways have caused. The fact remains that the emergency responders ability to do their job is greatly reduced when their way is blocked by downed tree after downed tree. Commissioner Samuelson is determined to find a way around the problem to a solution. “We can’t just let this continue to happen. We have to have a way where people are confident that in situations like this, storms and natural disasters, the emergency responders can reach them. Help is on its way. This idea that they are isolated and alone isn’t right. There has to be a way to correct this situation. I am working on a solution and am looking for others to work with me until we find one.”

Weather Forecast

WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM WEDNESDAY TO 4 PM PST THURSDAYS AND CASCADE FOOTHILLS OF NORTH AND CENTRAL OREGON AND SOUTH WASHINGTON…THE NORTH AND CENTRAL OREGON COAST RANGE…AND THE WILLAPA HILLS OF SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON…

COAST RANGE OF NORTHWEST OREGON- CENTRAL COAST RANGE OF WESTERN OREGON- NORTHERN OREGON CASCADE FOOTHILLS-NORTHERN OREGON CASCADES- CASCADE FOOTHILLS IN LANE COUNTY-CASCADES IN LANE COUNTY- SOUTH WASHINGTON CASCADES-WILLAPA HILLS- SOUTH WASHINGTON CASCADE FOOTHILLS- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF…VERNONIA…JEWELL…TRASK… GRANDE RONDE…TIDEWATER…SWISSHOME…SANDY… SILVER FALLS STATE PARK…SWEET HOME…GOVERNMENT CAMP… DETROIT…SANTIAM PASS…VIDA…LOWELL…COTTAGE GROVE…MCKENZIE BRIDGE…OAKRIDGE…WILLAMETTE PASS…COLDWATER RIDGE VISITORS CENTER…MOUNT ST. FOR THE CASCADEHELENS…FRANCES…RYDERWOOD…TOUTLE…ARIEL…COUGAR.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PORTLAND HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW…WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM WEDNESDAY TO 4 PM PST THURSDAY.

ANOTHER WINTER STORM IS EXPECTED TO BRING HEAVY SNOW TO THE WILLAPA HILLS…COAST RANGE…CASCADES AND CASCADE FOOTHILLS. SNOW IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE IN INTENSITY AROUND MIDDAY WEDNESDAY…AND CONTINUE THROUGH THURSDAY. ACCUMULATIONS OF 1 TO 2 FEET ARE POSSIBLE…WITH THE HEAVIEST AMOUNTS EXPECTED IN THE CASCADES.

A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW ARE FORECAST THAT WILL MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS. ONLY TRAVEL IN AN EMERGENCY. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL…KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT… FOOD…AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.

NORTH OREGON COAST-CENTRAL OREGON COAST-SOUTH WASHINGTON COAST-

…HIGH SURF WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 7 AM TO 10 PM PST THURSDAY FOR THE SOUTH WASHINGTON AND NORTH AND CENTRAL OREGONCOASTS… A HIGH SURF WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 7 AM TO 10 PM PST THURSDAY.

A STRONG DEEP LOW IN THE EASTERN GULF OF ALASKA WILL MOVE SOUTH DOWN THE COAST OF BRITISH COLUMBIA…AND IS EXPECTED TO MOVE ONSHORE NEAR ASTORIA THURSDAY MORNING. STRONG SURFACE WINDS ON THE WEST SIDE OF THIS DEEP LOW WILL GENERATE LARGE SWELL THAT IS HEADED TOWARD THE WEST COAST…BRINGING DANGEROUS HIGH SURF CONDITIONS TO THE SOUTH WASHINGTON AND NORTH AND CENTRAL OREGON COASTAL AREAS FROM THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING.
SWELL AROUND 10 FEET THIS EVENING WILL RAPIDLY BUILD TO BETWEEN 15 AND 20 FEET LATE TONIGHT…THEN TO BETWEEN 22 AND 28 FEET THURSDAY MORNING. THE HIGHEST SEAS WILL BE OFF THE CENTRAL OREGON COAST. SEAS WILL SUBSIDE BELOW 20 FEET OVERNIGHT THURSDAY NIGHT.

WITH THIS BEING A HOLIDAY PERIOD AND EXTRA PEOPLE POSSIBLY VACATIONING AT THE COAST…PEOPLE ARE URGED TO STAY A SAFE DISTANCE AWAY FROM BEACHES AND JETTIES.

IT CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS TO VENTURE NEAR THE COASTAL AREA UNDER HIGH SURF CONDITIONS. PEOPLE AT TIMES ARE SWEPT OFF ROCKS AND JETTIES AND DROWN WHILE OBSERVING HIGH SURF. STAY WELL BACK FROM THE WATERS EDGE AND BE ALERT FOR THE EXCEPTIONALLY HIGH WAVE.

A HIGH SURF WARNING MEANS THAT DANGEROUSLY HIGH SURF WILL BATTER BEACHES IN THE WARNING AREA…PRODUCING DEADLY RIP CURRENTS AND MINOR BEACH EROSION.

Highway 30 Closes and Reopens, downed trees, use caution if traveling this route.

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