HWY 410 Landslides/ Nile Community Update-NOV. 18, 2009

HWY 410 Landslides/ Nile Community Update-NOV. 18, 2009

Naches, WASH-11/18/09

USFWS Update
Today, Nov. 18, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) will coordinate a stranded fish removal effort in collaboration fish biologists from nine other agencies and groups. When the county’s river diversion is complete the fish removal teams will use several techniques to safely catch fish stranded in the old river channel and release them back into unobstructed waters.

WSDOT Update
Yakima County diverts river channel around landslide. Another major shift is in store for people who depend on an all-weather route through the Nile Valley, 22 miles west of Yakima. Due to forecasted flooding, WSDOT shifted traffic onto the 4,000-foot-long SR 410 detour on Monday, Nov. 16 at 8 p.m. after crews finished working for the day. After traffic was shifted, Yakima County started cutting through the current temporary detour in two places to divert the river away from the base of the landslide. Diverting the river around the landslide minimizes landslide erosion risks; a proactive measure to combat eventual increases in river flows. Diversion of the Naches River into the new river channel started on Tuesday, Nov. 17. The new detour moves the roadway away from the river channel and landslide, following the western edge of the Nile Valley. WSDOT reminds motorists to please drive with caution and be prepared for delays associated with construction operations. “WSDOT and our agency partners, along with Nile Valley residents and construction crews, have accomplished truly remarkable feats within a one month time frame,” said WSDOT Regional Administrator Don Whitehouse. “Because of these partnerships, drivers have a safe, reliable, and durable transportation route around the Nile Valley landslide.” “Everyone worked together under an incredibly tight timeline and against all odds to divert the river away from the slide to protect lives, property, infrastructure, and natural resources,” said Yakima County Public Services Director Vern Redifer. “That we have been successful is a testament to the professionalism and dedication of all those involved.” Chinook Pass is closed for the season from Morse Creek (five miles east of the summit) to Crystal Mountain Boulevard (eight miles northwest of the summit). Access to the Crystal Mountain Ski Resort from SR 410 remains open. WSDOT is seeking federal emergency funding for the landslide emergency response, detour construction, and river channel work. The total cost is estimated to be as much as $8 million.

Disaster Assistance

The U. S. Small Business Administration, announced that SBA will make low-interest working capital loans available to small businesses that suffered economically from the landslide that occurred October 10 near the community of Nile in Yakima County. Small, non-farm businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and most private, non-profit organizations of any size may qualify for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) of up to $2 million to help meet financial obligations and operating expenses which could have been met had the disaster not occurred. “Eligibility for these working capital loans is based on the financial impact of the disaster only and not on any actual property damage. These loans have an interest rate of 4 percent, a maximum term of 30 years, and are restricted to small businesses without the financial ability to offset the adverse impact without hardship,” said Nancy Porzio, SBA’s Acting Regional Administrator. Small, non-farm businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and most private, non-profit organizations of any size may qualify for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) of up to $2 million to help meet financial obligations and operating expenses which could have been met had the disaster not occurred. “Beginning Tuesday, November 17, from 9 am to 1 pm, SBA customer service representatives will be on hand at a SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Center to issue loan applications, answer questions about SBA’s disaster loan program, explain the application process and help each business owner complete their application,” Porzio continued. The center will be open on the days and times indicated. No appointment is necessary. The center is located at: Niles Valley Community Church Near the corner of Hwy 410 & Bedrock Lane 60 Bedrock Lane Naches, WA

Upcoming Events

Nile Community Appreciation Night Don and Kathy Forgey have donated the use of the American Homestead Event Center located at 5870 State Route 410,Naches WA, (Mile Post maker 111), to host the Nile Community Appreciation Night to thank the government agencies, construction companies, power, trucking outfits, construction workers, supplier's, and all the people who worked so hard to restore the valley. They will be having a Community Pot Luck Dinner starting at 6:00 PM, with live entertainment featuring Don Forgey, Paul Wilson and Tom Tyo. Anyone wishing to help organize this event please contact Steve Nevens at 658-2304 or stevenevens98937@gmail.com.
The Department of EMS will be having a “Holiday Yard Sale” inside the Glenwood Square Mall hallways on December 11th & 12th. Donations of gift items, and arts and crafts, that are to be sold during the event, are being accepted now through December 10th at the EMS office. All proceeds go to their Nile Valley Community Fund. They are located at: Yakima County Department of Emergency Medical Services Glenwood Square Mall,5110 Tieton Drive, Suite 370,Yakima, Washington 98908-Tel. (509) 966-5175 Fax (509) 966-5176.

NWS Pendleton Forecast for 8 Miles SE Cliffdell, WA

REST OF TODAY...MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH RAIN LIKELY. HIGHS 39 TO 49. WEST WIND 10 TO 20 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS. CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION 70 PERCENT. TONIGHT...MOSTLY CLOUDY. A CHANCE OF SNOW SHOWERS IN THE EVENING...THEN SNOW SHOWERS LIKELY OVERNIGHT. COLDER. SNOW ACCUMULATION AROUND 1 INCH. LOWS 24 TO 29. WEST WIND 5 TO 15 MPH. CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION 70 PERCENT. WEDNESDAY...MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 50 PERCENT CHANCE OF RAIN SHOWERS. SNOW LEVEL 2000 FEET. HIGHS 35 TO 42. SOUTH WIND 5 TO 15 MPH.

Informational Websites that are potentially pertinent to you: There is a lot of information out there. Please take a look and see if any applies to you.

-NEW- Applicants may also apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure Web site at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. Disaster loan information and application forms may also be obtained from SBA’s Customer Service Center by calling toll-free (800) 659‑2955, emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visiting SBA’s Web site at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance. Hearing impaired individuals may call (800) 877‑8339. Yakima County Public Services Flood Control Zone District Flood Preparedness Information http://www.yakimacounty.us/SurfaceWater/FloodPreparedness.htm WSDOT Website with road and slide information http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2009/10/23-WSDOT+begins+building+SR+410+detour.htm Yakima Valley Office of Emergency Management Blog http://www.yak-oem.blogspot.com/ NOAA National Weather Forecast for 8 miles east of Cliffdell. http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=46.86394700508323&lon=-120.95947265625&site=pdt&smap=1&marine=1&unit=0&lg=en NOAA (Weather Service) river gauge at Cliffdell http://www.nwrfc.noaa.gov/river/station/flowplot/flowplot.cgi?CLFW1 WA State Emergency Management Personal, Family, and Pet Preparedness Information http://www.emd.wa.gov/preparedness/prep_personal_preparedness.shtml