HWY 410 Landslide Update OCT. 26, 2009

HWY 410 Landslide Update- OCT. 26, 2009

Naches, WASH-

Nile Fire
· Nile fire reports they may have a slower Fire and EMS response because of the road detour. With the potential of a power outage the Fire Department wants everyone to pay attention to Carbon Monoxide poisoning from generators or stoves.

· Everyone needs a fire safety plan in place for their homes.

· Prepare now. Top off fuel, tanks propane, make sure your generator works, be prepared!

Power Outage Safety
There are some things we can’t control – like severe weather, accidents and other unpredictable situations. Your safety during a power outage – and at all times – is important to us.

Read on to find out more about how to stay safe during power outages.

In the house
· Never use kerosene or propane heaters inside without proper ventilation. They create dangerous fumes. Also, don’t use charcoal in your house or garage.

· Preserve body heat by wearing multiple layers of clothing. Add a hat and blankets to stay warm. Blankets and towels around your windows and doors help keep the heat in.

· Protect you pipes during freezing weather by wrapping them with insulation. Also, leave faucets dripping so water won’t freeze and crack the pipes.

· Your full freezer should keep food frozen and safe for about two days when kept closed.

· If someone in your home is on life support, be sure to have a back-up system and a plan of action for an outage.

Downed lines
· Call us immediately at 1-877-548-3768 (1-877-LITESOUT) if you see a downed power line. Don’t touch it.

· Keep everyone, including pets, out of the area. You cannot look at a downed line and determine if it’s "live."

· Do not touch a person if a power line is touching them. Immediately call 911.

· If a power line falls across your vehicle, stay in the car and wait for emergency personnel to cut the power. If your vehicle is on fire and you are in imminent danger and you must get out of the vehicle, JUMP – with both feet together—as far from the car as possible. If a part of your body touches the car and the ground at the same time, you could be electrocuted.

Generator safety
· One idea to help prepare you for a power outage is to purchase a portable electric generator. If you use one, please do so with caution since generators can pose serious safety hazards when improperly used or installed. Remember to always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

· Never plug your generator into an outlet, and don’t connect a generator directly to your home’s main fuse box or circuit panel.

· If you must provide temporary power to your home’s wiring system, the generator must be connected through an approved transfer switch that will isolate your house from our system. The switch must comply with the National Electric Code and local building codes. These include permits, inspection and installation by a licensed electrician.

· To temporarily power an appliance, plug it directly into the generator.

· Use properly sized and grounded extension cords and keep cords hidden so they don’t present a tripping hazard.

· Always properly ventilate a portable generator. Gasoline-powered generators produce carbon monoxide and the fumes can be deadly.

· Make sure that the total electric load on your generator won’t exceed the generator’s rating.

Conditions:State Route 410

410 is still open with detour between milepost 104, to milepost 108, due to a landslide in the area. The emergency detour route has been opened to all drivers, and is a rough, gravel-surfaced road. Crews continue work on portions of the detour and drivers on this emergency route could experience long delays due to construction activities. WSDOT could close the roadway for the safety of drivers at anytime. Information updates are available at 509-577-1635 or 5 1 1.Weather:Rain. Roadway is bare & wet.

Cell Service

Todd Krienke from US Cell advises they will move their COW( cell tower on wheels) to a location near the Woodshed. They will be moving it Monday but did not give a time for activation it takes awhile to get it working. US Cellular also said that when the COW was set up and working US Cellular will be adding equipment to provide coverage further up the canyon. Over the next few weeks cell coverage should improve dramatically for the Hwy 410 corridor on the US Cellular system. Verizon who has had their COW at Carroll Flats for the last two weeks on generator will be shutting down Tuesday 10-27 to remove the site before the weather will not allow its removal. More to follow.

HELPFUL WEBSITES FOR LATEST HWY410 LANDSLIDE RELATED INFO

· To view the latest river stages and forecasts, select from left hand menu, River and Lakes AHPS or follow link below. · http://ahps2.wrh.noaa.gov/ahps2/index.php?wfo=pdt Either click on Cliffdell Icon or select from drop down menu. Shows the latest river stage data and forecast/trend out 7 days. To view graphical forecasts including amount of precipitation expected and possible amount of snow. From left hand menu, select "Weather Forecasts" and click on region of interest. The amount of precipitation expected is under "QPF" and is included out 72 hours.

· To view precipitation received at differing stations, from the main NWS Pendleton Web page www.wrh.noaa.gov/pdt Select Observations and then you can use the clickable Mesonet map site to view locations.

The Northwest River Forecast Center Web page http://www.nwrfc.noaa.gov/ Can see at a glance, with colored icons, sites that are approaching action or warning stages. You can also use this site to see current and forecast river conditions as well as the hydrological discussion, and other features.

· http://www.yak-oem.blogspot.com/ , or Yakima County Hot line (509) 574-1900

· WSDOT Transportation Hot line (509) 577-1635 and SR 410 Landslide Web Page www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/SR410/Landslide For State Road conditions call 511