South Bend, Washington – Jackie Sheldon, a volunteer Tsunami Trainer for the Pacific County Emergency Management Agency, will provide instructions on how to build a disaster preparedness kit suitable for any circumstances. Presentations are scheduled as follows: 

Friday, March 25, 2011 – 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. 
South Pacific County Administration Building, 7013 Sandridge Rd, Long Beach 

Monday, March 28, 2011 – 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. 
Willapa Valley Grange, 290 Camp One Road, Raymond

Tokeland/North Cove – TBA 

Jackie will demonstrate her personal preparedness kit providing options, suggestions, and advice for residents who wish to develop their own kits. Information specific to building preparedness kits will be distributed; residents may bring their own kits for evaluation, and should bring pen and paper in order to take notes specific to their own needs. 

If you need additional information, please contact the PCEMA office at (360) 875-9338.

Release #6

South Bend, Washington –The tsunami advisory for Washington State has been canceled. The West Coast Alaska Tsunami Warning Center has canceled the advisory for the coastal areas of Oregon, Washington and British Columbia from Cascade Head Oregon, 70 miles SW of Portland to the Alaska-British Columbia border. 

The public is cautioned to remain alert and to pay attention to the news media and any future warnings and alerts as the seismic activity in Japan is continuing. The Pacific County Emergency Operations Center is de-activating and will close at 8:00 p.m. Staff will return to duty Monday, March 14, 2011.

This will be the final press release issued by the Pacific County Emergency Operations Center for this event. Questions regarding this incident may be forwarded to the Pacific County Emergency Operations Center at 360.875.9340 or 360.642.9340. 

Release #5

South Bend, Washington –The Pacific County Emergency Management Council is advising residents that it has received reports of 3’-4’ waves and recurring tidal surges 3’-4’ in depth and up to 100 yards in length in Willapa Bay. 
  
The public is advised to stay away from the shoreline of the Pacific Ocean, Willapa Bay and tidal rivers in Pacific County until further notice. In addition, the public is advised to avoid recreational boating in Willapa Bay.

The PCEMA Council is advising residents of Pacific County that the major threat of tsunami from the 8.9 magnitude earthquake in Japan earlier this morning has likely passed. More than eight hours have passed since the anticipated arrival of tsunami waves. The West Coast Alaska Tsunami Warning Center has maintained a tsunami advisory for the Washington Coast. Please note there could be lingering effects from the earthquake in Japan and/or additional aftershocks capable of generating tsunamis. Residents are cautioned to stay off the ocean beaches until further notice.

The public is cautioned to remain alert and to pay attention to the news media and any future warnings and alerts. This notice will be updated as conditions change. Questions regarding this announcement and questions regarding this incident should be forwarded to the Pacific County Emergency Operations Center at 360.875.9341 or 360.642.9341.

Release #4

South Bend, Washington –The Pacific County Emergency Management Council is advising residents that the West Coast Alaska Tsunami Warning Center has downgraded the tsunami warning along the coasts of California and Oregon to an advisory, there is no change in the tsunami advisory along the Washington Coast. 

The PCEMA Council is advising residents of Pacific County that the major threat of tsunami from the 8.9 magnitude earthquake in Japan earlier this morning has likely passed. More than eight hours have passed since the anticipated arrival of tsunami waves. The West Coast Alaska Tsunami Warning Center has maintained a tsunami advisory for the Washington Coast. Please note there could be lingering effects from the earthquake in Japan and/or additional aftershocks capable of generating tsunamis. Residents are cautioned to stay off the ocean beaches until further notice.

The public is cautioned to remain alert and to pay attention to the news media and any future warnings and alerts. This notice will be updated as conditions change. Questions regarding this announcement and questions regarding this incident should be forwarded to the Pacific County Emergency Operations Center at 360.875.9341 or 360.642.9341.

Release # 3

South Bend, Washington – The Pacific County Emergency Management Council has met and is advising residents that no cancellation has been received from the West Coast Alaska Tsunami Warning Center. 

A tsunami is a series of waves and the first wave may not be the largest. Tsunami wave heights cannot be predicted and can vary significantly along a coast due to local effects. The time from one tsunami wave to the next can be five minutes to an hour, and the threat can continue for many hours as multiple waves arrive.

The PCEMA Council is advising residents of Pacific County that the major threat of tsunami from the 8.9 Magnitude earthquake in Japan earlier this morning has likely passed. More than two hours have passed since the anticipated arrival of tsunami waves. The West Coast Alaska Tsunami Warning Center has maintained a tsunami advisory for the Washington Coast. Please note there could be lingering effects from the earthquake in Japan and/or additional after-shocks capable of generating tsunamis. Residents are cautioned to stay off the ocean beaches until further notice. 

The public is cautioned to remain alert and to pay attention to the news media and any future warnings and alerts. This notice will be updated as conditions change. Questions regarding this announcement and questions regarding this incident should be forwarded to the Pacific County Emergency Operations Center at 360-875-9341 or 360-642-9341.