Pacific County has been informed that the National Weather Service website has posted information in error regarding the Tsunami Advisory resulting from a M8.0 earthquake that occurred of the coast of American Samoa. The NWS websitehttp://www.wrh.noaa.gov/pqr/ indicates that the West Coast Alaska Tsunami Warning Center has issued a Tsunami Advisory for the coast of Pacific County. This is an error in geo-coding that cannot be corrected at this time. Based upon the best available forecast information, there WILL NOT be issuing a Tsunami Advisory for the coast of Washington State, British Columbia, or Alaska. A TSUNAMI ADVISORY MEANS THAT A TSUNAMI CAPABLE OF PRODUCING STRONG CURRENTS OR WAVES DANGEROUS TO PERSONS IN OR VERY NEAR THE WATER IS IMMINENT OR EXPECTED. SIGNIFICANT WIDESPREAD INUNDATION IS NOT EXPECTED FOR AREAS UNDER AN ADVISORY. CURRENTS MAY BE HAZARDOUS TO SWIMMERS... BOATS... AND COASTAL STRUCTURES AND MAY CONTINUE FOR SEVERAL HOURS AFTER THE INITIAL WAVE ARRIVAL. Wave heights for CA and OR may be up to 55 cm (appx. 1.8 feet). Projected heights for WA at Neah Bay and Toke Point are forecast to be smaller, around 6 cm (appx. 0.19 ft.) The arrival time for the West Coast is expected to be approximately 6 hours from now around 9 pm PDT and arrival in Hawaii will occur within 2 hours.

Pacific County has received an update on the M8.0 earthquake that occurred of the coast of American Samoa. According to Paul Whitmore, Director of the West Coast Alaska Tsunami Warning Center, a tsunami was generated and reports indicated a wave of +/- 1 meter (about 3 ft.) struck the coast of American Samoa. The WCATWC has issued a Tsunami Advisory for the coast of California and Oregon. Based upon the best available forecast information, they WILL NOT be issuing a Tsunami Advisory for the coast of Washington State, British Columbia, or Alaska. A TSUNAMI ADVISORY MEANS THAT A TSUNAMI CAPABLE OF PRODUCING STRONG CURRENTS OR WAVES DANGEROUS TO PERSONS IN OR VERY NEAR THE WATER IS IMMINENT OR EXPECTED. SIGNIFICANT WIDESPREAD INUNDATION IS NOT EXPECTED FOR AREAS UNDER AN ADVISORY. CURRENTS MAY BE HAZARDOUS TO SWIMMERS... BOATS... AND COASTAL STRUCTURES AND MAY CONTINUE FOR SEVERAL HOURS AFTER THE INITIAL WAVE ARRIVAL. Wave heights for CA and OR may be up to 55 cm (appx. 1.8 feet). Projected heights for WA at Neah Bay and Toke Point are forecast to be smaller, around 6 cm (appx. 0.19 ft.) The arrival time for the West Coast is expected to be approximately 6 hours from now around 9 pm PDT and arrival in Hawaii will occur within 2 hours.

South Bend, Washington – The Pacific County Emergency Management Agency is participating in a NOAA Weather Radio Promotion on Saturday, September 26, 2009, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Customers will be able to purchase a NOAA weather radio and have it programmed on site by amateur radio operators, other volunteers, or staff. Participating locations in Pacific County are: North Pacific County o Bud’s Lumber, 220 W Robert Bush Drive, South Bend o Dennis Company TV & Appliance, 124 4th Street, Raymond o Radio Shack, 704 Willapa Place, Raymond South Pacific County o Dennis Company, 201 N Pacific, Long Beach o Jack’s Country Store, 26006 Highway 103, Ocean Park oWirkkala Radio Shack, 4912 Pacific Avenue, Long Beach Weather radios alert local residents to many immediate, life-threatening hazards, like weather, tsunamis, volcanoes, hazardous releases, and other dangerous events. Without a weather radio, a critical emergency warning message from local emergency authorities could be missed. NOAA Weather Radio is a service of the National Weather Service, a part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the U.S. Dept of Commerce. NOAA Weather Radio is the voice of theNational Weather Service, broadcasting the latest area weather forecasts and conditions 24 hours a day. Additional NOAA Weather Radio information is available at http://www.emd.wa.gov. The NOAA Weather Radio Promotion is coordinated between the Washington State Emergency Management Division, Grays Harbor Public Utility District, retailers and local businesses, and the Washington coastal counties of Pacific, Grays Harbor, Clallam, and Jefferson to promote National Preparedness and NOAA Weather Radio Awareness Month.

South Bend, Washington – The Pacific County Hazard Mitigation Plan is near complete and is currently available for public review at the Timberland Regional Library in Raymond, South Bend, Naselle, Ilwaco, and Ocean Park or on the Pacific County Emergency Management Agency (PCEMA) website atwww.co.pacific.wa.us/pcema. The review period will end on September 30, 2009.
Pacific County and its respective municipalities have been working together the past 18 months to prepare the multi-jurisdictional all hazard mitigation plan. The purpose of this plan is to identify and assess our community's disaster risks and determine how to best minimize or manage those risks.
The goals of hazard mitigation planning include:

1. Contribute to the development of a long-term, comprehensive mitigation program by funding measures designed to achieve the goals of the state hazard mitigation plan;
2. Assist local governments in avoiding or lessening the impact of natural hazards through safer building practices and the improvement of existing structures and supporting infrastructure.

States and communities use the planning process to set short and long-range mitigation goals and objectives. In recognition of the importance of planning, counties with an approved mitigation plan in effect at the time of disaster may receive Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for planned projects. Jurisdictions lacking a hazard mitigation plan are not eligible for HMGP funds.
Citizens with questions or comments should contact the PCEMA office at (360) 875-9340 or (360) 642-9340.