​South Bend, Washington – The Pacific County Emergency Management Agency (PCEMA) is offering a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) course in Raymond. Training is scheduled as follows:

Saturday, January 17, 2015 · 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, January 18, 2015 · 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Saturday, January 24, 2015 · 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, January 25, 2015 · 8:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

The course will be held at the Riverview Education Center (600 Washington Avenue, Raymond, WA 98586). Pre-registration is required and is limited to 24 participants.
The CERT program is an all-risk, all-hazard training. This valuable course is designed to help you protect yourself, your family, your neighbors, and your neighborhood in an emergency situation. CERT members receive 20 hours of initial training provided free of charge. The course is taught with classroom instruction for the first two days and practical exercises during the third day, the fourth day will be devoted to more advanced training and is optional. Participants under the age of 18 must have parent/guardian permission to attend. 
To register or for more information, contact Scott McDougall at (360) 875-9338 or email smcdougall@co.pacific.wa.us.  

South Bend, Washington – The National Weather Service in Portland has issued a flood watch for Pacific County effective from Saturday afternoon through Monday. The weather service forecasters are calling for a “classic atmospheric river” over southwest Washington beginning tomorrow and continuing through 4:00 a.m. Monday morning, with weekend rainfall totals that could reach as high as 6 inches on the coast and 12 inches in the Willapa Hills. A High Surf Advisory is also in effect until 4:00 p.m. on Saturday.

In addition, the coastal areas of Pacific County will also be experiencing a series of higher than normal astronomical tides that, when combined with the high rainfall totals may lead to an increased risk of tidal overflow (flooding caused by an abnormally high tide). High tide, in Raymond, will be at 11:33 a.m. on Saturday, 12:16 p.m. on Sunday, and 1:00 p.m. on Monday. 
The Pacific County Emergency Management Agency urges everyone to monitor the weather forecast and be alert for potential flooding throughout the weekend. Care should also be exercised by clam diggers taking advantage of this weekend’s clam tides. Waves will run further on the beach than normal and “sneaker” waves can be expected. Do not turn your back to the ocean, and exercise extreme caution.

Raymond, WA. – On December 1st of this year, the Pacific County Sheriff’s Office investigated a report of a burglary at the Department of Natural Resources office located in the 900 block of state route 6 in Menlo. Forced entry to the office was made and several items of interest were taken. Deputies processed the scene and continued gathering information as an ongoing investigation. Deputies were able to identify an adult male suspect as a result of their investigation. 

The name and description of the suspect were given to other deputies and officers in the area. On December 16th, an alert Raymond Police officer recognized the suspected burglar and contacted the suspect. The officer found that the suspect had an outstanding warrant and placed the suspect under arrest. A search of the subject uncovered several baggies of suspected methamphetamine. 

The arrested suspect was identified as Mark A. Busbey, age 33 of Raymond. Busbey was interviewed by deputies and admitted to committing the burglary. Busbey stated that he sold the stolen items to help fund his methamphetamine habit. 

Busbey was transported to the Pacific County Jail and booked on charges of Burglary in the 2nd degree, 4 counts of Possession of Methamphetamine and the arrest warrant.

South Bend, Washington –Due to the High Wind Warning issued by the National Weather Service, and anticipated strength of the storm system forecast for Pacific County, the Pacific County Emergency Management Agency has postponed the Community Tsunami Inundation Forums previously scheduled for tomorrow.

The Community Tsunami Inundation Forums have been re-scheduled for Friday January 9th, from 2:00 p.m. until 4: p.m. at the Chautauqua Lodge 304 14th Street North in Long Beach, and 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. at Pacific County Fire District #1 26109 Ridge Avenue in Ocean Park. 
The forecast storm may cause tree damage, and may result in power disruptions.  A high wind warning means a hazardous high wind event is expected or occurring. Sustained wind speeds of at least 40 mph or gusts of 58 mph or more can lead to property damage. 

South Bend, Washington –The National Weather Service has issued a high wind warning in effect from 9:00 a.m. tomorrow, December 11, 2014 until 10:00 p.m. tomorrow for the South Washington Coast. South wind gusts of 70 to 80 mph are forecast for coastal communities, with gusts 80 to 90 mph forecast for the beaches and headlands.  Winds are anticipated to increase rapidly during the late morning and early afternoon Thursday.

The winds may produce significant property damage to structures, as well as, other wind damage that might lead to power disruptions and travel difficulties, especially for large trucks and trailers and other high profile vehicles. Caution should be exercised at all times. This is the third and strongest storm of the three forecast to affect the Pacific County area this week.

Precautionary/Preparedness Actions: 
These winds will may cause tree damage, and may result in power disruptions.  A high wind warning means a hazardous high wind event is expected or occurring. Sustained wind speeds of at least 40 mph or gusts of 58 mph or more can lead to property damage.

A graphic of the forecast winds and timing follows:

South Bend, Washington –The National Weather Service has issued a high wind warning in effect from 1:00 a.m. tomorrow, December 10, 2014 until 2:00 p.m. tomorrow for the South Washington Coast. South wind gusts of 55 to 65 mph are forecast for coastal communities, with gusts 65-75 mph forecast for the beaches and headlands.  Winds are anticipated to be the strongest between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.  Wednesday. The winds may produce minor damage to structures, as well as, local wind damage that might lead to power disruptions and travel difficulties. Caution should be exercised at all times.

Precautionary/Preparedness Actions:
These winds will possibly cause tree damage, and may result in power disruptions.  A high wind warning means a hazardous high wind event is expected or occurring. Sustained wind speeds of at least 40 mph or gusts of 58 mph or more can lead to property damage.

South Bend, Washington – The National Weather has issued a series of warnings and watches for Pacific County.

Today Through Noon Tuesday
The National Weather Service has issued a high wind warning in effect from 8:00 p.m. today to noon tomorrow for the South Washington Coast. South winds of 30 to 40 mph with gusts to 60 mph are forecast for the beaches and headlands. The forecast for coastal communities is for south winds of 20 to 30 mph with gusts to 50 mph. Winds will begin increasing late this evening and overnight. The winds may produce local wind damage that might lead to power disruptions and travel difficulties. Caution should be exercised at all times.

Tuesday Evening Through Wednesday
A High Wind Watch has been issued from Tuesday evening through Wednesday morning for south wind 30-40 mph with local gusts to 75 mph on the coast, as well as, the Willapa Hills. A High Wind Watch means that there is potential for a hazardous high wind event.

Off Shore Wind Watch
In addition the National Weather Service has issued a watch for 10 nautical miles off the Washington Coast for possible hurricane force winds. This watch is for offshore areas only.

Precautionary/Preparedness Actions:
These winds will possibly cause tree damage, and may result in power disruptions.  A high wind warning means a hazardous high wind event is expected or occurring. Sustained wind speeds of at least 40 mph or gusts of 58 mph or more can lead to property damage.

South Bend, Washington – On Sunday morning November 23rd, the National Weather Service issued a rare Tornado Warning. More than a week has gone by and the Pacific County Emergency Management Agency is still answering questions on behalf of residents who want to make sure they are prepared and notified when the next event happens. Here are some ways you can ensure you receive all the latest notifications.

·        Like the PCEMA Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pcema to follow frequent emergency management and preparedness dialogue.
·        Follow @PCEOCNews on Twitter to get updates from the Pacific County EOC when activated. If you are not signed up for Twitter, you can receive the same information via text message. Just text “follow PCEOCNews” to 40404.
·        Follow @PacificCountyEM on Twitter to get updates from Pacific County Emergency Management Deputy Director Scott McDougall
·        Receive the latest emergency management information, hazardous weather notices, and monthly newsletter by signing up for the PCEMA email list. Provide your name and email to sfritts@co.pacific.wa.us orsmcdougall@co.pacific.wa.us and include the word “Subscribe” in the subject line.
·        Read the latest emergency management information on the PCEMA blog atwww.pcema.blogspot.com.
·        Visit the PCEMA website at www.co.pacific.wa.us/pcema for valuable preparedness materials and to learn about hazards prone to Pacific County.
·        Register your wireless and/or VoIP phone numbers with the Pacific County Emergency Notification System by visitinghttp://co.pacific.wa.us/pcema/EmergNotifcation.htm. The system is already programmed with landline phone numbers from phone company records.

Please feel free to contact the PCEMA office at 360-875-9340 with any questions or comments.