Weather Emergencies in Oregon and SW Washington

Weather related closures and issues in the Pacific Northwest.

Snow and ice on a Salem road. Photo by Bonnie King

(SALEM, Ore.) - Residents in Oregon and the entire Pacific NW are seeing some of the coldest winter temperatures of the year so far, with some areas receiving snow and nearly every region experiencing frost and ice.

State, city and county officials are doing their best to stay abreast of developments. PGE dispatched a list of items to have on standby and other tips to help you make it through the cold.

Safety:

As of 12:39 a.m. Saturday, freezing rain is now reported in the Albany area. Expect to encounter icy roadways. Please be prepared for extreme winter road conditions.

Cities

Due to confirmed forecasts of extreme cold or snowy weather on Saturday morning, the Portland Water Bureau and Portland Parks & Recreation have rescheduled their Powell Butte Nature Park public open house for Monday, December 14, 2009, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Parklane Christian Reformed Church, 16001 SE Main Street in Southeast Portland. The weather is forecast to be warmer on Monday.

Federal:

Bonneville Power Administration: Associates Foundation Children's Holiday Party at Oaks Park Skating Rink scheduled for Dec. 12 is cancelled. (Effective tomorrow - Sat Dec 12th)

Organizations:

Chess for Success: Tournament at Parkrose Middle School canceled (Effective tomorrow - Sat Dec 12th)

Police & Fire:

Oregon State Police: Fatal Traffic Crash - Interstate 84 eastbound about 30 miles east of Baker City near milepost 339 - Reported involving commercial truck and passenger vehicle with confirmed fatality in passenger vehicle - Partial blockage while investigation continues - Traffic udpates may be available on ODOT's website www.TripCheck.com - No more information for release at this time. Oregon State Police: - Highway 34 west of Philomath near milepost 53 reportedly closed to traffic for unknown period due to an estimated 30 vehicles having trouble with traction on icy conditions - Section affected about a three mile section in the Marys Peak area - Traffic update information may be available on ODOT's website www.TripCheck.com.

Private & Charter Schools

Portland area:

De La Salle North Catholic High: Due to anticipated inclement weather Saturday December 12, 2009 High School Placement Test has been postponed until Saturday January 9, 2010 9:00 a.m. You will be automatically re registered for the new test date. Please only call the Admissions office if you cannot make the January 9th test date. (Effective tomorrow - Sat Dec 12th)

Portland Adventist Acad.: 9:30 a.m. Winter music program cancelled.

Portland Lutheran: Saturday Work Day Canceled (Effective tomorrow - Sat Dec 12th)

Public Schools:

Clackamas Co. Schools & Oregon City Sch. Dist.: All Sat morning activities canceled. Sat evening events TBA

Marion Co. Schools: Salem-Keizer Sch. Dist.: McKay High School, Salem - Saturday morning's Senior Citizen Breakfast cancelled (Effective tomorrow - Sat Dec 12th)

Sheridan Sch. Dist.: all athletic events are canceled

Washington Co. Schools:

Beaverton Sch. Dist.: All Saturday morning activities scheduled prior to 12:00 noon are cancelled. A decision regarding Saturday afternoon and evening events will be made about 10:00 am. Please check the district web page after that time for an update. (Effective - Sat Dec 12th)

Hillsboro Sch. Dist.: 10:15 a.m. Washington Co. Schools: Aft & eve activities canceled

Sherwood Sch. Dist.: All Saturday music and athletic activities cancelled. (Effective tomorrow - Sat Dec 12th)

Yamhill Co. Schools: all athletic events are canceled

Public Colleges & Universities:

Portland Community College: Due to icy conditions, all events and classes, including finals, beginning at 1 p.m. or later today, are cancelled at Portland Community College's Sylvania campus. This notice is for Sylvania campus only.

Private Colleges & Universities:

Concordia University: 8:15 a.m. Graduation will begin on time at 11AM as scheduled.

Portland Beauty School: 9:45 a.m. Classes and Services Closed - Charity Event Cancelled. UPDATE Multnomah Co. Schools: Gresham/Barlow Sch. Dist.: Gresham High School Snowball Dance Cancelled

State:

Oregon Dept. of Human Services: Saturday's "Mittens & More" event benefitting Multnomah County foster children has been canceled at both Portland locations: DHS Child Welfare Metro Region Training Center (1425 NE Irving St.)and DHS Child Welfare East & Rockwood Office (3618/3552 SE 122nd Ave.) (Effective tomorrow - Sat Dec 12th)

Transportation:

Here's the latest:

6:30 p.m. ODOT/Portland, Mt. Hood: Interstate 84 will remain CLOSED OVERNIGHT SATURDAY NIGHT from milepost 17 (Troutdale) to milepost 64 (Hood River) due to icy conditions. Temperatures below freezing and continued rain and snow are causing more ice buildup. ODOT will re-assess tomorrow morning after dawn. No opening time can be announced until after the reassessment. (Effective tomorrow - Sun Dec 13th) UPDATE

5:45 p.m. ODOT/Willamette Valley, No. Coast: OR 34 is now open at mile post 21, between Waldport and Philomath. OSP and ODOT crews were on scene to remove an ODOT vehicle from an earlier crash at that location. UPDATE

5:45 p.m. ODOT/Willamette Valley, No. Coast: OR 34 is now open at mile post 21, between Waldport and Philomath. OSP and ODOT crews were on scene to remove an ODOT vehicle from an earlier crash at that location. UPDATE

5:00 p.m. ODOT/Portland, Mt. Hood: Interstate 84 will remain CLOSED from milepost 17 (Troutdale) to milepost 64 (Hood River) due to extreme icy conditions. ODOT crews are sanding and de-icing; we will re-assess and announce later tonight if the Interstate can re-open before tomorrow morning. UPDATE

2:45 p.m. ODOT/Willamette Valley, No. Coast: OR 34 is closed at mile post 21, between Waldport and Philomath. OSP and ODOT crews are on scene to remove a vehicle from an earlier crash at that location. An estimate for reopening is 1 to 3 hours and drivers are advised to delay travel through the area or use alternate routes. UPDATE

2:45 ODOT/Eastern Oregon: I-84 eastbound open to one lane @ mile point 339, 35 miles south of Baker City. Expect minor delays. Westbound lanes not impacted at this time. UPDATE

2:45 p.m. ODOT/Willamette Valley, No. Coast: OR 34 is closed at mile post 21, between Waldport and Philomath. OSP and ODOT crews are on scene to remove a vehicle from an earlier crash at that location. An estimate for reopening is 1 to 3 hours and drivers are advised to delay travel through the area or use alternate routes. UPDATE

2:30 p.m. ODOT/Willamette Valley, No. Coast: ODOT crews have cleared the debris from the rock slide on U.S. 101 at mile post 170, between Yachats and Florence. The northbound lane is no longer blocked. UPDATE

2:30 p.m. ODOT/Willamette Valley, No. Coast: ODOT crews are en route to a reported rock slide on U.S. 101, at mile post 170, between Yachats and Florence. Reports indicate the northbound lane is blocked. 2:00 p.m. ODOT/Willamette Valley, No. Coast: ODOT crews are en route to a reported rock slide on U.S. 101, at mile post 170, between Yachats and Florence. Reports indicate the northbound lane is blocked.

2:00 p.m. ODOT/Portland, Mt. Hood: ODOT has now closed both directions on Interstate 84 from Exit 17 (Troutdale) to Hood River due to extreme icy conditions. The closure will remain until further notice. UPDATE

1:45 p.m. ODOT/Portland, Mt. Hood: ODOT has closed Interstate 84 eastbound at Troutdale (exit 17) due to icy conditions in the Gorge. Westbound Interstate 84 remains open. Alternative routes are SR14 in Washington state and U. S. 26 (Mt. Hood Highway).

1:39 a.m. ODOT/Eastern Oregon: I-84 crash 35 miles south of Baker City. Eastbound lanes blocked near mile point 339 for police investigation. Expect delays of 2 hours or more. Westbound lanes not impacted at this time.

11:45 a.m. ODOT/Willamette Valley, No. Coast: OR 34 is no longer closed from mile post 0 to mile post 55. ODOT crews still report icy conditions on OR 34 between Waldport and Philomath.

11:15 a.m. ODOT/Willamette Valley, No. Coast: The northbound I-5 ramp at the OR34 interchange, near Corvallis, is no longer closed. ODOT crews report icy conditions from Salem to Eugene and multiple crashes south of Salem on I-5. Please delay travel if possible. Carry chains or use traction tires if travel is necessary. Drive with extra caution, especially in shady areas or on hills or bridges.

10:30 a.m. ODOT/Willamette Valley, No. Coast: A semi truck has jackknifed on northbound I-5 at mile post 214, near Eugene, blocking the left and middle lanes. Expect icy conditions on I-5 from Salem through Eugene.

10:15 a.m. ODOT/Willamette Valley, No. Coast: A semi truck has been removed from northbound I-5 at mile post 205, near Eugene. All lanes are no longer blocked.

10:00 a.m. ODOT/Willamette Valley, No. Coast: ODOT crews report multiple vehicles stranded on OR34 can now travel eastbound. OR 34 remains closed from mile post 0, at Waldport to mile post 55, near Philomath.

9:45 a.m. ODOT/Willamette Valley, No. Coast: ODOT crews report multiple vehicle crash on the northbound I-5 off-ramp at OR34 interchange, near Corvallis. The off-ramp is closed. Expect icy conditions on I-5 from Salem through Eugene.

9:30 a.m. ODOT/Willamette Valley, No. Coast: A semi truck has jackknifed on northbound I-5 at mile post 205 near Eugene. Oregon State Police report all lanes are blocked. Expect icy conditions on I-5 from Salem through Eugene.

9:00 a.m. Wllamette Valley, No. Coast: ODOT crews report icy conditions on OR 99W between McMinnville and Amity, causing vehicles to lose traction. Icy conditions now reported on OR 240, OR 18 and OR 22. Please delay travel if possible. Carry chains or use traction tires if travel is necessary.Drive with extra caution, especially in shady areas or on hills or bridges

7:15 a.m. Willamette Valley, No. Coast: A semi truck has been removed from OR 34 at I-5, near Corvallis. The interchange is no longer blocked.

7:00 a.m. Willamette Valley, No. Coast: A semi truck has jackknifed on OR 34 at I-5, near Corvallis. The interchange is blocked. Expect icy conditions on I-5 from Salem through Eugene.

5:30 a.m. ODOT/Willamette Valley, No. Coast: OR 228 has reopened after a closure due to icy conditions and numerous crashes. OR 34 (Alsea Hwy) remains closed from mile post 0, at Waldport to mile post 55,near Philomath.

4:30 a.m. Police & Fire: Oregon State Police: OSP troopers and ODOT report extreme icy conditions in Jackson and Josephine counties contributing to nearly 20 traffic crashes, most non-injury, since midnight. Interstate 5 was closed in both directions near Grants Pass for about 3 hours following crashes involving commercial trucks. One lane is currently open in both directions since about 3:00 a.m. Motorists traveling in southern Oregon need to be aware of the current conditions in this area.

Consider delaying travel until conditions improve. Don't be fooled if the roadway looks good as we move through the morning hours because travel conditions may be hazardous.

Utilities: PGE: 8:45 a.m. CANCELED PGE's Children's Holiday Party in Salem. Organizations: Chess for Success: Chess for Success Tournaments in Portland, Hillsboro and Monmouth are canceled.

Best resources if PGE outages occur this weekend‏

Portland General Electric encourages local media and our customers to stay informed of any outage activity and safety tips at PortlandGeneral.com/Outage. WHAT TO DO BEFORE THE POWER GOES OUT Prepare an emergency kit that contains:

• Flashlight
• Extra batteries
• Wind-up or battery-powered alarm clock
• Manual can opener
• Battery-powered radio or TV
• Seventy-two-hour supply of ready-to-eat food and water

• Extra blankets
• Paper plates and utensils
• Firewood for a fireplace or wood stove
• Matches
• Thermos
• Something to help pass the time, such as books, board games and playing cards

• If you have a cordless phone, or any phone that requires wall current, it probably won't work during an outage. Consider having an old-fashioned phone on standby. Cell service may also be interrupted.
• If you have an electric garage door opener, know how to operate it manually.
• Protect your home electronics by investing in surge protection equipment. Call PGE's Power Quality Hotline at 800-270-7016 for more information. Outage information and tips also are available at PortlandGeneral.com.

WHAT TO DO IF THE POWER GOES OUT:

• Check your circuit breaker or fuse box. If breakers or fuses are okay, call PGE.
• Report power outages to PGE by calling 503-464-7777 in Portland, 503-399-7717 in Salem or 800-544-1795 outside of the Portland and Salem areas.
• Turn off major appliances that were on prior to the outage, such as your range, clothes washer and dryer, dishwasher, television and radio to reduce the initial demand of electricity when power is restored.
• Leave a light on inside your house and outside, so you and PGE's repair crews know when power is restored. When the power comes back on, turn appliances and lights back on slowly.
• Lend a hand to neighbors or relatives who may need assistance.
• Listen to broadcast news for frequent updates from PGE. Call PGE if your neighbor's power comes back on and yours doesn't. Call if you live in an isolated area, and your power is off for an extended period of time.
• Never touch a downed line or even go near one. Downed power lines may cause serious injuries or death. If you see any downed line, even if you think it may be a telephone wire, call PGE immediately.