The latest news stories across the state of Oregon from the digital home of the Oregon coastal cities, OregonBeachMagazine.com
Friday, December 23, 2022
Oregon Beach Weather
Icy Weather Effects Parts of Oregon Coast
On the coast, around 4pm Thurday night, many people were reporting that they were noticing ice forming on their porch decks and tree limbs. By 8p.m. the freezing rain that was predicted for the coast began to arrive.
There were many reports of strandings and accidents.
The Lincoln City Police Department reported on their Facebook post, “MIDNIGHT UPDATE – the roads on the north side of the city are still icy in spots, but have mostly turned to slush.
Continue to use caution. The weather report shows temperatures should continue to increase through the night. All roads north of N 22nd St are extremely dangerous. The roads are a sheet of black ice. There are many crashes we are unable to respond to. The worst areas we know of so far are N Highway 101, Chinook Winds Casino, West Devil’s Lake Rd, and north of city limits. Please stay off the roads.”
As of 9am Oregon State Police had closed Hwy 18 west from mileposts 15 through 21 (six miles west of Grand Rhonde).
Hwy 101 through Lincon City is wet and predominantly ice free but watch for sheltered areas, bridges and road shoulders that have not yet thawed.
Highway 26 and Highway 101 in Clatsop County are currently extremely dangerous & icy. Please avoid travel unless absolutely necessary. Emergency crews are on the scene of several accidents already and travel should be avoided until temperatures warm.
If you are traveling please check https://www.tripcheck.com
ODOT: North Coast:
Freezing rain is making travel hazardous or impossible in Oregon especially at higher elevations in the Coast and Cascades mountain ranges. Stay off the highway for Thursday night if you can – highways may be closing due to the severe weather and multiple-vehicle crashes in the icy road conditions. It is impossible to estimate when each highway can reopen.
As of 7:30 p.m. in Northwest Oregon:
* Interstate 5 is closed at mile point 200 just north of Eugene due to multiple vehicles sliding in freezing rain.
* U.S. 30 is closed at the landslide location between Astoria and Clatskanie due to freezing rain.
* OR 22 is closed east of Lyons due to multiple vehicle crashes in freezing rain.
* There are crashes on US 20 east of Newport and OR 126 east of Florence. More Info Here
Pacific Power is working to restore power to more than a reported nearly 3,000 customers. The utility company is dealing with several outages in the Astoria area.
State of Oregon offices including DMV will be closed in Clatsop, Lincoln, Tillamook and Lane Counties Friday, Dec. 23, due to severe weather and road conditions.
Because Monday is the official Christmas holiday, state offices will resume normal business hours Tuesday, Dec. 27. This announcement does not cover courts or legislative offices. Visit https://oregon.gov/das/ for more information on state office closures.
North Bend Installs Menorah To Commemorate Hanukkah
In honor of Hannukkah, the City of North Bend installed a menorah commemorating the holiday.
The menorah is located on the South Flag Island at U.S. 101 Tremont and Washington Avenue near the Liberty Theatre and Ingles Furniture.
Hanukkah began on the evening of Sunday December 18th and ends on the evening of Monday December 26th.
The menorah, purchased with transient lodging tax dollars, automatically adds a new light every 24 hours.
Oregon State Parks Will Have Staff And Volunteers At 17 Whale Watching Sites For Five Days Starting Wednesday 12/28
For the first time in two years, Oregon State Parks will have staff and volunteers at 17 locations along the Oregon coast for its “Whale Watch Week” starting Wednesday 12/28 through Sunday 1/1.
Park rangers and volunteers will be at the official sites – although experienced whale watchers can use any unobstructed view, of course — along the Oregon Coast for five days to help people spot gray whales migrating south through Oregon’s waters. The trained volunteers will be stationed at most of the sites to answer questions, share information and to help spot whales.
A map of volunteer-staffed sites is available on the Oregon State Parks website.
“We really enjoy getting folks out to the coast for Whale Watch Week,” said park ranger Peter McBride in a news release from Oregon State Parks. “It’s something that Oregon State Parks has been doing for more than 40 years now, and we’re really glad to be able to bring it back in person.”
The yearly event was canceled during the pandemic.
Over the next several weeks, an estimated 18,000 gray whales are expected to swim through Oregon’s waters during their annual migration south to warm calving lagoons near Baja, Mexico. The end of December is the peak time for their migration with roughly 30 whales passing by per hour.
Spring watching begins in late March as the gray whales return north on their way towards Alaska. The first surge swims past Oregon around the end of March and lasts until June.
In Depoe Bay, the Whale Watching Center will be open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday during Whale Watch Week. Visitors can experience interactive whale exhibits and panoramic ocean views.
Here are the locations in north Lane and Lincoln counties where volunteers will be available to help catch a glimpse of the whales:
- Heceta Head Lighthouse
- Cape Perpetua Turnout
- Yachats State Park
- Boiler Bay State Scenic Viewpoint
- Depoe Bay, whale watching center
- Rocky Creek State Scenic Viewpoint
- Cape Foulweather
Whale spotting tips: There are four things to be on the lookout for when whale watching, according to Oregon State Parks:
The blow: Gray whales usually surface every 20 seconds as they swim but will often stay under for 3 to 5 minutes when they are eating. If they have been down for 5 minutes, they usually blow five times when they surface to replenish their oxygen supply. The blow, or spout, shoots nearly 12 feet high and expels 400 liters of air in a single blast. The whales take a few breaths at the surface then dive again. If they are frightened, they can stay down for 30 minutes, hiding on the bottom or traveling great distances.
The breach: The ultimate in whale sightings is a breach. This is when a whale launches itself out of the water in a spectacular show of power and grace. Scientists aren’t sure why whales breach. Possibly they do it to remove parasites, communicate with each other, or maybe it’s just for fun. Gray whales aren’t known for breaching nearly as often as Humpback whales, but young gray whales seem to be the most common breachers along the Oregon Coast.
The spyhop: Whales are intelligent and curious and are often seen “spyhopping,” or lifting their heads above the surface of the water. They like to rise out of the water to get a better sense of their surroundings. During the summer, gray whales have been known to spyhop regularly, especially when local tour boats are near.
The dive: A deep dive, also known as sounding or fluking, happens when a whale lifts its tail flukes out of the water. This helps propel the whale downward at a steep angle to the bottom, where they feed on zooplankton and amphipods. After the flukes disappear under the water, the turbulence of the dive will cause a circle of smooth water, known as a fluke-print.
FOR MORE INFO: https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=v.feature-article&articleId=304
One Lane Of Hwy 30 Will Remain Open With Flaggers Through Christmas And New Year’s Day
Clean-up continues on Hwy 30 between Astoria and Clatskanie in Oregon, weeks after a landslide thwarted driver’s post-Thanksgiving plans, according to the Oregon Department of Transportation.
One lane of U.S. Highway 30 will remain open with flaggers through Christmas and New Year’s Day even when landslide repair work between Astoria and Clatskanie pauses for the holidays.
“Please plan for extra travel time between the Portland area and north coast no matter what route you take as holiday travel season gets busy,” a release from the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) states. “On U.S. 30, please watch for flaggers and expect delays 24 hours a day.”
ODOT crews have been working on repairs daily, including weekends, to reopen the highway after this major landslide the night of Nov. 29 at mile point 72.
“This was a large landslide compared to other landslides that we get in the coast range,” ODOT District 1 Maintenance Manager Mark Buffington said. “The rock was definitely larger than what we are used to. We usually just get mud and trees.”
ODOT opened one lane with flaggers at nights only Dec. 4-11 to allow rock scaling during the daytime.
“We needed to remove large sections of rock on the verge of falling before it was safe for traffic or crews at the highway level,” the release states.
Since Dec. 11, ODOT has been able to keep the flagged lane open 24/7 while scaling of smaller sections of loose rock continues above the highway.
“We have been using two scaling crews instead of just one,” Buffington said. “The loose rock is much higher than the slides that we are used to having.”
As of Dec. 20, ODOT could not give an estimated date when it would be able to reopen additional lanes due to the amount of material that needs to be removed – from both the bluff and the highway level.
ODOT reminds drivers not use to a GPS to detour on less developed roads.
“This can be dangerous for you, especially in winter weather conditions,” the releases cautions.
Before you travel, visit http://TripCheck.com
ODOT advises that the best way to get timely updates on U.S. 30 – and all Oregon highways – is on Tripcheck.com. We post road and weather conditions, highway closures, crash locations, traffic speeds and more as quickly as possible there. You can also see traffic camera views.
Slow down in wintry weather and leave plenty of space between you and other vehicles. Remember, it takes longer to stop in wet and/or freezing conditions. Also bring traction devices if you cross snow zones and know how to use them.
Extreme Winter Weather Conditions Impact Oregon
More than a dozen flights in and out of Eugene Airport and 190 in and out of Portland International have been canceled so far today, according to the tracking website flightaware.com .
The freezing rain, sleet and snow led to crashes on slick roadways, prompting several major closures across the region. A few highways remain closed Friday morning with extreme winter conditions including Highway 101 and I-84, according to the Oregon Department of Transportation.
As of 6 a.m. here are the highways that are impacted
- I-84 is closed one mile east of Troutdale, between mileposts 18-62
- US 101 is closed between mileposts 0 and 4
Interstate 84 has shut down in both directions due to hazardous conditions, according to the Oregon Department of Transportation.
The major interstate that runs east-west across Oregon is closed between Troutdale and Hood River. ODOT said in a tweet that the closure from exit 17 to exit 64 in the Columbia River Gorge will be in effect “until conditions improve.”
Based on the latest weather forecast, that could be well into Friday or later.
Other major road closures reported as of Thursday night:
- Interstate 5 in both directions north of Eugene at milepost 200, according to ODOT
- U.S. 101 five miles south of Neskowin at milepost 102, according to ODOT
The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning until 4 p.m. Friday, with a mix of snow and freezing rain. The region could get up an additional one-tenth of an inch of ice at elevations above 2,500 feet and from one-tenth to three-tenths of an inch below 2,000 feet.
Travelers should check TripCheck for the latest road conditions updates
Salem officials say power outages and tree damage are likely, due to the ice, and travel could be difficult. Severe weather also is expected in Portland and throughout Oregon.
Oregon to issue $71 million in emergency SNAP benefits in January
Most Oregonians who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will receive emergency allotments in January.
- Most Oregonians who receive SNAP benefits will continue to receive temporarily increased emergency food benefits in January
- Approximately 421,000 SNAP households will receive approximately $71 million in extra food benefits in addition to their regular SNAP benefits
- These emergency benefits are a temporary support that Oregon can provide because of the federal COVID-19 public health emergency
- Find resources to meet your basic needs: Dial 2-1-1, or text your zip code to 898-211, www.211info.org
- Oregon Department of Human Services COVID-19 help center
The federal government has approved emergency allotments every month since March 2020. This gives SNAP recipients additional support during the COVID-19 pandemic. These emergency benefits are a temporary support that Oregon can provide because of the federal COVID-19 public health emergency.
Because the federal government approved these emergency benefits for January, Oregon will also be able to issue them in February 2023. However, the emergency benefits are expected to end when the federal public health emergency ends.
In January, approximately 421,000 SNAP households will receive approximately $71 million in extra food benefits in addition to their regular SNAP benefits.
“We know that many rely on these additional emergency food benefits to get enough healthy food for themselves and their families,” said Jana McLellan, interim director of the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS), Self-Sufficiency Programs. “The holiday season can also bring additional stress and worry for many Oregonians who are still struggling to meet their basic needs and we encourage them to contact our partners at 211, the Oregon Food Bank and their local Community Action Agency for support during this difficult time.”
Current SNAP households will receive emergency allotments on Jan. 11, 2023. Emergency allotments will be issued Jan. 31, 2023 or Feb. 2, 2023 for households who did not receive benefits in the first monthly issuance.
SNAP recipients do not have to take any action to receive these supplemental benefits as they will be issued directly on their EBT cards.
More information about emergency allotments is available at https://www.oregon.gov/dhs/ASSISTANCE/FOOD-BENEFITS/Pages/Emergency-Allotments.aspx.
Questions about your SNAP benefits should be directed to the ONE Customer Service Center at 1-800-699-9075.
If your household receives SNAP and your income or the number of people in your household has changed, it could impact your benefits. It is important to make sure ODHS has the most up-to-date information.
You can report any changes to your income or household in many ways:
- Online at: ONE.Oregon.gov
- By mail at: ONE Customer Service Center, PO Box 14015, Salem, OR 97309
- By fax at: 503-378-5628
- By phone at: 1-800-699-9075 or TTY 711
Resources to help meet basic needs
- Find a food pantry: foodfinder.oregonfoodbank.org
- Learn about government programs and community resources for older adults and people with disabilities: Aging and Disability Resource Connection of Oregon at 1-855-673-2372 or www.adrcoforegon.org.
- Dial 2-1-1, or text your zip code to 898-211, www.211info.org
- Find local resources and support by contacting your local Community Action Agency: www.caporegon.org/find-services/
- Oregon Department of Human Services COVID-19 help center
Administered by ODHS, SNAP is a federal program that provides food assistance to approximately 1 million eligible, low-income families and individuals in Oregon, including many older adults and people with disabilities. Oregonians in need can apply for benefits, including SNAP, child care, cash assistance and Medicaid. Learn more at https://www.oregon.gov/dhs/benefits/Pages/index.aspx . For local resources in your area, such as food or shelter, please call 2-1-1 or reach out to the state’s Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) at 1-855-ORE-ADRC or 1-855-673-2372.
Oregon’s Population Dropped In 2022 For The First Time In Decades According To U.S. Census Bureau
Oregon’s population dropped in 2022 for the first time in decades, according to new estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau.
The agency figures Oregon lost about 16,000 residents in the year leading up to July 1, 2022, representing about 0.4% of the state’s population. That puts Oregon at No. 6 among the fastest-shrinking U.S. states, both in percentage and numeric declines.
The state now has about 4.24 million residents, according to the Census Bureau estimates. New York state, which lost 0.9% of its population, was the fastest-shrinking state. Florida, with a 1.9% increase, was the fastest-growing. The U.S. population as a whole grew by 0.4%, or 1.26 million people.
A population decline would be a dramatic reversal of fortunes for Oregon, which hasn’t seen its population drop since the early 1980s. After strong population increases in the last three decades — the most recent of which won Oregon its sixth congressional seat — forecasters expected Oregon’s growth to slow, but not reverse. MORE INFO: https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/OR
Red Cross Cascades Offers 15 Ways to Help Stay Safe During Winter Storms
Winter weather poses unique challenges to people faced with bitter cold, snow, and ice. The American Red Cross has 15 steps you should take to stay safe if you are in the path of winter storms.
HEAT YOUR HOME SAFELY
It’s that time of year when many people resort to space heaters and other sources to keep their homes warm. Home heating is the second leading cause of fires in this country. To reduce the risk of heating related fires, the Red Cross recommends these steps (More home fire safety information available here):
1. All heaters need space. Keep children, pets and things that can burn (paper, matches, bedding, furniture, clothing, carpets, and rugs) at least three feet away from heating equipment.
2. If you must use a space heater, place it on a level, hard and nonflammable surface (such as ceramic tile floor), not on rugs, carpets or near bedding or drapes. Plug power cords directly into outlets – never into an extension cord.
3. Never leave a fire in the fireplace unattended, and use a glass or metal fire screen to keep fire and embers in the fireplace.
4. Never use a cooking range or oven to heat your home.
5. Turn off portable space heaters every time you leave the room or go to sleep.
STAY SAFE DURING WINTER WEATHER
6. Wear layers of clothing, a hat, mittens and waterproof, insulated boots.
7. Be careful when tackling strenuous tasks like shoveling snow in cold temperatures.
8. Check on your neighbors, especially elderly people living alone, people with disabilities and children.
9. Bring pets indoors. If they can’t come inside, make sure they have enough shelter to keep them warm and that they can get to unfrozen water.
10. Watch for hypothermia and frostbite. Hypothermia symptoms include confusion, dizziness, exhaustion, and severe shivering. Frostbite symptoms include numbness, flushed gray, white, blue or yellow skin discoloration, numbness, or waxy feeling skin.
WINTER TRAVEL SAFETY
Stay off the road, if possible, during severe weather. If you must drive in winter weather, follow these tips:
11. Make sure everyone has their seat belts on and give your full attention to the road.
12. Don’t follow other vehicles too closely. Sudden stops are difficult on snowy roadways.
13. Don’t use cruise control when driving in winter weather.
14. Don’t pass snow plows.
15. Ramps, bridges and overpasses freeze before roadways.
DOWNLOAD APPS
People can download the Red Cross Emergency App for instant access to weather alerts for their area and where loved ones live. Expert medical guidance and a hospital locator are included in the First Aid App in case travelers encounter any mishaps. Both apps are available to download for free in app stores or at redcross.org/apps
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.
