Story Photos
 A pickup splashes through floodwaters across State Route 4 near Seal Road in Wahkiakum County on Tuesday. Photo by Roger Werth / The Daily News.
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Pacific County faces week without power
Wednesday, December 5, 2007 8:02 AM PST
By The Daily News
Printable version
E-mail this articleEmergency managers in Pacific County on Tuesday afternoon urged the public to continue to conserve water, limit phone calls, stay off beaches and stay off the roads until they are opened and passable.
The Emergency Operations Center in South Bend was activated for Pacific County and the cities of South Bend, Raymond, Long Beach and Ilwaco in response to Sunday's and Monday's wind storm.
According to a county press release Tuesday, power was still out to the majority of Pacific County residents and businesses and will continue to be for two to seven days.
The Bonneville Power Authority main transmission lines between Aberdeen and Raymond went down in the storm.
Crews continued to clear hundreds of downed trees and mud slides Tuesday. Highway 101 north and southbound re-opened. Highway 105 was still closed on Tuesday. Highway 6 could be closed for weeks, county officials said. All main highways into and out of Pacific County also are closed. Most major county roads are passable for emergency vehicles only.
A high surf warning was still in effect Tuesday afternoon though the worst of the river flooding in Pacific County had subsided, the press release stated.
Public water systems in the county have been operating at reduced capacity. The county recommended that homes served by wells should contact relatives and friends on municipal water systems and haul enough drinking water to them for up to seven days.
They also recommend homes that are served by septic systems with pumps to limit the amount of water used in the home to process waste.
Landline telephone service was intermittent Tuesday. Most cell service in the county was inoperable. The 911 emergency service also was inoperable.
Emergency calls should be dialed to any of the following numbers: (360) 875-9397, (360) 642-9397, (360) 875-5531, (360) 484-7397 or (360) 267-8397. Any resident that is stranded, isolated, in need of nonemergency assistance may call the Pacific County Emergency operations center at (360) 875-9340.
The public was urged not to drive because only two gas stations in the Naselle area were open in the area Tuesday.
Ocean Beach Hospital in Ilwaco will operate a soup kitchen daily from noon to 6 p.m. until power is restored.
An emergency services kitchen and shelter will be opened in South Bend as soon as a generator and food supply is obtained. The Grace Family Fellowship Church in Seaview at 38th and Pacific Highway opened as a shelter. The Raymond Elks was planning Tuesday to serve meals until midnight.
Ocean Beach Hospital opened an urgent care clinic and those requiring urgent care can check in at the main desk.
The county is still working to identify sources of medical equipment, oxygen and medications. Raymond Drug, located in Willapa Market Place, is open for refills only daily at 10:00 a.m.
Amateur radio support personnel are being asked to make contact with the Pacific County EOC.
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