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<DIV><SPAN class=721145023-07012009><STRONG>Oregon Department of
Forestry</STRONG></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=721145023-07012009><STRONG>NEWS RELEASE</STRONG></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=721145023-07012009></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=721145023-07012009>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><A name=OLE_LINK8></A><A
name=OLE_LINK7><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Forestry Department assists counties for storm
emergency<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"
/><o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></B></SPAN></A></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK7"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK7"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>January 7, 2009</FONT></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK7"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Contact: Kevin Weeks (503) 945-7427 or (503)
689-6879</FONT></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK7"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK7"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) on
Wednesday began mobilizing to assist counties on the northwestern coast of
<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
/><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Oregon</st1:State></st1:place> with
emergency resources as a massive winter storm began.</FONT></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK7"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK7"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Forestry personnel from ODF’s Astoria District
were deployed earlier this week to check the status of roads and culverts within
the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Clatsop</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">State</st1:PlaceType> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">Forest</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> for potential hazards. Staff
members from ODF’s Tillamook, <st1:City w:st="on">Astoria</st1:City> and
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Columbia</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">City</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> offices have been
coordinating with county emergency management offices as well during the hours
leading to the storm’s arrival.</FONT></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK7"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK7"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>On Wednesday, ODF received an official request
from <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Clatsop</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">County</st1:PlaceType> to provide emergency assistance with
sandbagging <st1:Street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Plympton Creek
Road</st1:address></st1:Street> near <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on">Westport</st1:City></st1:place>. A ten-person crew from the South Fork
Forest Camp has been deployed for emergency operations. This emergency scene is
in the vicinity of where an abandoned rail fill collapsed on December 11, 2007
launching a debris flow that blocked U.S. Highway 30 for several
days.</FONT></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK7"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK7"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>The <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Tillamook</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">Forest</st1:PlaceType> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Center</st1:PlaceType>
on Oregon Highway 6 closed Wednesday on concerns regarding the rising level of
the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Wilson</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceName w:st="on">River</st1:PlaceName></st1:place> adjacent to the
educational center.</FONT></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK7"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK7"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Landowners with forest property are the first line
of detection and prevention of landslides. <st1:place
w:st="on">Forest</st1:place> landowners are encouraged to monitor their property
for signs of forest road collapses, land slumps or water pooling behind blocked
culverts. If landowners feel they cannot adequately respond to a potential
hazard on their land, landowners are encouraged to contact their local ODF
office or their county emergency management office for
assistance.</FONT></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK7"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK7"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>The wet climate and rugged terrain found
throughout western <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State
w:st="on">Oregon</st1:State></st1:place> means that many areas are prone to
landslides. Landslides occur on both managed and un-managed forests, and
landslides do not just occur on forestlands.</FONT></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK7"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK7"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"><SPAN style="COLOR: black">Unfortunately,
many people are unaware of their exposure to these potential landslide risks.
Many people, especially in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State
w:st="on">Oregon</st1:State></st1:place>’s urban/rural interface areas, live in
the </SPAN>path of potential landslides or debris flows. Additional information
about the geology of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State
w:st="on">Oregon</st1:State></st1:place>’s regions is available from the Oregon
Department of Geology and Mineral Industries
(DOGAMI).</FONT></FONT></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK7"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK7"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>The Oregon Department of Forestry does administer
rules that evaluate potential landslide hazards for forested land only.
Geotechnical staffs with ODF are continuing to assess landslide hazards and
protect public safety for areas where timber harvest may affect land, including
drainage and road maintenance in forest areas. Administrative rule authority for
ODF regarding landslides in forest areas is specific to shallow, rapidly-moving
landslides within forestland where forest management operations
occur.</FONT></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK7"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK7"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">The Oregon Department of Forestry is
utilizing an emergency operations structure throughout the duration of the storm
to quickly respond to requests for assistance, personnel and resources. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK7"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK7"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>###</FONT></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK7"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK7"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>On the Web:</FONT></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK7"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK7"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Oregon Department of Forestry:
</FONT></SPAN></SPAN><A href="http://www.oregon.gov/ODF"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK7"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8">www.oregon.gov/ODF</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK7"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8"></SPAN></SPAN></FONT></FONT></A><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK7"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8"></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK7"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK7"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral
Industries: </FONT></SPAN></SPAN><A href="http://www.oregon.gov/DOGAMI"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK7"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8">www.oregon.gov/DOGAMI</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK7"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8"></SPAN></SPAN></FONT></FONT></A><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK7"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8"></SPAN></SPAN></P>
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style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK7"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></P><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8"></SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK7"></SPAN>
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