Urgent weather alert!
We interrupt our normal flow of blog posts for breaking news: It is snowing in Portland. Repeat: Snowing. In Portland.
Preliminary reports indicate that the snow is white and very cold. The state meteorologist at Portland State University warns that if the ground gets cold enough, the snow will stick to it, and it will become slippery.
Fireman Randy just issued the following advisory from City Hall: "If only we had an eight-figure computerized emergency alert system, we could be calling people right now to tell them that it's snowing. This would be a life-saving resource for people who don't look out their windows."
Remain calm. Do not go outdoors. Boil your water. Stay tuned to bojack.org Storm Center 9000.2 for further updates.
UPDATE, 3:09 p.m.: This potentially deadly storm continues to have major impacts on the lives of Portlanders. At the Storm Center, we have just learned that all schools in the area have been closed for the rest of the year.
| Posted at 2:45 PM | Permalink |
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Comments (6)
You really shouldn't make light of such a serious situation, Jack! Lives might very well be at stake here.
Posted by Linda Kruschke | December 29, 2009 3:24 PM
Let me try to remember what to do in these situations. Pumping the brakes is bad right?
Oh, probably better to just go ahead and call in absent from work tomorrow....
Posted by Snards | December 29, 2009 3:32 PM
Here's the priceless picture of Sam's communications director tweeting about the newly issued "EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION & CALL-OUT SOLUTION" contract.
The system will also be linked into visual warning systems on Portland's bike paths; light rail trains and to the FAA tower at PDX.
To ensure complete coverage, the new system will also send out Willamette River CSO alerts (a.k.a. finless brown trout alerts), but only if it's not raining (the alerts would be too frequent and the system is solar powered).
Since PDX, Light Rail and Salmon runs are involved, the contract will be a issued under a single source "no-bid" with matching funds re-appropriated from PERS and TriMet's healthcare funds.
Here's the pic:
http://thinkoregon.squarespace.com/news/2009/12/28/city-of-portland-well-show-you-how-to-spend-money.html
Posted by ThinkOregon | December 29, 2009 3:40 PM
Attention: The local news weather people should seek medical attention immediately.
Frostbite is a serious problem, especially when a snowstorm catches you with your pants down.
Posted by Bill McDonald | December 29, 2009 4:01 PM
Never underestimate the appeal of the crisis meme. It took us into Iraq in '03 and it consolidated our financial system in '08, including the justification for the collusive consumption of this country's former largest thrift:
http://www.portfolio.com/industry-news/banking-finance/2009/12/07/why-federal-regulators-closed-washington-mutual/
The crisis meme has always succeeded in distracting the populace from what is true and what is best for us.
Posted by Gardiner Menefree | December 29, 2009 4:25 PM
"The crisis meme has always succeeded in distracting the populace from what is true and what is best for us."
Kevin Durant Stats. please take notice.
Posted by meg | December 29, 2009 4:56 PM