http://www.co.benton.or.us/index.php Items Making the News in Benton County http://www.co.benton.or.us/images/bc_logo_main_bl.gif http://www.co.benton.or.us/read_article.php?p=324&d=ems The Gazette-Times has it right: now that summer has definitely arrived to the Willamette Valley, make sure you get enough (but not too much) warmth and sunshine. Take note of the heat advisory from the National Weather Service from Wednesday 7 July to Thursday 8 July. Basic guidelines for staying healthy and avoiding heat-related injuries include staying hydrated, avoiding exertion during the hottest parts of the day, not leaving windows rolled up tight in parked cars, and covering up with hats and clothing. For more information, read the following guidelines from the CDC. You'll get the most out of summer if you pace yourself while enjoying it. http://www.co.benton.or.us/read_article.php?p=313&d=ems When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors! http://www.co.benton.or.us/read_article.php?p=295&d=ems The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program have designated March 21-27 as Tsunami Awareness Week. NOAA's National Weather Service: http://www.noaa.gov/, will host open houses at its tsunami warning centers in Alaska & Hawaii, and many coastal states will host community tsunami awareness activities. http://www.co.benton.or.us/read_article.php?p=293&d=ems Benton and Linn Counties have joined together to offer a new public safety service to its residents. Linn-Benton Alert is a notification system that can call or message residents to warn them of impending or occurring emergencies as well as provide critical life-safety instructions when they are needed most. http://www.co.benton.or.us/read_article.php?p=244&d=ems Road and weather conditions can change in a matter of hours and accidents and travel delays due to weather are commonplace. http://www.co.benton.or.us/read_article.php?p=239&d=ems The first significant seasonal weather change is due tonight/tomorrow … precipitation could even arrive as freezing rain or snow in cold, higher elevation, Northern Oregon valleys. http://www.co.benton.or.us/read_article.php?p=235&d=ems September is National Emergency Preparedness Month http://www.co.benton.or.us/read_article.php?p=233&d=ems September is National Emergency Preparedness Month http://www.co.benton.or.us/read_article.php?p=229&d=ems Many households in the Pacific Northwest are not equipped with air conditioning. Extreme heat events are generally few and short in duration each summer and many people anticipate that they can cope … for a while. For some, however, extreme heat poses a serious health risk and their ability to tolerate even short periods of high heat is poor: examples include infants and small children; people who are sick, persons with chronic disease, mental illness or who are physically fragile; and those who cannot escape exposure such as outdoor workers. http://www.co.benton.or.us/read_article.php?p=188&d=ems A group of volunteer searchers scoured the brambled hillside where an elderly gentleman was found earlier this week by a local birder. This time searchers were looking for the man’s wallet and keys. Searching for lost property is not something that the Benton County Search and Rescue organization normally does, but this was a special case. The owner had somehow gotten disoriented on a trip to his dentist and was found deeply entangled in brush and brambles Northeast of Timberhill Shopping Center. The situation could have been life-threatening had a local bird-watching enthusiast and photographer not happened upon the trapped man.