Hot Topics
Test Messages Will be Sent to All TVs, Radios and Cell Phones
WASHINGTON — FEMA, in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) this fall.
The national test will consist of two portions, testing WEA and EAS capabilities. Both tests are scheduled to begin at approximately 2:20 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Oct. 4.
The WEA portion of the test will be directed to all consumer cell phones. This will be the third nationwide test, but the second test to all cellular devices. The test message will display in either English or in Spanish, depending on the language settings of the wireless handset.
The EAS portion of the test will be sent to radios and televisions. This will be the seventh nationwide EAS test.
FEMA and the FCC are coordinating with EAS participants, wireless providers, emergency managers and other stakeholders in preparation for this national test to minimize confusion and to maximize the public safety value of the test.
The purpose of the Oct. 4 test is to ensure that the systems continue to be effective means of warning the public about emergencies, particularly those on the national level. In case the Oct. 4 test is postponed due to widespread severe weather or other significant events, the back-up testing date is Oct. 11.
The WEA portion of the test will be initiated using FEMA’s Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS), a centralized internet-based system administered by FEMA that enables authorities to send authenticated emergency messages to the public through multiple communications networks. The WEA test will be administered via a code sent to cell phones.
This year the EAS message will be disseminated as a Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) message via the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System-Open Platform for Emergency Networks (IPAWS-OPEN).
All wireless phones should receive the message only once. The following can be expected from the nationwide WEA test:
- Beginning at approximately 2:20 p.m. ET, cell towers will broadcast the test for approximately 30 minutes. During this time, WEA-compatible wireless phones that are switched on, within range of an active cell tower, and whose wireless provider participates in WEA, should be capable of receiving the test message.
- For consumers, the message that appears on their phones will read: “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.”
- Phones with the main menu set to Spanish will display: “ESTA ES UNA PRUEBA del Sistema Nacional de Alerta de Emergencia. No se necesita acción.”
WEA alerts are created and sent by authorized federal, state, local, tribal and territorial government agencies through IPAWS to participating wireless providers, which deliver the alerts to compatible handsets in geo-targeted areas. To help ensure that these alerts are accessible to the entire public, including people with disabilities, the alerts are accompanied by a unique tone and vibration.
Important information about the EAS test:
- The EAS portion of the test is scheduled to last approximately one minute and will be conducted with the participation of radio and television broadcasters, cable systems, satellite radio and television providers and wireline video providers.
- The test message will be similar to the regular monthly EAS test messages with which the public is familiar. It will state: “This is a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System, issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, covering the United States from 14:20 to 14:50 hours ET. This is only a test. No action is required by the public.
Read More
The BDay Celebration was AWESOME! We served ~185 plates of tacos, 160 bags of popcorn, and too many cupcakes to count. The place was packed with kids who were crazy excited about everything (which made us old folks happy just to be around so much energy).
The DJ rocked it; the food was fantastic (never have I had a taco so good); Boy Scouts said their booth was successful. The City raised $240 for Pack 62. They said this money will pay for all the awards they hand out this year. Games played: Kid craft; Sidewalk drawing; Sack racing; Freeze Dancing and axe throwing which was jammed with people throughout.
https://jacksoncountyor.org/emergency/News/News-Information/current-fire-danger-level
EFFECTIVE September 27, 2023
JACKSON & JOSEPHINE COUNTIES, Ore. (Sept. 27, 2023) – Due to widespread rain, the fire danger level on Oregon Department of Forestry Southwest Oregon District-protected lands in Jackson and Josephine counties will decrease to “low” (green) as of Wednesday, September 27, 2023 at 9:00 a.m. Please be aware that this level change means that some fire restrictions for the public will remain in effect. The Industrial Fire Precaution Level will remain at one.
These regulations impact 1.8 million acres of state, private, county, city and Bureau of Land Management lands protected by ODF’s Southwest Oregon District.
In low fire danger, the following activities are prohibited:
- No debris burning, including piles and debris burned in burn barrels.
- No fireworks on or within 1/8 of a mile of ODF-protected land.
- Exploding targets and tracer ammunition, or any bullet with a pyrotechnic charge in its base, are prohibited.
- Campfires are allowed in designated campgrounds, and on private land with the landowner’s permission. Portable stoves using liquefied or bottled fuels may be used in areas clear of vegetation at any time.
- Smoking while traveling will only be allowed in enclosed vehicles on improved roads, in boats on the water and other specifically designated locations.
- Any electric fence controllers must be approved by a nationally recognized testing laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories Inc., or be certified by the Department of Consumer and Business Services and be installed and used in compliance with the fence controller’s instructions for fire safe operation.
For more information about the Oregon Department of Forestry Southwest Oregon District’s fire season public restrictions, please call or visit the Southwest Oregon District unit office nearest to you:
- Medford Unit, 5286 Table Rock Rd., Central Point – (541) 664-3328
- Grants Pass Unit, 5375 Monument Dr., Grants Pass – (541) 474-3152
Oregon Department of Transportation will be fixing Hwy 62 from the bridge south to Chevron on 10/3-10/4.
The work will be done during the day with one lane open utilizing pilot cars and flaggers.
PLEASE USE EXTREME CAUTION DURING THIS NECESSARY WORK.
(Weather Permitting)
Read More
Shady Cove Volunteers kicked into full swing in May, helping Jackson County Parks to address some latent maintenance issues at the Upper Rogue Regional Park. With tools, paint supplies and muscle, the group swept thru the park rebuilding the rotted picnic tables, weed whacking, trash pickup and bbq pit cleanout. When the crew was done, the park looked loved. Note: Due to a lack of supplies, there are 2 tables still to be rebuilt. These will be restored once the supplies arrive.
As Mayor Jon Ball stated, “the hard work of volunteers is very much what Shady Cove brings to everything”. So cheers to the great volunteers of Shady Cove!
If you would like to be part of this great team helping to beautify Shady Cove (weeding, sweeping, painting, handyman services, coordinating volunteers, etc, etc), please sign up via the City Website (under the Commissions & Committees; Volunteering tabs). Together we can make Shady Cove a City we are all very proud of.
Special thanks to our volunteers on this project –
Kathy Nuckles
Mary Pulcini
Jeff Pulcini
Steve Nuckles
John Edwards
Scott Hatch
James Weidman
Oregon will delay release of a controversial wildfire risk map for the second time as the state Legislature takes up the issue.
A number of bills have been introduced this session that could impact how the map, meant to classify wildfire danger statewide, comes together, leading the Oregon Department of Forestry to postpone release.
“We want to avoid expending resources on work that may not align with new direction that may come from the Legislature this session,” said Cal Mukumoto, director of the Oregon Department of Forestry.
The original map was released last June after passage of Senate Bill 762, which came in the wake of the 2020 Labor Day fires that burned over 1 million acres and destroyed regions of the state seemingly unprepared for the scale of the calamity.
Read More
Emergency Management Commission is looking to fill positions now. Volunteers for All Events are also needed.
Got a few free hours each month? Want to meet new friends? Want to leave a lasting positive mark on this city? If YES, then we’ve got an opportunity for you! Throughout its existence, Shady Cove has relied heavily on volunteers to help City Hall “get things done”. It is thanks to these individuals that Shady Cove can not only comfortably exist, but also thrive and even have fun! Sadly, at present, our volunteer base is extremely lean, and this is having a negative affect on some of Shady Cove’s critical services, two of which are Emergency Management and Parks & Recreation. If you have some free time and feel that you can contribute in these areas, please apply! Not sure what these positions entail? Please contact City Hall and they can answer any questions you may have, but in summary:
Emergency Management Commission: (5 Openings) Meets 1 or 2 times a month to study, recommend and promote changes and improvements to how Shady Cove prepares and responds to emergencies. This can include recommendation of a siren, reader board, or other technology to help alert citizens; it can include creation of community response teams to help citizens in times of need; it can include working to ensure that Shady Cove has the resources to save this City from fire . . . the list goes on.
Application for Commission or Committee 2023
Read More