Here is a fire and smoke map that updates hourly using a variety of sources, including satellite.
It’s centered on Oregon when you first pull it up, but if you scroll up you’ll find Washington. You can see the Sumner Grade Fire in Bonney Lake and the newer fire southeast of Enumclaw.
If you zoom out, you can clear see the entire west coast on fire. ☹
· Registration has started for reopening workshops being put on by the Chamber of Commerce. Fifteen of the workshops have been scheduled over the next two weeks. They are designed to aid local businesses and organizations open up under the Phase 2 safety conditions set by the Governor. The planning workshops will help businesses reduce risk to staff, ensure customers feel safe and secure, and give business operators confidence that they are following best practices to protect our community’s health. The free workshops are offered by Vashon Chamber of Commerce and are being funded by VashonBePrepared. Each participant will receive a toolkit that will including masks (provided by Masks for Vashon), sanitizer, floor signs for six foot distancing, and signage for the establishment's safety commitments. One option in the free toolkit will be plexiglass sneeze shields fabricated by volunteers from the Makerspace/Tool Library group. Visit https://www.vashonchamber.com/re-opening-round-tables/ to sign up for one of the workshops:
o In-Home Services and Constructions, Thursdays May 28, Jun 4, and Jun 11 at 4pm
o Body Workers, Hair and Nail Salons, Grooming and Tattoo Artists, Mondays Jun1, Jun 8 and Jun 15 at noon
o Merchants, Galleries, Artists and Non-Essential Retail, Thursdays May 28, Jun 4, and Jun 11 at 9am
o Recreation & Fitness, Fridays Jun 5, Jun 12 and Jun 19 at 9am.
Restaurants, Bars and Beverages, Mon Jun 1, Thurs Jun 4 and Wed Jun 8 all at 10am
Read More
As part of the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) program, the Wireless Emergency WEA) service is starting up this month. Consumers do not sign up for the free, location-based 90 character text messaging service - but if they wish can opt out of weather and AMBER alerts – but not presidential alerts. Alerts will be issued for tsunamis, extreme winds, ice storms, blizzards, and other life-threatening events – i.e., weather warnings – but not less severe weather watches.
Just a brief note to commemorate those whose lives have been disrupted and lost by the Tōhoku disaster one year ago today.