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Wednesday, September 14, 2022
Weather balloon lands in Columbia River Originally published in The Chronicle Vol. 140 Sept. 7, 2022 STAFF REPORT chroniclenews@countrymedia.net
Courtesy photo from Scappoose Fire
Crews work to get the downed weather balloon out of the Columbia River.
Local first responders used their skills and determination during an unusual rescue in the Columbia River. Scappoose Fire posted the following details of the Aug. 31 event on the fire agency’s Facebook page. Scappoose Fire received a request from our friends at the Near Space Corporation in Tillamook. They needed help coordinating the recovery of a weather balloon that had landed in the middle of the Columbia River. The balloon that has a height taller than a threestory building, was being challenged by a local change in weather conditions. Unfortunately, the balloon was not able to be brought down on land. The professionals that oversee the launch and mission of weather balloons use many tools and systems to know where the balloon is at all times. The balloon was followed by a fixed wing plane as it got close to Scappoose. This plane helped to guide us to the specific location. As added safety for aircraft in the area, the balloon was fixed with a special transmitter that identifies the balloon’s location so that other aircraft can see it as
$69 million in addition SNAP food benefits date information. You can report any changes to your income or household in many ways:
Originally published in The Chronicle Vol. 140 Sept. 7, 2022
• Online at: ONE.Oregon. gov • By mail at: ONE Customer Service Center, PO Box 14015, Salem, OR 97309 • By fax at: 503-378-5628 • By phone at: 1-800-6999075 or TTY 711
STAFF REPORT chroniclenews@countrymedia.net
Most Oregonians who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will receive emergency allotments in September. The federal government has approved emergency allotments every month since March 2020. This gives SNAP recipients additional support during the COVID-19 pandemic. These emergency benefits are a temporary support that Oregon can provide because of the federal COVID-19 public health emergency. Because the federal government approved these emergency benefits for September, Oregon will also be able to issue them in October. However, the emergency benefits are expected to end when the federal public health emergency ends. In September, approximately 433,000 SNAP households will receive approximately $69 million in extra food benefits in addition to
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their regular SNAP benefits. “We know that many rely on these additional emergency food benefits to get enough healthy food for themselves and their families,” said Jana McLellan, interim director of the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) Self-Sufficiency Programs Interim Director Jana McLellan said. “We also know that many Oregonians are still struggling to meet their basic needs and we encourage them to contact our partners at 211, the Oregon Food Bank and
their local Community Action Agency for support during this difficult time.” Current SNAP households will receive emergency allotments on Sept. 13. Emergency allotments will be issued Sept. 30 or Oct. 4 for households who did not receive benefits in the first monthly issuance. SNAP recipients do not have to take any action to receive these supplemental benefits as they will be issued directly on their EBT cards. More information about
emergency allotments is available at https://www.oregon.gov/dhs/ASSISTANCE/ FOOD-BENEFITS/Pages/ Emergency-Allotments.aspx. Questions about your SNAP benefits should be directed to the ONE Customer Service Center at 1-800-6999075. If your household receives SNAP and your income or the number of people in your household has changed, it could impact your benefits. It is important to make sure ODHS has the most up-to-
• Find a food pantry: foodfinder.oregonfoodbank. org • Learn about government programs and community resources for older adults and people with disabilities: Aging and Disability Resource Connection of Oregon at 1-855-673-2372 or www. adrcoforegon.org. • Dial 2-1-1, or text your zip code to 898-211, www.211info.org • Find local resources and support by contacting your local Community Action Agency: www.caporegon. org/find-services/ • Oregon Department of Human Services COVID-19 help center
normal air traffic. Once the balloon landed in the water, the recovery of the electronics became a focus as well as the large balloon. To prevent the balloon from being a significant river hazard; Scappoose Fire reached out to Clark-Cowlitz Fire Rescue, Sauvie Island Fire District and U.S. Coast Guard Sector Columbia River to help with the recovery and notify the boaters on the water. This recovery was successful because of their assistance. After about three hours, the recovery effort was completed, and the electronic equipment was returned to the Near Space Corporation staff. Due to the mix of water and the balloon fabric, what would normally be very light was hundreds of pounds. This was a great opportunity to test out communication plans and equipment in a low stress environment while having to think outside the box with this operation. Additional thanks to the community members Tom Morton and Lance Scrivens for assisting us pull the balloon higher on the shore and transporting staff and equipment in the hard-toreach area. For those that thought they were seeing an alien craft over Scappoose and the Columbia River today, it was just a challenged weather balloon.
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