June 2014

ATHENS CO FLASH FLOOD WATCH FROM 1AM THUR, 6/19 TO 6AM SAT, 6/21, WATCH FOR CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS!

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Flash Flood Watch

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR FROM 1AM THURSDAY, 6/19 TO 6AM SATURDAY, 6/21.

SEVERAL ROUNDS OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE. OF COURSE, THERE WILL BE MANY DRY INTERVALS. HOWEVER, IN THE MUGGY AIR DOWNPOURS CAN EASILY OCCUR WITH THE SHOWERS. IF REPETITIVE HEAVIER RAIN AFFECTS THE SAME AREA, SMALL STREAMS COULD RISE QUICKLY AND FLOOD. IN MOST AREAS, RAINS OF MORE THAN 2 INCHES IN LESS THAN 3 HOURS COULD CAUSE FLASH FLOODING.

STRONG RISES MAY ALSO OCCUR ON SOME HEADWATER RIVERS BY FRIDAY NIGHT INTO SATURDAY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS: A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS MAY DEVELOP THAT LEAD TO FLASH FLOODING. FLASH FLOODING IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION.

IF YOU LIVE ALONG A FLOOD PRONE SMALL STREAM, PLUS LOCAL AND COUNTY OFFICIALS, INCREASE YOUR WEATHER AWARENESS. MONITOR WATER LEVELS FREQUENTLY DURING ANY HEAVIER RAIN. BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION, SHOULD STREAM LEVELS RISE QUICKLY OR A FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS ISSUED.

BOIL ORDER for Nelsonville, Buchtel and Nelsonville water customers in York Twp is still in effect

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Nelso Boil Order

The boil order for The City of Nelsonville, The Village of Buchtel and Nelsonville water customers in York Township is still in effect. The Nelsonville Water Department crews controlled the leak around 9:30 PM Thursday evening. Some areas may still experience low water pressure as the system returns to normal. Boil orders normally last from 24 – 48 hours depending on the severity of the leak and lab test results. Once the boil order is canceled the information will be released through local media outlets, Alert Athens County mass notification system and the City of Nelsonville’s social media sites.

Wayne National Forest “Fee-Free” Day Scheduled for Saturday, June 14

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Wayne National Forest Sign

In observance of National Get Outdoors Day, the Wayne National Forest will offer a fee waiver this Saturday, June 14, 2014. The fee waiver includes all off-highway vehicle, horseback, and mountain bike trails and some developed recreation sites. These sites include Burr Oak Cove Campground, Stone Church Horse Campground, and Lake Vesuvius’ Big Bend Swim Area.

Fee waivers do not apply to recreation sites that are reservable through the National Recreation Reservation System.

One of the favorite attractions on the Forest is the over 360 miles of multiple-use trails, which include horse, all-terrain vehicle (ATV), off-highway motorcycle (OHM), mountain bike, and hiking trails. Trail permits are required to ride ATV, OHM, mountain bike, and horse trails during the open season (April 15 through December 15), with exception of designated “Fee-Waiver” days.

The 241,000 acre Wayne National Forest offers a variety of recreation opportunities, including camping, picnicking, fishing, hunting, nature viewing, canoeing, and much more. For more information, visit our website at http://www.fs.usda.gov/wayne .

BOIL ORDER for City of Nelsonville, Buchtel and York TWP areas until further notice!

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Nelso Boil Order

The City of Nelsonville has issued a boil order for the entire City and the Village of Buchtel and York Township water customers until further notice. A major water line break on East Columbus Street is being repaired and has caused low pressure in the water system. Crews are working to repair the break as soon as possible. Areas that are serviced by the Nelsonville water system may experience a water outage until repairs are completed. Boil orders are put into place as a result of broken water lines or local flooding. When this happens, the drinking water may have been contaminated which can cause many illnesses.

Here are some tips to keep in mind, should you find yourself in this situation:

• Bring water to a full boil, and boil for three minutes prior to use.
• Use only boiled water for drinking, preparing food or baby formula.
• To improve the flat taste of boiled water, keep cold in refrigerator.
• Put a cup over your faucets as a reminder to not use tap water – not even to brush your teeth!
• Instead of boiling water, you can disinfect water by adding one teaspoon unscented chlorine laundry bleach for every five gallons of water. Let stand 30 minutes before using.
• Be sure to use sanitized food grade containers for storing water.
• To disinfect water storage containers, pour a solution of one tablespoon of unscented chlorine bleach to a gallon of water into a container. Let the solution remain in the container for 10 minutes, then pour out the solution. Rinse with purified water.
• Boiled or disinfected water can be stored for six months.
• Dispose of ice cubes.
• When washing dishes, make sure to sterilize dishes with a final dip in water that has one teaspoon of unscented household bleach per gallon of water. Disposable tableware is an option during a boil order.
• It is also recommend you sanitize hands when washing. Again use one teaspoon of unscented household bleach per gallon of water and rinse hand frequently by pouring rinse over the hands. Use paper towels to dry.
• Water for bathing doesn’t need to be boiled. Supervise children to avoid water being ingested.

Low Water Pressure in Nelsonville, Buchtel, York TWP, Crews Working on Major Water Main Break!

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low-water-pressure

The City of Nelsonville Water Department is working on a major water main break on East Columbus Street. Do to the break and the associated repairs residents in Nelsonville, Buchtel and parts of York Township may experience low water pressure. Repair crews are hoping to have the problem repaired today. At this time no boil order is needed due to the type of repair being performed. More information will be released as needed.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR ATHENS CO UNTIL 10PM, SEEK SHELTER IF THREATENED!!

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Severe Thunderstorm Warning

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR ATHENS COUNTY UNTIL 1000 PM.

AT 915 PM NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH. THESE STORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 6 MILES SOUTHWEST OF LAKE HOPE STATE PARK TO FORKED RUN STATE PARK TO KENNA OR ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM MCARTHUR TO FORKED RUN STATE PARK TO 13 MILES NORTHEAST OF WINFIELD, MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS: PLEASE REPORT HAIL OR STRONG WIND TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BY CALLING TOLL FREE 1-800-401-9535, WHEN YOU CAN DO SO SAFELY.

YOU MAY ALSO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER BY POSTING YOUR REPORT TO THE CHARLESTON WEST VIRGINIA NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FACEBOOK PAGE OR BY USING THE TWITTER HASHTAG #NWSRLX.

Free Workshop Teaches Skills Needed to Become a Photonaturalist, Sat 6/21 10AM at Wayne National Forest HQ, Nelsonville

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Wayne National Forest Sign

Would you like to photograph insects? If so, come celebrate National Pollinator Week with the Wayne National Forest by becoming a PhotoNaturalist.

Photographers of all ages and experience levels are invited to attend a PhotoNaturalist Workshop on Saturday, June 21st, at 10 a.m. at the Wayne National Forest headquarters located off US Hwy 33 between Athens and Nelsonville.

Lynda Andrews, a U.S. Forest Service wildlife biologist will open up the workshop with a short presentation in the first floor conference room. Participates will learn what is needed in a photograph for identification purposes. She will also give an introduction to the Bumble Bee Watch Program. You will learn how you can contribute to this citizen science initiative from your own backyard.

Interested photographers are urged to bring your camera to photograph any and all insects found in our native plant gardens located around the building.

“There is a serious decline of pollinators in the United States today,” said Andrews. “One way to help researchers is to learn to document the types and species of pollinators by identifying them through the use of photographs.”

Photographs taken during the event will be used in a future pollinator display planned for the Wayne Welcome Center. Your Bumble Bee photographs will also be submitted to the Bumble Bee Watch program

Register today by calling (740) 753-0101, or by email at landrews@fs.fed.us. In case of inclement weather, the event will be scheduled for another time.

For more information, visit our website at http://www.fs.usda.gov/wayne . Follow the Wayne National Forest on Twitter: @waynenationalfs .