It’s NOT too late to receive your H1N1 flu vaccine. Carver County Public Health is holding a special H1N1 Flu Clinic on Monday, March 15th and Monday, March 29th from 10:00 am to 5:30pm. This FREE vaccine clinic will be held at the Carver County Public Health office in Chaska and is open to the general public from ages 6 months to adult. Appointments are required. Please call Carver County Public Health for an appointment or for additional information at 952-361-1329.
Forecasters Predict Flood of Problems
Source: Chaska Herald
With one eye on the sky and one on the state’s rivers, flood forecasters are on the lookout for a messy spring.
“A wet fall and heavy winter snow indicate a potential for flooding in the Twin Cities and across Minnesota,” stated a press release from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.
That could include the potential closure of the Highway 41 bridge just south of downtown Chaska. According to the National Weather Service’s spring flood outlook, there is a 72 percent chance that the Minnesota River will encroach on Highway 41, and a 95 percent chance it will inundate Highway 101 in Shakopee.
The river crossing last closed due to flooding in April 2001. Back then, the Minnesota River rose to its third highest level of the century, peaking at 14.27 feet above flood stage, and leaving the roadway out of commission for nearly a month.
Using National Weather Service data for Jordan (the nearest measuring station) there is currently a 90 percent chance that the river will reach 6.4 feet above flood stage, requiring closure of the Chaska’s three flood gates.
Chaska city officials are confident that the levees will be able handle this year’s potential high water. “The city is in excellent shape since we did the flood control project,” said City Engineer Bill Monk.
However, at 6.4 feet above flood stage, the water is well on its way to reaching the Athletic Park grandstand.
“We have enough snow, depending on how it melts, it could go into Athletic Park,” said Monk. “If it all melts slowly, it’s not an issue. If it melts all at once like last year, we could have a problem.
“We can’t do anything to protect the field,” he added.
“There are so many variables, it’s hard to predict what’s going to happen,” said Public Works Superintendent Tim Wiebe. “It’s way too early in the game.”
Wiebe said that his department is used to flood talk in the spring. For awhile, the city was on a four-year flood cycle with the river sogging Athletic Park in 1993, 1997 and 2001.
“The city is fortunate with our levee system and the flood control project,” said Wiebe. “I feel real confident in our system.”
New Spring Flood Outlook Information
February 19, 2009
The National Weather Service has issued an updated spring flood outlook for locations across the upper Midwest, including Carver County. Above normal rainfall early in the fall, combined with snowfall that was much above normal for the period from December through mid-February, has led to the potential for significant flooding along many rivers including the Minnesota River in Southern Carver County and the South Fork of the Crow River in the North and West parts of the County. Affected communities may include Carver, Chaska, Chanhassen, Watertown, Mayer, New Germany, as well as San Francisco, Watertown, Hollywood, and Camden Townships. For details on the flood forecast, visit the National Weather Service website.
Carver County Emergency Management would like to remind residents and businesses in Carver County that Flood Insurance is available in the primary flood-prone areas of the County. Flood insurance becomes effective 30 days after it is purchased, so there may still be time to acquire coverage before potential flood waters arrive this spring. Contact your insurance agent for details, or for information on the National Flood Insurance Program and tips on flood preparation, visit the following websites:
Feel free to contact Carver County Emergency Management at 952-361-1528 if you have questions or need further assistance.
2010 Census Workers May Come to Your Door
Information taken from Chaska Police 4-1-1/Issue #274
Census workers will begin going door-to-door, at the end of April running through July, attempting to contact those who did not respond to the Census form via return mail. Census workers will carry a specific piece of identification. If you are approached by an unidentified census worker, report it to your local law enforcement. Remember these important facts:
No legitimate Census worker will ask to enter your home for any reason.
No legitimate Census form, or worker will ask you for your Social Security number, nor will they ask for any financial or banking information.
You will never be contacted via e-mail, and no legitimate Census form exists that can be used online. Report fraudulent e-mail to ITSO.Fraud.Reporting@census.gov
The AMBER Stick
Information taken from Chaska Police 4-1-1/Issue #274
The AMBER Stick is a portable, electronic child identification device that enables law enforcement to download the profile of a child, vulnerable adult, or a loved one within seconds. The AMBER Stick is compatible with the National Code AMBER Alert System and data from the AMBER Stick can be immediately downloaded into the national database. The AMBER Stick is carried on a key chain, in a purse, or in a wallet by parents or caregivers. Software on a small USB flash drive stores pictures, height and weight measurements, medical information, emergency contacts, and physical descriptions for an entire family. The AMBER Stick is secured by a password to ensure privacy and is encrypted. For more information, go to www.amberstick.com.
Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) Orientation and Training
For more information abut the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) of Carver County, visit our Get Connected page.
Upcoming orientation and training sessions are:
South Metro MRC Collaborative Orientation and Training Offerings:
To be determined
Online Training Connection
MRC of Carver County, MN members are encouraged to take the following free online courses. When you have completed a course, please email a copy of your certificate of completion to Carver County Public Health/MRC at mrc@co.carver.mn.us or send it by fax to (952) 361-1390.
Personal & Family Emergency Preparedness
The goal of this course is to provide the tools to help you develop your own personal preparedness plan. The course is divided into 6 sections which each take 5 to 10 minutes to complete. If you don't have a preparedness plan, please take this course.
Mass Dispensing Sites: A Primer for Volunteers
This training is designed to provide an overview of the general operations of mass dispensing sites and serves as an orientation for individuals who may be asked to work in those sites during an emergency. All U of M MRC members are encouraged to take this 1 hour course.
Off-Site Care Facility — An Alternate Care Site: A Primer for Volunteers
This training provides an overview of the general operations of an off-site care facility (also referred to as Alternate Care Site). Topics covered in this 1 hour course include examples of alternate care sites and the types of emergencies that necessitate their establishment, basic or austere medical care, the concept of the incident command structure as it applies to at such a care site, Standard Precautions, and preparation of the volunteer.
Additional Online Training through the Center for Public Health Preparedness:
The Center for Public Health Preparedness offers free online courses of interest to MRC members. Topics include Isolation and Quarantine, Disaster Mental Health, Personal Protective Equipment, Mass Fatalities, and Disease Surveillance, as well as several more: http://cpheo.sph.umn.edu/cpheo/umncphp/online/home.html#isolation MINNESOTAMinnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) Air Quality Updates
For hourly air quality updates, visit the MPCA AQI Web site at aqi.pca.state.mn.us.
Sign up at mn.enviroflash.info to receive daily air quality forecasts and air pollution health alerts by email or text message.
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