Environmental and Health Advisories

Sometimes the best way to be prepared is to simply make sure you are informed. We have compiled a list of links to help you stay up to date on everything from air quality to school closures. In some cases, you will have the option to sign up for alerts while others allow you to monitor conditions on your own.

General Local Alerts

Public Alerts serves as a hub of emergency information for the Portland-Vancouver Region. You can also sign up for free alerts via text, email, or voice message. Flash Alerts is another great place to start for all alerts including everything from evacuation notices to school closures. Emergency messages are delivered via email, a web page that the media works from, and files pushed into news media websites. News releases are sent via email and the website.

 

Wildfires

Large wildfires are becoming more common in our region. Stay alert and be prepared. The above links provide maps, information and warnings. 

 

Air Quality

The AQI is an index that tracks daily air quality. It tells you how clean or polluted your air is, and what associated health effects might be a concern for you. It is calculated from five major air pollutants regulated by the Clean Air Act: ground-level ozone, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide. 

 

COVID-19/Coronavirus

Get up to date information on COVID-19 and coronavirus including practical advice on how to prevent spreading germs, an overview of symptoms, and what to do if you get sick. 

 

Food Safety

Find information on food recalls and food safety notices.

 

Public Health

Find public health-related new releases and advisories in the State of Oregon.

 

Water Quality

This web map provides an interactive overview of water quality status and trends based on the Oregon Water Quality Index for DEQ's Ambient Water Quality Monitoring network.

 

Weather Alerts

This page shows alerts currently in effect on the Oregon side of the Western Columbia River Gorge. It is normally updated every two to three minutes. It also includes potential for debris flows and landslides in flood watch areas.

 

Winter Wood Burning Restrictions

From October 1 through March 1, homeowners, renters and businesses in Multnomah County cannot use wood stoves, fireplaces or any outdoor wood burning devices on days when the air quality is forecasted to be poor. Burning wood is one of the biggest sources of harmful air pollution in Multnomah County and these restrictions are designed to protect public health and keep our region in compliance with national air quality standards.

 

Cyanobacteria/Algal Blooms

The page is continuously updated with the most current information on recreational use health advisories issued and lifted throughout the season for monitored and sampled water bodies in Oregon. Please note that only a fraction of all water bodies in Oregon are visually monitored or sampled due to limited physical and monetary resources. A water body with no recreational health advisory is not an indication that a bloom is not present. 

 

Earthquakes

This interactive map provides a list of all recent earthquakes and the accompanying data including magnitude, location and depth.

 

Fish Advisories and Guidelines

This page provides information on current advisories, meal recommendations, contaminants and their health effects. Please note that fish in many of Oregon’s waters have not been sampled for contaminants that can be found in their tissue. A water body that has no advisory in place is not an indication that fish caught there are free of contaminants. 

 

Invasive Species

Invasive species are animals, plants, and microorganisms that are not native to our region and once here can reproduce so vigorously that they replace our native species. If you spot an invasive species, you can report it via the link above. The OISC also provides a Worst Invaders List.

 

PFAS and Toxic Chemicals

PFAS are a family of human-made chemicals that have been manufactured and used in a variety of industries since the 1940s. As of today, no major source of PFAS has been found in Oregon that would create regular exposure for Oregonians.

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