Winter Storms Continue To Disrupt - NEWS FLASH - Issue #206


December 4, 2007

Rain turned to snow and snow turned to rain as temperatures fluctuated across the nation, some areas receiving up to fifteen inches of snow while others received as much as 11 inches of rain creating severe flooding and delaying mail and newspaper deliveries in the wake of one of the worst storms of the decade. The strong winter weather continues to pound the nation with relentless rain, significant lake effect snow and strong winds crippling travel in the Northwest, Midwest and Northeast. The transportation industry expects delays, as delivery is severely limited in many areas, where only boats and helicopters are able to navigate much of the terrain.

Quebecor World Logistics’ carriers are currently out to deliver, however, some carriers are experiencing minor delays while proceeding with caution to and from the affected areas. Some QWL shipments coming from our Portland, OR facility are delayed and diverted on up to 400 miles of detour because of the Interstate 5 closure. Newspaper deliveries in the Northwest may also be affected because of the road closures in the area.

West Coast Storm

Flooded streets, downed trees, and power outages set the scene for the upper Northwest, as many wait for the two massive fronts that have wreaked havoc on transportation over the last five days to pass. Washington and Oregon have been declared states of emergency by their governors because of areas where conventional travel remains impossible due to severe flooding. The following highways are currently closed or impacted by the storms:

• Interstate 5 in Washington has been closed from Exit 68 to Exit 88 due to severe flooding over the highway and is causing major delays in the area because of the lack of reasonable alternative routes.
• US 101 is closed two miles south of Tillamook, OR due to impassable high water.
• US 26 is closed one mile west of Manning, OR due to debris. Open to local traffic and emergency vehicles only.
• US 26 is closed eight miles west of Manning, OR due to a deep sink hole.
• US 26 is closed three miles east of the intersection with Oregon Coast Highway US 101 due to falling trees caused by severe weather.
• US 30 Columbia - Clatsop County Line, OR milepost 70 – 95 is experiencing two hour plus delays due to fallen trees.

East Coast Storm

The west coast storm has moved into position over the Midwest and Northeast, spanning from Minnesota to Maine, bringing strong snow showers and heavy winds which are decreasing visibility and slowing travel to a crawl. The most intense band of the storm stretches from Monroe County, PA to Somerset County, NJ, where lake effect snow is combining with the several inches of rain and snow from the previous front, making travel to and from these affected areas a difficult task. The snow band is currently affecting:

• I-78 near Monroe County, PA
  
• I-80 near Somerset County, NJ
• I-287 near the New Jersey-New York border

QWL remains committed to doing everything within our control to ensure accurate and on time deliveries.

Ron Sing
Quebecor World Logistics
630-343-4729