Columbia County Public Health

09/28/2026

Fall is officially here! 🍂

As the weather cools down, flu and other respiratory illnesses start making their seasonal return. Add staying healthy to your fall essentials and get your flu shot! Getting your flu vaccine is one of the best ways to protect yourself and the people around you this flu season.

A few more ways to help keep germs from spreading:
💦 Wash your hands often
🗣️ Cover coughs and sneezes
🤒 Keep a safe distance from others if you’re feeling sick

Ready for your flu shot? Visit VaccineFinder.com to find a flu vaccine near you.

You’ll also be seeing Columbia County Public Health out and about this fall. Stay tuned for upcoming flu clinics around the county with our Mobile Health Van!

09/25/2026

Meet Kathryn, our new Outreach and Communications Specialist.!

Kathryn works to make public health information clear, accessible, and relevant. She enjoys finding creative ways to connect Columbia County residents with the programs, resources, and information they need.

09/23/2026

Thank you Clatskanie CERT CERT of Columbia County-OR and Scappoose CERT!

🔥 Carrying the Torch: 40 Years & Beyond

It’s National Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Week! From September 20–26, we’re celebrating 40 years of CERT and recognizing the dedicated volunteers who help make communities across Oregon safer, stronger and more prepared.

Oregon is home to 50+ active CERT programs, where trained volunteers learn skills like:
🏥 Disaster medical operations
🔥 Fire safety
🔎 Light search and rescue
🤝 Team organization and disaster response

CERT volunteers also support exercises, community events, emergency operations and preparedness education throughout the year.

More than 60 CERT volunteers are also helping Oregonians prepare as Be 2 Weeks Ready Program Coordinators!

When disaster strikes, neighbors may be the first people able to help one another. CERT gives community members the knowledge and skills to take safe action until additional help arrives.

👏 This , we thank Oregon’s CERT volunteers for carrying the torch of preparedness — and inspiring the next generation to get involved.

🔗 Learn more and find a CERT program near you:
https://apps.oregon.gov/oregon-newsroom/OR/OEM/Posts/Post/CERT-Week-2026

09/23/2026

Bats play an important role in Oregon’s ecosystem and control pests such as mosquitoes. Most bats are healthy, but some bats carry rabies. Because bites and scratches from bats can be difficult to see, knowing how to safely handle a bat encounter helps protect you, your family, and your pets.

While there are no confirmed rabid bats in Columbia County so far in 2026, rabies is present in bats in Oregon. It is important to stay aware and keep our community safe!

If you find a bat:
•Keep children and pets away

•Do NOT touch the bat with your bare hands

•If you are sure no person or pet had contact with the bat, give the bat a safe way to leave by closing the door, opening a window, and watching the bat leave

•If contact occurred, or you are unsure, do not release the bat. If you are able to safely contain the bat without touching it, do so and call Columbia County Public Health as the bat might need to be tested for rabies.

•If you were bitten, scratched, or had direct contact with a bat, or unsure whether contact occurred, wash the exposed area well with soap and water and contact your healthcare provider and Columbia County Public Health (503-397-7247) to report the exposure and receive guidance

Remember: Gives bats their space, never touch a bat with your bare hands, keep pets up to date on rabies vaccinations, and know who to call if an unexpected bat encounter happens.

For more information about bats and rabies, visit:

Oregon Health Authority: https://www.oregon.gov/oha/ph/diseasesconditions/diseasesaz/rabies/pages/bats.aspx

CDC: www.cdc.gov/rabies

The Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife: https://myodfw.com/articles/help-oregons-bats-bat-friendly-home

09/21/2026

Meet our Assistant Director, Madison! 💙

Here is how Madison describes her role at Columbia County Public Health:

"As an epidemiologist by training and now our department's assistant director, I wear many hats, supporting everything from day-to-day operations to larger health initiatives. I love getting to look at the big picture of what affects the health and wellbeing of a community, and work with the people who live, work, and play here to build solutions together."

Madison is our department-designated extrovert. You'll often find Madison at events, tabling, or making new connections out in Columbia County 💬

09/18/2026

The meet-and-greet continues!

💚 Adam is our new Environmental Health Specialist at Columbia County Public Health!

He collaborates with restaurants, schools, drinking water systems, pools, and more to make sure that places we enjoy are operating safely. He works to protect the community’s health by helping to prevent foodborne and waterborne illness.

We are so excited to have Adam join our team!

09/16/2026

You may not always know what someone is experiencing. A check-in, a listening ear, a number shared at the right moment, can make a real difference. starts with connection.

09/16/2026

🔥 SCAPPOOSE RESIDENTS 🔥

Join us on Tuesday, September 22nd for a community feedback session with Scappoose Fire District.

For more details to include additional events, go to the Community Wildfire Protection Plan page at: https://www.columbiacountyor.gov/departments/emergencymanagementprogram/communitywildfireprotectionplan

09/14/2026

🪟 Window falls can cause serious injury in children, but many falls are preventable with just a few easy modifications in the home:

◾Install window locks on all windows - screens are meant to keep bugs OUT, not children IN
◾Keep chairs, beds, stools, and other climbable items away from windows
◾Supervise children around open windows

Basic window locks are available for ⭐FREE⭐ at Columbia County Public Health, or for a few dollars online or in stores.

📚Learn more about child proofing and other infant safety topics at: https://www.babysafetyalliance.org/

09/12/2026

It's Clatskanie Baby Shower Day!!! 👶🏻🍼 come check us out in the Clatskanie Elemetary School gym off of 7th street. We have lots of free resources and goodies for families ❤️