Cowlitz County DEM (Department of Emergency Management)

06/12/2026

An Extreme Heat Watch is in effect for Sunday June 14 through Tuesday June 16. The high temps are still expected to be 95F to 100F. Overnight lows 63F to 67F.

Below are reminders of the risks of Extreme Heat and important precautions to take.

Excessive Heat Safety
• Extreme heat can be deadly—drink water often and take breaks in shade or AC.
• Never leave anyone in a parked car— not even for a minute.
• Check on elderly neighbors and those without AC.

With hot weather, many people head to rivers and lakes to cool off. If this is your plan, make sure it includes life jackets. Our rivers are VERY cold, and even strong swimmers can be quickly overwhelmed. Cold-water shock combined with fast currents can be deadly.

Cold Water & River Safety
• Cold water shocks the body—enter slowly and carefully.
• Rivers are colder and faster than they look.
• Always wear a properly fitted life jacket near or on the water.

Life Jacket Reminder
• Life jackets save lives.
• Wear one, don’t just bring one.
• Buckle up every time, no exceptions.

Vehicles in warm weather can be deadly for both people and pets. During extreme heat, temperatures inside a car can become fatal within minutes. Hot asphalt can also cause severe burns to pets’ paws. For our furry loved ones, this is not the time for outings—leave them at home in a cool, controlled environment.

Pet Safety in Heat
• If it’s too hot for your hand, it’s too hot for paws.
• Provide shade, fresh water, and limit outdoor activity.
• Never leave pets in cars. Temperatures rise fast.

Look Before You Lock
• Look before you lock—every trip, every time.
• A parked car can become deadly in minutes.

06/09/2026

Preliminary Weekend Weather Outlook: Major Heat Risk

A preliminary look at the weekend weather indicates temperatures reaching the Major Heat Risk category.

Beginning Saturday, June 13, temperatures will trend upward. Saturday, Sunday, and Monday nights may remain above 65°F, limiting overnight cooling and increasing heat stress.

Forecast highlights:
• Saturday: Highs in the 80s; 2% chance of highs near 90°F. Overnight lows 65°F or warmer.
• Sunday: 43% chance of highs 95–100°F. Overnight lows 65°F or warmer.
• Monday: 65% chance of highs 95–100°F. Overnight lows 65°F or warmer.
• Tuesday: Cooler, more seasonable temperatures expected as marine air moves inland.

Major Heat Risk, as defined by the National Weather Service, indicates a high risk of heat illness for much of the population, especially vulnerable groups.

Take precautions: limit outdoor activity, stay hydrated, use air conditioning when possible, and check on those at higher risk.

06/04/2026

Community Awareness: Donation Scams

The Longview Police Department is urging community members to use care and discernment when making donations connected to the recent Nippon tragedy.

At this time, LPD is not aware of any confirmed donation scams related to this incident. This message is being shared proactively because scammers sometimes attempt to take advantage of tragedies through fraudulent donation requests, fake fundraisers, or “GoFundMe”-style scams.

If you choose to donate, the safest option is to use a trusted local financial institution, including the Longshoreman’s Credit Union or one of the other local credit unions where verified donation accounts have been established.

Before donating, please take a few moments to confirm the fundraiser is legitimate. Be cautious of unsolicited messages, pressure to donate quickly, requests for unusual payment methods, or fundraisers that cannot be verified.

Suspicious fundraising activity may be reported to the Longview Police Department.

05/28/2026

MEDIA ADVISORY

May 28, 2026
Contact: Joint Information Center at [email protected]

Press conference for Nippon Dynawave Industrial Incident
Members of the news media are invited to join leaders of the Nippon Dynawave Industrial Incident today for an update on response activities and operations.

WHEN: Thursday, May 28 2026 at 3:30 p.m.
WHERE: Nippon Dynawave Packaging, 3401Industrial Way, Longview, WA 98632
SPEAKERS:
Brad Hannig, Longview Fire Chief
Matt Amos, Longview Fire Battalion Chief
Brooks Stanfield, Environmental Protection Agency, Federal On Scene Coordinator
Courtney Serad, Department of Ecology, State On Scene Coordinator

BACKGROUND: This press conference will provide an update on operations including the on-site recovery process and the ongoing mitigation of environmental impacts.

For the latest spill response updates, an incident website has been established at ecology.wa.gov/NipponDynawave. Updates are also being shared on the City of Longview and Longview Fire Department pages.

05/28/2026

05/28/2026

City of Longview Confirms Drinking Water Remains Safe Following Industrial Incident

LONGVIEW, WA — The City of Longview is confirming residents that the City’s drinking water remains safe and there is no immediate threat to public health following Tuesday’s industrial incident at Nippon Dynawave Packaging.

“Our water treatment and delivery systems are specifically designed with multiple layers of protection and continuous monitoring,” said Public Works Director Chris Collins. “The drinking water being delivered to homes and businesses today is the same safe water our community had last week.”

Longview’s drinking water is sourced from protected underground aquifers located approximately 200 feet below the surface. The City’s water treatment plant continuously monitors water quality 24 hours a day and is engineered to automatically shut down before contaminated water could ever enter the public water system.

Since the incident, City crews have worked aggressively and successfully to divert contaminants away from City wellheads and critical water infrastructure.

In response to questions from the community regarding hydrant flushing activity occurring throughout the city, the City is clarifying that hydrant flushing is being conducted intentionally to increase water movement through stormwater systems, dikes, and drainage ditches. This process helps flood the ditch system to dilute and move any residual white liquor away from sensitive areas.

As white liquor becomes diluted with water, it can create an odor through a process known as off-gassing. While the smell may be noticeable in some locations, this is actually to be expected, and it is not considered toxic at the levels being detected in the community.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) continues monitoring air quality throughout Longview. At this time, there have been no detections of abnormal or dangerous air quality conditions related to the incident.

The City is also aware of reports involving deceased fish within some local slough areas. Environmental experts indicate some fish impacts would be expected due to elevated pH levels associated with the released material.

The City will continue working closely with local, state, and federal partners, including the Washington Department of Ecology and EPA, to monitor conditions and protect public health and infrastructure.

Residents are encouraged to rely on official City communication channels or ecology.wa.gov/NipponDynawave for accurate updates and information.

05/27/2026

5/27/26 @ 1200

05/27/2026

𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐈𝐌𝐌𝐄𝐃𝐈𝐀𝐓𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄
𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝟐𝟔, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔, 𝟒:𝟐𝟓 𝐩.𝐦.

𝐉𝐎𝐈𝐍𝐓 𝐔𝐏𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄: 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 – 𝐍𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐲𝐧𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠

LONGVIEW, WASH - Emergency responders continue recovery and stabilization operations at Nippon Dynawave Packaging following Tuesday morning’s industrial incident involving the rupture of a tank containing white liquor at the facility located at 3401 Industrial Way.

Recovery efforts remain complex due to ongoing safety concerns at the site. While originally believed to contain approximately 80,000 gallons, officials now report the tank held approximately 900,000 gallons of white liquor. Longview Fire and Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue estimate roughly 90,000 gallons of material may remain inside the damaged tank.

Currently, the tank remains unstable, creating hazardous conditions for emergency personnel. Responders are continuing efforts to structurally reinforce and stabilize the site before additional recovery operations can safely proceed.

These conditions continue to impact portions of the facility and limit access to some areas of the site. Officials state there is currently no direct threat to the surrounding community.

Recovery operations remain focused on safely accessing all affected areas of the facility, recovering victims, and supporting impacted families, while ensuring the safety of emergency responders working within unstable conditions.

Emergency responders have confirmed:
• 10 individuals were transported to area hospitals:
o 8 employee injuries
o 1 firefighter injury
o 1 fatality

Officials can also confirm there are 9 employees who remain unaccounted for. All identified families have now been notified.

Numerous local, regional, and state agencies continue coordinating response and recovery operations alongside facility personnel.

State officials are planning a visit to the site. The site will continue to be monitored overnight, but recovery efforts will not resume until tomorrow due to ongoing safety concerns.

This is the final scheduled public update for today. Additional verified information will be released as it becomes available.

Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co.
Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue
Longview, Washington - City of Longview
Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office