SALEM, Ore. -- Residents and tourists on the Oregon coast will soon have a quick and easy way to report debris from the Japanese tsunami.
Gov. John Kitzhaber announced Thursday that people will be able to call 211 to report tsunami debris. Beginning Friday, the hotline will be staffed during business hours and will take recorded messages at other times.
The governor said General Mike Caldwell will be responsible for coordinating the response and cleanup efforts among state agencies. Caldwell is interim director of the Oregon Office of Emergency Management.
Caldwell says it's important to the promptly pick up tsunami debris large and small to keep beaches clean and prevent the introduction of invasive species.
Kitzhaber says Oregon will work with other Pacific Coast states to request money from the federal government.
