PORTLAND, Ore. -- A year after what officals are calling the Great Coastal Gale some Oregon communities were still rebuilding from last year's deadly storm.

And the sunny Monday morning skies were a sharp contrast to the first few days of December, 2007.

The 2007 storm knocked out power and communications in nine counties, closing highways because of high water slides and fallen trees. Winds up to 129 miles an hour were recorded.

The town of Vernonia in Columbia County was hit especially hard and in all, three deaths were blamed on the storm.

Oregon Emergency Management officials urged people to be prepared, learning lessons from last year.

FEMA received more than 3,500 registrations for help, doling out $6 million dollars to individuals and families, some of which was still being spent in 2008 on rebuilding projects. The Small Business Association gave out nearly $12 million in homeowner and business loans.

OEM said they got 119 requests for help from local governments, which resulted in 147 actions by state, federal and voluntary agencies.

This year, nough snow fell in the fall to raise hopes of a Thanksgiving opening. But then it turned warm. Now the snowpack is reported to be only about a fourth as deep as average for the time of year.

Most Oregon resorts don't expect to open for at least another week, although lifts are running to a perennial snowfield above the Timberline Lodge on Mount Hood.