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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 24, 2015)
4 A ❘ SATURDAY EDITION ❘ OCTOBER 24, 2015 Siuslaw News P.O. Box 10 Florence, OR 97439 DISASTER PREP B Y D AVE R OBINSON Special to the Siuslaw News Every city on the Oregon coast has a tsunami warning system in place. Officials in coastal communities have taken the threat of earthquake/tsunami seriously enough to create evacuation routes and a warning sys- tem designed to minimize casualties. Those little signs point the way to higher ground and safety from an incoming tsunami. I’m always mildly amused by the sign that says, “Leaving Tsunami Zone.” How do they know? What if that sucker is two feet higher, or 10 feet higher than their signpost. Now I’m not privy to all of the scientific planning that went in to marking the zone, but I’m assuming that their data is solid and was attained through sound processes. Just to be on the safe side, if I’m on the way out, running from a tsunami, I’m not stopping at that sign. Another thing not mentioned on the “evacuation route” signs is that if the antici- pated earthquake is as severe as many think it will be, there is no way we can jump in our cars and simply drive our way to high ground. Streets will be broken, bridges impassable, building debris is likely to cover the road, power poles and power lines will block streets and trees are apt to have RYAN CRONK , EDITOR ❘ 541-902-3520 ❘ EDITOR @ THESIUSLAWNEWS . COM Opinion Tsunami Safety fallen in inconvenient places. More and more I’m hearing that folks are being instructed to “walk” to higher ground. I’m thinking “run” is more like it, but some of us don’t run much anymore. Not for very far anyway. Also if you’re on the beach or at sea level and you feel the shaking of a quake, don’t wait for the siren. That shaking is likely the only warning you will get. Computer simu- lations have demonstrated that on Jan. 26, 1700, when the last Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake stuck our coast, it is esti- mated that there was a 20- to 30-minute time period before the initial tsunami wave hit. Geologic history has showed waves were 30 feet or higher Another evacuation tactic is also being suggested: vertical evacuation. That is, find- ing a sturdy building at least three stories high and climbing to the top floor. If there is a higher building available, get to it. I recently viewed a video produced by Oregon Public Broadcasting. Titled “Unprepared,” the presentation examines just exactly how prepared, or rather how unprepared we are on the Oregon coast for a major earthquake. YESTERDAY’S NEWS Video footage of Japan’s quake and tsunami help drive home the point of how massive the damage could be. Also, eerie similarities between the Japanese geologic structure and the Cascadia Subduction Zone off our coast drive home the point that sur- vival for many depends on preparation and planning. Some communities are moving forward with preparations to locate schools and other facilities out of the tsunami zone while others are bogged down with budget- ary constraints and apparent failure to grasp the seriousness of the situation. This is a sobering look at not only Oregon’s seismic situation, but our response to disaster pre- paredness especially on the coast. The video at www.obp.org/news/series/ unprepared, runs about an hour, and it is time well spent. ______________________ Dave Robinson is the postmaster in Bandon, Ore., and author of “Disaster Prep for the Rest of Us.” He may be contacted at disasterprep.dave@gmail.com. Visit his website for more disaster preparedness tips, www.disasterprepdave.blogspot.com. MOMENTS IN TIME The History Channel • On Oct. 28, 1886, the Statue of Liberty, a gift of friendship from the people of France, is dedicated in New York Harbor as the last cop- per rivet is fitted. The dismantled Statue of Liberty had arrived 16 months earlier in more than 200 packing cases. • On Oct. 29, 1925, Dominick Dunne, chronicler of high-profile crimes, is born. Dunne reported on the 1995 O.J. Simpson dou- ble-homicide trial and provided TV commen- tary about the case. He was stunned when the former football star was acquitted. • On Oct. 30, 1938, Orson Welles, age 23, causes a nationwide panic with his broadcast of “War of the Worlds” — a realistic radio drama- tization of a Martian invasion of Earth. “War of the Worlds” was not planned as a radio hoax, and Welles had little inkling of the havoc it would cause. • On Nov. 1, 1941, President Franklin Roosevelt announces that the U.S. Coast Guard will be under the direction of the U.S. Navy, a transition of authority usually reserved only for wartime. Five weeks later, Japan would attack the U.S. at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. • On Oct. 31, 1957, the Japanese car compa- ny Toyota establishes its U.S. headquarters in California to begin selling its inexpensive Toyopet Crown sedans. A sensation in Japan, it flopped in the U.S. The car was too small for many American drivers, guzzled gas and oil, and shook at freeway speeds. • On Oct. 26, 1984, in Loma Linda, California, Dr. Leonard Bailey performs the first baboon-to-human heart transplant, replac- ing 14-day-old Baby Fae’s defective heart. Baby Fae survived for 20 days, longer than any previous human recipient of an animal heart. LETTERS Right to remain honest First I want to say it has been my honor to protect and serve the Florence community for the better part of 17 years. In 17 years, I have never been in any trouble of any consequence, and my personnel file is full of praise and thanks from the people I have helped. In early September, during the Labor Day weekend, I committed my first and only poli- cy violation by going into a secure area that had been left unlocked. Out of curiosity, I entered the area. But, when it occurred to me that even as a supervisor I was not supposed to be in the area, I overreacted. The outcome of the investigation proved I did not break in nor was anything missing. I immediately realized that what I did was out of policy and looked for cameras. When I did not see cameras, I sent an email to another employee asking about them. I became embar- rassed about my actions, and the following morning I went to my supervisor’s house to tell him in person. I told him everything in complete honest detail. After he told his supervisor, an internal investigation was started by the city. Although the investigation revealed I had done nothing illegal, the city felt, because of the steps I took, I was a dishonest person. The city felt that I only revealed what I had done because of the response to my email. This is where I disagree with the city and maintain that despite my overreaction, I knew the only choice I had was to come forth. I asked the city to look at my past 17 years of service of honesty and integrity. The city returned with a decision to terminate me for being dishonest. I knew as a police officer we are held to a higher standard. From the beginning, I have maintained that I deserve some sort of punish- ment. The irony of the situation is that if I had not been completely honest in revealing what I had done, the city would not have anything to say I was dishonest about. Shawn Morgan Florence American flag program There are 10 holidays a year when American flags magically appear lining the streets of Florence. They are put out on both sides of Highway 101, Bay Street and several of our side streets including Kingwood. Over 400 flags are put out each holiday by a core of more than 20 volunteers from our local Kiwanis Club. The flag program is managed by the Florence Kiwanis Club and funded by local residents and businesses. An individual flag sponsorship costs $30 for the year, which is tax deductible as a donation to the Florence Kiwanis Foundation. The proceeds of the flag program are used to finance local youth projects, including col- lege scholarships for outstanding high school graduates, and grants to other youth-oriented projects in our community. Last year we raised and distributed over $12,000 in scholar- ships and grants. The next time you see the flags flying, think about the hundreds of kids they have helped over the years. You might want to be a spon- sor, or possibly a volunteer to help with the program; we are always looking for more sup- port. To get more information about our flag program or our club, contact us at flags@ florencekiwanis.org. Dick Shores Florence Thank you, Margaret In November 2001, the Siuslaw Public Library District was very lucky to welcome a brand-new staff member. Her name was Margaret Avery. If you have visited the Library any time since 2001, then you know Margaret. She has greeted you with a smile, checked out your items and helped you find what you need. Of course, even the best things come to an end, and Margaret will be retiring from the Siuslaw Public Library on Friday, Oct. 30. While she has already promised to be back as a volunteer, I know she will be greatly missed by the many patrons who have come to appre- ciate her warm presence and kind manner. So, if you have a few moments in the next week, please take a moment to stop in and wish Margaret good luck on the next phase of her life. We will also have a community card available for your signatures and comments as a way to wish Margaret the very best, and let her know how much she has meant to us all. Thanks, as always, for your support of the library. Meg Spencer, Director Siuslaw Public Library District • On Oct. 27, 1994, the U.S. Justice Department announces that the U.S. prison population has topped 1 million for the first time. The 1,012,851 men and women were in state and federal prisons, and did not include those incarcerated in local jails. (c) 2015 King Features Synd., Inc. L ETTERS TO THE E DITOR P OLICY The Siuslaw News welcomes letters to the editor concerning issues affecting the Florence area and Lane County. Emailed letters are preferred. Handwritten or typed letters must be signed. All letters should be limited to about 300 words and must include the writer’s full name, address and phone number for verification. Letters are subject to editing for length, grammar and clarity. Publication of any letter is not guaranteed and depends on space available and the volume of letters received. Libelous and anonymous letters as well as poetry will not be published. All submissions become the property of Siuslaw News and will not be returned. Write to: Editor@TheSiuslawNews.com USPS# 497-660 Copyright 2015 © Siuslaw News John Bartlett Jenna Bartlett Ryan Cronk Susan Gutierrez Cathy Dietz Ron Annis Jeremy Gentry Publisher, ext. 327 General Manager, ext. 318 Editor, ext. 313 Advertising Director, ext. 326 Office Supervisor, ext. 312 Production Supervisor Press Manager DEADLINES: Wednesday Issue—General news, Monday noon; Budgets, four days prior to publication; Regular classified ads, Monday 1 p.m.; Display ads, Monday noon; Boxed and display classified ads, Friday 5 p.m. Saturday Issue—General news, Thursday noon; Budgets, two days prior to publication; Regular classified ads, Thursday 1 p.m.; Display ads, Thursday noon; Boxed and display classified ads, Wednesday 5 p.m. Soundings, Tuesday 5 p.m. NEWSPAPER SUBSCRIPTION RATES: In Lane County — 1-year subscription, $71; 10-weeks subscription, $18; Out of Lane County — 1-year subscription, $94; 10-weeks subscription, $24; Out of State — 1-year subscription, $120; Out of United States — 1-year subscription, $200; E-Edition Online Only (Anywhere) — 1-year subscription, $65. Mail subscription includes E-Edition. Website and E-Edition: www.TheSiuslawNews.com WHERE TO WRITE Published every Wednesday and Saturday at 148 Maple St. in Florence, Lane County, Oregon. A member of the National Newspaper Association and Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association. Periodicals postage paid at Florence, Ore. Postmaster, send address changes to: Siuslaw News, P.O. Box 10, Florence, OR 97439; phone 541-997-3441; fax 541-997-7979. All press releases may be sent to PressReleases@TheSiuslawNews.com. Pres. Barack Obama The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW Washington, D.C. 20500 Comments: 202-456-1111 Switchboard: 202-456-1414 FAX: 202-456-2461 TTY/TDD Comments: 202-456-6213 www.whitehouse.gov Gov. Kate Brown 160 State Capitol 900 Court St. Salem, OR 97301-4047 Governor’s Citizens’ Rep. Message Line 503-378-4582 www.oregon.gov/gov U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden 221 Dirksen Senate Office Bldg Washington, DC 20510 202-224-5244 541-431-0229 www.wyden.senate.gov FAX: 503-986-1080 Email: Sen.ArnieRoblan@state.or.us U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley 313 Hart Senate Office Bldg Washington, DC 20510 202-224-3753/FAX: 202-228-3997 541-465-6750 State Rep. Caddy McKeown (Dist. 9) 900 Court St. NE Salem, OR 97301 503-986-1409 Email: rep.caddymckeown@state.or.us U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio (4th Dist.) 2134 Rayburn HOB Washington, DC 20515 202-225-6416/ 800-944-9603 541-269-2609/ 541-465-6732 www.defazio.house.gov State Sen. Arnie Roblan (Dist. 5) 900 Court St. NE - S-417 Salem, OR 97301 503-986-1705 West Lane County Commissioner Jay Bozievich 125 E. Eighth St. Eugene, OR 97401 541-682-4203 FAX: 541-682-4616 Email: Jay.Bozievich@co.lane.or.us