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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 16, 2020)
30 Wednesday, September 16, 2020 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon Coronavirus complicates evacuations By Rebecca Boone and Sara Cline Associated Press SALEM (AP) 4 Tens of thousands of people have been forced to flee their homes as destructive wildfires roar across the West Coast, and many of them could end up in shelters, raising poten- tial health risks during the coronavirus pandemic. The shelters9 impact on public health is <an unusu- ally important and under- researched topic,= said Karl Kim, executive direc- tor of the National Disaster Preparedness Training Center, which trains first responders. <People are really scrambling right now to figure out how this affects the guidance and messaging and so forth.= Large disaster response o rg a n i z a t i o n s l i k e t h e American Red Cross are requiring masks and trying to keep evacuees at least 6 feet (2 meters) apart, but it can be difficult for people already reeling from a disaster to con- sistently follow the rules. Kathy Gee, 68, has dia- betes and other conditions that make her vulnerable to the virus, but that didn9t kept her from evacuating from her farm in Molalla, Oregon, to a shelter in Portland. <If it9s going to happen, it9s going to happen. I9m tough,= she said. <I9ve survived lots of things. I can survive that.= At the Oregon State Fairgrounds in the capital of Salem, groups of maskless evacuees gathered in a park- ing lot and a barn Friday, talk- ing about the unprecedented wildfires that have destroyed an area greater than the size of Rhode Island. Volunteers wearing disposable masks walked from group to group, taking down their information and asking what they need for the days ahead. Signs plastered the doors of the exposition center, where cots were set up, with safety guidelines for both wildfires and the pandemic. Inside, nearly everyone wore masks, likely because vol- unteers manning the door reminded them to do so. The fires in California, Oregon and Washington state have killed several people and left dozens missing. In the three states, 6,300 are already in emergency Red Cross shel- ters and hotels and as many as 50,000 more could be before the blazes are under control, said Brad Kieserman, vice president of disaster opera- tions and logistics for the American Red Cross. Normally, they9d be gath- ering in school gymnasiums and meeting halls, sleeping on cots and eating at buffet lines, all provided by orga- nizations like the Red Cross, Salvation Army and other faith and community groups. But because COVID-19 is airborne and easily spread in close quarters, gathering places are potential hotbeds of transmission. That9s got disas- ter assistance groups taking a different approach. <Noncongregate shelters is a new pandemic thing,= Kieserman said. <The last thing we want to have hap- pen is people to remain in the path of a wildfire or hurricane because they think it9s safer to do that than risk a shelter.< The Red Cross is trying to prevent the virus from spread- ing at shelters by regularly testing staffers, cleaning and disinfecting often, requiring masks and screening evacu- ees for signs of illness. Those who are sick or have symp- toms are sent to special isola- tion shelters. When possible, displaced residents are sent to hotels instead of group shel- ters. Instead of buffet lines, box lunches are delivered. <We9re not using a gym, we9re renting a hotel room at 120 dollars a night. And hotels charge for parking 4 it9s all those things you never think about during a disaster,= Kieserman said. In central California, where thousands of residents had to flee the Creek Fire, more than 1,200 evacuees are staying at 30 hotels, said Tony Briggs with the Red Cross in Fresno. In group shelters, plastic pipes strung with clear shower curtains are being used to separate evacuees but allow them to see out from their socially distanced areas. Mass evacuations of this scale are incredibly difficult, said Kim, who9s also director of the Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance Program at the University of Hawaii. Generally, he said evacu- ees either leave early and quickly or aren9t as mobile and require some help get- ting out. They might decide to wait it out longer and also are more likely to need shelters, he said. Some of them could be at greater risk of COVID- 19 complications. In Oregon, group shelters are set up at churches, col- leges, and community build- ings, while malls, golf courses and other businesses opened parking for evacuees who can stay in recreational vehicles. It will likely be weeks before officials know if the evacuations contributed to the virus spreading, and even then, it may be difficult to tell as families scatter to new locations. Backs to Indian Ford Meadow! 15868 W. Meadow Lane Updated 4-bedroom, 3-bath, 5,361 sq. . ft. home on 1.16 acres. Entertainment room with kitchen area/large screen/ projector and sound system – great for entertaining! Close to Sisters. Just 1/4 mile from Deschutes National Forest! $989,000. MLS#220105960 Sheila Reifschneider, Broker, 541-408-6355 Licensed Broker in Oregon | sheila@reedbros.com Coldwell Banker Reed Bros. Realty 291 W. Cascade Ave. | 541-549-6000 LETTERS Continued from page 2 Anger and hate is tearing this country apart. Who is bet- ter off for this? To quote Rodney King: Can9t we all just get along? Jean Nave s s s To the Editor In a time of intense crisis, fear, sickness, and unrest, I am so thankful for the people who have rallied together to serve others. I am thankful for all the men and women of law enforce- ment who stand guard to protect us. These men and women selflessly lay down their lives for complete strangers. I am thankful for all the medical professionals who open their doors and risk their own health to welcome those in need of physical care. I am thankful to the thousands of firefighters who coura- geously battle the wildfires and work tirelessly to keep our state beautiful and protect our homes. I am thankful to the local Christian pastors who know that eternal salvation through Jesus is humanity9s most essential need. They have vowed to keep their doors open to serve our community4proving that the church has never, nor ever will be closed. I am thankful for the friends and family who have endured these difficult times with patience and thoughtfulness as they seek to remain in community with one another. I am thankful to have an eternal hope in Jesus that no fire can destroy, no mask can hide, and no looter can steal. I am thankful to belong to an eternal kingdom whose king is not up for election. If you are isolated, scared, tired, or weary reach out for help. If your hope is resting on the results of November 3, I would urge you to place your hope in Christ 4 the only true savior. We don9t have to go through these times alone, there is much to be thankful for, and there is a hope that is unshakable. Jensen Newton s s s “Ross is an excellent Realtor and overall great guy! He communicates eff ectively and promptly and is professional and knowledgeable. Most importantly, he genuinely cares about his clients and strives to help them sell their home or fi nd a home within their budget that fi ts their needs! 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