7A
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2017
Aya: Unusual sound also serves as a built-in education tool
Continued from Page 1A
“It’d been 21 years since the
last tsunami in 1964, and at the
time it seemed like a waste of
money to invest in alarms when
these events were so rare,” Aya
said.
But Aya remembers walk-
ing down the beach two days
after the vote and watching a
group of children building a
sandcastle at the edge of the
surf. With no adults watching
them, he wondered how these
kids would know about a tsu-
nami warning and how to get
to safety.
“All of this caused me to
worry whether we’d done the
right thing,” Aya said.
So Aya did research and dis-
covered the threat of a tsunami
hitting the Pacific Northwest
was much more likely than he
assumed. Before he knew it,
he was in charge of establish-
ing the town’s tsunami alarm
system.
Making the “moo”
Before moving to Cannon
Beach, Aya worked as a stat-
istician for a phone company,
gathering data about customer
service.
“I’ve always been pretty
mechanical, but no, I suppose I
didn’t have experience with this
type of stuff before,” Aya said.
To figure out what equip-
ment was needed, Aya reached
Photos by Colin Murphey/The Daily Astorian
LEFT: Equipment that controls the tsunami warning system in Cannon Beach occupies a room at the main fire station.
RIGHT: The equipment that controls the tsunami warning system in Cannon Beach has been upgraded over the years
to include digital components.
out to nuclear power plants,
which for years had relied on
sirens to warn surrounding
communities in case of a radio-
active accident. At $30,000
a pop, the fire district began
installing the 40-foot tall sirens
strategically around Cannon
Beach and Arch Cape.
But issues started to arise
when it came time to test the
sirens. Aya worried about how
the public would react after
hearing the loud alarms over
and over for multiple days. He
was concerned the town’s irri-
tation could politically hinder
the project.
“I was emailing with an
author friend of mine, who
is an arch-conservative guy,
about the problem. As a joke,
I thought because the acronym
for our system was COWS —–
for Community Warning Sys-
tem — that maybe we could
broadcast a mooing sound,”
Aya said. “He thought it was
hilarious, and I figured if some-
one serious like him thought
mooing was funny, maybe less
serious people would, too.”
Thirty years later, it’s Aya’s
voice people hear over the loud-
speaker letting them know “it’s
just a test,” and the prerecorded
“mooing” sound he found in a
BBC sound effects library.
While part of the value is
definitely for comedic effect,
Aya said, having an unusual
sound also serves as a built-in
education tool.
“When the monthly COWS
test is run, residents take it in
stride but often are amused by
how startled some visitors are
over the loud mooing,” Aya
said. “So they inquire in shops
and restaurants, where they
learn that the testing is to warn
of an impending tsunami.”
Cannon Beach’s system
was one of the first of its kind
by 1988, and places like the
Hanford Nuclear Reservation,
Depoe Bay and Port Alberni,
British Columbia, all modeled
similar community warning
systems after Cannon Beach.
“They don’t moo, though,”
Aya said.
‘Now far safer’
Aya is no longer involved
with maintaining the warning
system. But over the decades
he served on the fire district’s
board, the changes he wit-
nessed in tsunami and earth-
quake safety technology have
been substantial.
What has made the largest
difference has been improved
seismic detection systems. In
the mid-1980s, it was board
policy to evacuate local hazard
areas if any kind of ground dis-
turbance was felt. According to
Aya’s records, evacuations of
this kind have happened four
times since 1989.
Today, the National Tsu-
nami Warning Center can alert
communities within a few
minutes of a dangerous oce-
anic event. The data is detailed
enough to inform communities
if a tsunami is on its way. But
when Aya first started, it could
have taken up to 45 minutes to
get an advisory faxed, which
is an issue when on average it
only takes about 20 minutes
after an earthquake for a tsu-
nami to arrive.
Since Aya’s tenure, board
member Garry Smith said the
fire district has updated sirens
to use digital technology, and
is looking to install two more
COWS by Hug Point and Arca-
dia Beach when funds allow.
But much of how the system
runs today is thanks to Aya’s
work.
“If it hadn’t been for Al, we
wouldn’t have this system,”
Smith said. “Before this, we
had to evacuate the old-fash-
ioned way, driving the town
warning people. This is much
safer.”
Typically, warning sys-
tems are managed by county
governments rather than local
fire districts, Smith said. But
Cannon Beach fights to keep
the system they built on their
own.
“If we have a major event,
and we directly get a notifica-
tion from the National Weather
Service, we want to get out the
message as fast as possible,”
Smith said. “Sometimes the
county waits longer to make a
decision than we would.”
Ultimately, Aya said, tsu-
nami preparedness is built
household by household
through education and plan-
ning, no matter how many
sirens are “mooing.”
“But overall,” Aya said, “I
would say people on the coast
are now far safer than they were
three decades ago.”
CLASSIFIEDINDEX
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Special Notices ............................. 104 Boats for Sale................................. 251
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Announcements .......................... 110 Boats Wanted ................................ 257
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PERSONALS
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Lots & Found ................................. 181 Boat/RV Storage ........................... 269
Personals ........................................ 184
Fund-raisers ................................... 188 RVs & Trailers
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AUTOMOTIVE
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107 Public Notices
The City of Astoria’s Parks
and Recreation Department
is seeking bids for tree
removal and replacement
work in our parks.
Qualified contractors may
contact Jonah Dart-McLean,
Parks Maintenance
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204 Automobiles
251 Boats for Sale
2017 27 LOA Xtaero XT24DV
Long Cabin Twin Outboard
New semi-custom aluminum
builder seeks demo owner on
OR, WA, CA coast to
showcase newest twin
outboard model. Features
stand up helm, deep cockpit,
welded self bailing deck,
deep-vee design.
Outstanding Alaska
customer reviews. Visit
www.xtaeroboats.com
for more information.
Tacoma, WA.
Call 907-342-2141
504 Homes for Sale
New Patient Special
Dr. Stephanie White is inviting
you to her practice to receive
the highest quality care for
your dental needs.
Mention this Ad and receive a
Free Electric Toothbrush!
Schedule Today!!
503-738-9273
3965 HWY 101 N.
Gearhart, OR 97138
www.gearhartdentistry.com
Email:
frontdesk@gearhartdentistry.com
We also offer our own
in-house insurance plan
(featured under Ilumitrac, on
our website)
Special applies to new
patients that receive a
comprehensive exam.
Special expires 12/31/17
SPECIALTY
SERVICES
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PROFESSIONALS ADVERTISING IN
T HE D AILY A STORIAN S PECIALTY
S ERVICES . T O PLACE YOUR S PECIALTY
S ERVICES AD , CALL 325-3211.
PETS/LIVESTOCK
House 4 bed, 2.5 bath home
on 1/3 acre in city. Minutes
from schools & town. Custom
built & thoughtfully designed.
All walls constructed
w/earthquake bracing. 2 full
wood burning FP. LR
w/vaulted ceiling. Formal
office+library. Wooden
feature walls. Barn wood
entrance. Huge master
suite w/private patio. Formal
dining+kitchen eating nook.
Multiple decks, indoor sauna
w/shower. Full 2 car garage
or potential shop.
Designated 3-4 additional
parking cove. Quiet dead
end street. Schedule a
showing today! $282,900.
MLS#17666098
Lea Chitwood.
See at: 970 Tichenor St,
Clatskanie, OR
503-730-4554
https://rem.ax/2zu3dlo
leachitwood@remax.net
WE GETRESULTS
Animal Boarding .......................... 701
Feed-Hay-Grain ............................ 704
Pets & Supplies ............................. 710
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DANIELLE
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BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES TV & Electronics ........................... 811
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Childcare/Adult Care .................. 661 Medical Equip. & Supply ........... 866
Services ........................................... 664 Farm Equipment .......................... 923
504 Homes for Sale
2007 Cadillac DTS
4-door
50,000 miles
In perfect condition.
$13k-Firm
503-440-9257
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110 Announcements
Properties for Rent ............. 601-613
Rooms & Roommates................. 616
Commercial Rental ...................... 619
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THE DEADLINE FOR CLASSIFIED ADS
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525 Commercial
Property
Astoria: 3925 Abbey Lane,
800 SF and up.
Starting at $.50/SF and up.
(503)440-6945
PUBLISHER’S NOTICE
604 Apartments
All real estate advertising in
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Seaside: Riverview, 2
bedroom, 1 bath
Washer/dryer, carport.
$875 per month+deposit.
DNC Rental Properties
(503)791-2855
Go.
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ERROR AND CANCELLATIONS
Please read your ad on the first day.
Astoria, 222 Alameda.
1 bedroom
$700-$750+deposit. Hot
water included.
No pets/smoking.
References.
503-680-4210
Serene Cannon Beach Studio
in Forest setting. Small
kitchenette, walk to town.
Parking for one car. Fully
furnished.
$1200/month, $1200 deposit
Utilities included.
425-922-6329
613 Houses
651 Help Wanted
651 Help Wanted
Part-Time Employment
Ashore Hotel, a fun and
hip hotel, is hiring
housekeepers! Great pay
and benefits! Seaside, OR.
206-226-0355
rebecca@adrifthotel.com
Seaside School District
is seeking a dependable
self-starter w/tech skills for:
Part-Time Employment
Cook position available.
Pay DOE.
OR Food Handlers Required
Seaside, OR.
503-738-7700
teresa@awakeningsbythesea.
com
SHOP LOCAL!
Check the Business Directory
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in The Daily Astorian.
To place an ad in our Business
Directory, call 503-325-3211.
The Portway is looking for
an experienced cook.
Full-time/year round.
Please apply in
person at the Portway
422 West Marine Drive,
Astoria. No phone calls
please.
Customer Service
Representative/data entry/
dispatcher wanted for local oil
distributer. Full-time position
with benefits. Must have phone
and data entry skills. Starting
wage $13.00-$13.50/hour.
Resume to P.O. Box 1068
Astoria, OR 97103
Artistic Cannon Beach
Vacation Home available
for longer-term rental.
Housekeeping, Front Desk,
Maintenance positions
available.
Beautifully appointed four
bedroom main home with
detached office/studio. Walk
to town and beaches,
peekaboo view.
$2500 month,
utilities included.
Photos cannot describe the
serenity and ambiance of this
home. A must see. Owned by
nationally collected, Cannon
Beach artist, Miska
425-922-6329
Full/Part-time positions.
Must be 18 and valid
driver’s license required
and no SR22s.
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Two great retail spaces for
rent separate or together
402SF+303SF
255 N. Hemlock.
Next to Distillery. Cannon
Beach, OR.
360-608-3109
FIND IT, TELL IT, SELL IT!
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619 Commercial
Rental
Applications may be picked
up and returned at:
Inn of the Four Winds
820 N. Prom.
Seaside Oregon
Cashier/Clerk
Looking for full-time and
part-time employees.
Accepting application
for honest, friendly,
self-motivated.
Starting pay $11 per hour.
Benefits for full-time
employment after 6 Months.
Pre Employment Drug
screening required.
Applications available at
Bud’s RV in Gearhart
4412 Hwy. 101 North
Gearhart, OR 97138
www.DailyAstorian.com
BOOKKEEPER/ATHLETIC
SECRETARY
at Seaside High School.
Great work environment
and EXCELLENT benefits!
Visit our employment page
for more information and to
apply:
www.seaside.k12.or.us/
employment
or (503 )738-5591
The District is an EOE
SERVICE &
DELIVERY TECH
Ferrellgas is looking for a
full time Service & Delivery
Tech in Long Beach, WA.
Requirements: HS
Diploma, previous install
work, plumbing or gas
fitting license. pref.,
Class A or B CDL
w/hazmat/tanker
Apply online at
Ferrellgas.com/Careers
EOE/AAP/M/F/D/V
ADVERTISERS who want quick
results use classified ads regularly.
MCMENAMINS GEARHART
HOTEL
is NOW HIRING a
FRONT DESK AGENT!
What we need from you: An
open and flexible schedule,
including days, evenings,
weekends and holidays.
Previous experience is
preferred, but we are willing
to train! A love of working in
a busy, customer
service-oriented
environment.
Seasonal and Long term
positions are available.
Interested in a career in the
hospitality industry? We
offer opportunities for
advancement as well as an
excellent benefit package to
eligible employees,
including vision, medical,
chiropractic, dental and
so much more!
Apply online 24/7 at
mcmenamins.com or stop
by the Sand Trap Pub and
Gearhart Hotel, and fill out an
application. EOE