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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 24, 2018)
WORLD Wednesday, October 24, 2018 East Oregonian Page 7A Category 3 Hurricane Willa packs 120 mph winds By MARCO UGARTE Associated Press MAZATLAN, Mexico — Hurricane Willa swept onto Mexico’s Pacific mainland with 120 mph winds Tuesday evening, threatening a major resort area along with fishing vil- lages and farms after roar- ing over an offshore penal colony. The U.S. National Hurri- cane Center said in an eve- ning bulletin that the eye of the dangerous Category 3 storm was about to make landfall, and little variation in strength was expected beforehand. It warned people not to venture outside during “the relative calm of the eye, since hazardous winds will suddenly increase” as it passes. The storm’s core was hit- ting a stretch of coast about 50 miles south of Mazatlan, a resort city that is home to high-rise hotels and about 500,000 people, including many U.S. and Canadian expatriates. Alberto Hernandez, a hotel worker in Teaca- pan, close to where the storm was making landfall, expressed confidence that the building would hold up. He and his son, who also works at the hotel, were staying on the job, though the rest of his family had left the area. “We’ve had rain all day. There is nobody in the streets. Everything is closed,” Hernandez said. “But not everyone wanted to leave, even though authorities made it clear that he who stays does so at his own peril.” Torrential rains began in the afternoon, and emer- gency officials said they evacuated more than 4,250 people in coastal towns and set up 58 shelters ahead of the dangerous storm. The storm also battered the Islas Marias, a group AP Photo/Marco Ugarte Tourists from Oregon play cards as they wait out Hurricane Willa in a temporary shelter, in Mazatlan, Mexico, on Tuesday. Willa was headed toward a collision with a stretch of Mexico’s Pacific coast, its strong winds and high waves threatening high-rise resorts, surfing beaches and fishing villages. AP Photos/Marco Ugarte Left: Clouds move in over Mazatlan, Mexico, on Tuesday before the arrival of Hurricane Willa. Willa was headed toward a collision with a stretch of Mexico’s Pacific coast, its strong winds and high waves threatening high-rise resorts, surfing beaches and fishing villages. Right: A surfer rides a wave in Mazatlan, Mexico, on Tuesday before the arrival of Hurricane Willa. of Mexican islands about 60 miles off the main- land that include a nature preserve and a federal prison. Federal authori- ties declined to comment on precautions that were taken at the prison, citing security concerns. As Willa closed in, the beach in Mazatlan almost disappeared, with waves slamming against the coastal boulevard under looming black clouds. A few surfers took advan- tage of the high waves even as workers boarded up windows on hotels, shops and homes. Schools were closed and the streets nearly empty. Some families went to a Mazatlan convention cen- ter, which opened its doors as a shelter. They spread out blankets along the walls and waited for the storm. “The house we’re liv- ing in is not well built,” said Sergio Ernesto Meri Franco, who rents a studio apartment. The federal government issued a decree of “extraor- dinary emergency” for 19 municipalities in Nayarit and Sinaloa states. Bob Swanson, who is from Saskatchewan, Can- ada, and spends two to six months of the year in his house in the Cerritos neigh- borhood near the shore in Mazatlan, said he filled his washing machine with water, filled his home fuel tank and gassed up his car in case he needs to head into the mountains for safety. “I’m kind of waiting with bated breath,” he said over the phone, adding that he was sitting on his porch and smoking a cigarette. Hurricane-force winds extended 35 miles from Willa’s center, and tropical storm-force winds were felt up to 115 miles out. Forecasters said the hur- ricane could bring 6 to 12 inches of rain — with up to 18 inches in some places — to parts of Jalisco, Nayarit and Sinaloa states, with flash flooding and land- slides possible in mountain- ous areas. Farther to the south, the remnants of Tropi- cal Storm Vicente contin- ued to bring heavy rain that caused deadly flooding and mudslides. Federal disas- ter agency chief Luis Felipe Puente said 11 people died as a result of Vicente. Local officials earlier put the fig- ure at 12. FREE EVENT! Veterans are twice as likely as civilians to die by suicide, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs. They make up more than 14 percent of all suicides, although they account for only 8 percent of the total population. Suicide is a subject many are afraid to talk about or even acknowledge. But how do we not talk about one of the leading causes of death? Each year, suicides claim the lives of 44,000 people in the United States alone. It’s the third leading cause of death for children between ages 10 and 14, and the second leading cause of death for people between 15 and 34. CALL MORROW COUNTY VETERANS SERVICES FOR MORE INFORMATION 541-922-6420 PROTECTIVE FACTORS Protective factors are characteristics that make a person less likely to engage in suicidal behavior. Moreover, protective factors can promote resilience and ensure connectedness with others during difficult times, thereby making suicidal behaviors less likely. • Effective clinical care for mental, physical and substance use disorders • Easy access to a variety of clinical interventions • Restricted access to highly lethal means of suicide • Strong connections to family and community support • Support through ongoing medical and mental health care relationships • Skills in problem solving, conflict resolution and handling problems in a non-violent way • Cultural and religious beliefs that discourage suicide and support self-preservation Warning Signs WARNING SIGNS • The warning signs of suicide are indicators that a person may be in acute danger and may urgently need help. • Talking about wanting to die or to kill oneself; • Looking for a way to kill oneself; • Talking about feeling hopeless or having no purpose; • Talking about feeling trapped or being in unbearable pain; • Talking about being a burden to others; • Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs; • Acting anxious, agitated, or reckless; • Sleeping too little or too much; • Withdrawing or feeling isolated; • Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge; and • Displaying extreme mood swings. If you or someone you know is in crisis, call 1-800-833-1161 1-800-273-8255 We can all help prevent suicide. The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals. OR Text SIGNS to 741741 for 24/7, anonymous, free crisis counseling. VETERANS: If you’re a Veteran in crisis or you’re concerned about one, responders at the Veterans Crisis Line text-messaging service (text to 838255) offer help that can make a difference. Caring, qualified VA responders are standing by to provide free and confidential support — 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year — even if you’re not registered with VA or enrolled in VA health care. Responders will work with you to get through any personal crisis. Privacy Policy-The Veterans Crisis Line text-messaging service does not store mobile phone numbers of users who access information via text message (SMS). We do not collect any personally identifiable information about users without their permission. Any personally identifiable information collected with the user’s consent will never be shared with other users of the system nor will they be distributed outside the system, unless required by law. Message Rates-The Veterans Crisis Line text-messaging service does not charge for texting to 838255. Message and data rates may apply. Call 911 or the emergency service in your country if you see or hear the following: • Someone threatening to hurt or kill him/herself or talking about wanting to die. • Especially if the person has a weapon or item to hurt himself/herself. • Searching for ways to kill him/herself by seeking access to lethal means- whether that is online or physically in the moment of despair. • Someone talking, writing, or posting on social media about death and suicide when these actions are out of the ordinary for the person. SPECIAL THANKS TO: Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs, Domestic Violence Services, Community Counseling Services, Walla Walla VA Medical Center, Columbia River Health Care, Morrow County Health District, Boardman Senior Center, Tillamook Creamery and others.