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.
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E DITOR P OLICY
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All submissions become the property of
Siuslaw News and will not be returned.
Write to:
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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