4 A
❘
SATURDAY EDITION
❘ MARCH 19, 2016
Siuslaw News
P.O. Box 10
Florence, OR 97439
DISASTER PREP
B Y D AVE R OBINSON
Special to the Siuslaw News
ne of the most vulnerable groups is
that of our “seasoned citizens.”
Whether it’s mobility issues, health
concerns or just simply the “alone factor,”
our seniors often have different needs than
the younger crowd.
This week’s column is provided especial-
ly for our seniors, although the information
is just as relevant for the post-boomer gen-
eration as well. As I have mentioned before,
when disaster occurs, the first responders
are overwhelmed. YOYO then becomes a
reality: You’re On Your Own.
The American Red Cross recommends
you create a Personal Support Network
made up of several folks who will check in
on you, ensure your wellness and give
assistance if needed. This network can con-
sist of friends, roommates, family members,
relatives, personal attendants, co-workers
and neighbors. Ideally, a minimum of three
people can be identified at each location
where you regularly spend time, for exam-
ple at work, home or volunteer site.
There are seven important items to dis-
cuss and implement with a personal support
network:
1. Make arrangements, prior to an emer-
gency, for your support network to immedi-
ately check on you after a disaster and, if
O
RYAN CRONK , EDITOR
❘ 541-902-3520 ❘
Opinion
Seasoned preppers
needed, offer assistance.
2. Exchange important keys.
3. Show them where you keep emergency
supplies.
4. Share copies of your relevant emer-
gency documents, evacuation plans and
emergency health information card.
5. Agree on and practice methods of con-
tacting each other in the event of an emer-
gency. Do not count on the telephones
working. (Dave’s note: Check out FRS
radios or consider sharing the cost of a
goTenna with someone; gotenna.com.)
6. You and your network should always
notify each other when you’re going to be
out of town and when you will return.
7. The relationship should be mutual.
You have a lot to contribute! Learn about
each other’s needs and how to help each
other in an emergency. You can even col-
laborate on making preparations to be
ready for a disaster.
The single most important thing anyone
can do to prepare for a disaster is to organ-
ize their neighborhood — and it doesn’t
cost a cent! Contacting your neighbors,
especially fellow seniors can build a sense
of community and camaraderie along with
an assurance that no one need to face adver-
sity alone. Introduce the topic at the Senior
Center, or your church group or the quilting
group. Collaborating on projects can not
only bring some peace of mind, but just
may bring some new friends into your life.
Keep in mind you may want to stock up
on certain medications. Most doctors are
sympathetic to your needs regarding plan-
ning for disaster and are willing to cooper-
ate by prescribing most maintenance med-
ications in advance. The difficult thing here
is to get your insurance to get on board with
that concept. So any advance preparations
you make in that regard may have to come
out of your own pocket.
Then, be sure to take special care to mind
the expiration dates on your meds. Also, try
to see your way clear to pick up an extra
pair of eyeglasses. Finally, some of us have
enough trouble keeping track of our glasses
even without a disaster, so adding a pair of
drugstore “cheaters” to your kit just might
not be a bad idea.
______________________
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.
LETTERS
Extraordinary person
AJ Brauer is indeed an extraordinary person
(“Extraordinary People,” March 9).
As a practicing physician, I have met sever-
al individuals during my 25 years in practice
who are truly inspiring, and he is one of them.
He has contributed to my philosophy and
practice as a friend and colleague.
Florence owes a great deal to this wonder-
ful doctor and person.
Bruce Watanabe, MD
Orthopedics, PeaceHealth Medical Group
Vote for Woody
I truly endorse Woody Woodbury for
Justice of the Peace of Lane County.
Woody has served in several leadership
roles, such as Chamber of Commerce presi-
dent for two years and was on the board for
seven. He served on the Florence Food Share
board, the Florence Urban Renewal Agency
board and Siuslaw Valley Fire and Rescue
board.
Woody supports many groups, including
the Boys and Girls Club of Western Lane
County, Power of Florence, PTA, Siuslaw
Athletic Booster Club and many others. In
2014, Woody received a special Distinguished
Service Award for his many acts of generosity
to the Florence community. Woody’s business,
Grocery Outlet, donates about 20,000 pounds
of food annually to Food Share.
Please vote for Woody. He is the hallmark
of a true leader, striving to make Florence a
better place.
Eric Tanikawa
Florence
Celebrating Shawn’s life
The people of Florence certainly knew how
to celebrate the life of Shawn Morgan, and
that’s just what they did last Saturday at the
high school. It was absolutely marvelous.
Hundreds of people stood in a long line to
pay their respects to this young man and his
family. For most of them, he was known as a
former police officer, but since he was 13,
Shawn was raised in Florence, so he was also
a classmate and friend.
EDITOR @ THESIUSLAWNEWS . COM
Atop a fire truck ladder in the front of the
school, the American Flag was flown on high,
as lights flashed on the truck. The crowd
walked between two lines of police officers
when they entered the school and made their
way to the gym, where they heard the lovely
strains of hymns being played on a handmade
wooden flute.
Near the end of the service, countless people
shared memories of times that they recalled dur-
ing Shawn’s lifetime, including moving recollec-
tions given by his two sons, Justin and Aaron.
The minister also read a letter that Shawn’s sister
Shanna had sent to Shawn.
The service concluded with a wonderful
slideshow of the 48 years of Shawn’s life.
Truly this was a glorious celebration of the life
of Shawn Eric Morgan, police officer and
friend.
Bonnie Schmoll
Florence
The butterfly effect
The big problems that overwhelm us take
up much of our emotional bandwidth these
days. We often feel powerless to change
things. But sometimes working on the small
things can create solutions and positive
changes for the future.
Overlooking the smaller details can obscure
larger effects as in the “butterfly effect” (“the
sensitive dependence on initial conditions in
which a small change in one ... system, can
result in large differences in a later state”). The
metaphor is a butterfly flapping its wings in
one place that can cause the action of a hurri-
cane in another.
As we populate the world, we struggle to
maintain our quality of life and tend to over-
look the necessary attention to basics. I was
reminded the other day when I planted crocus-
es. A large bumblebee began busily checking
out the stamens. I have seen no bees this
spring and was pleased to watch.
In a few minutes he suddenly fell over and
stopped moving, and I remembered I had
bought these plants at a local “box” store
where the plants have been treated with neon-
ics (short for neonicotinoids, found in Round-
up and Bayer treatments). They are ubiquitous
in home and agricultural uses.
According to the Texas A&M website: “New
research points to potential toxicity to bees and
other beneficial insects through low level con-
tamination of nectar and pollen with neonicoti-
noid insecticides used in agriculture.” And what
about butterflies and hummingbirds? Insects are
the source of food for many birds, and we are los-
ing our birds as well. Fewer birds, more insects,
more toxic chemicals, more toxic foods, more
health problems, etc. Shouldn’t we start where
we are and be more careful?
Thirty percent of our agricultural crops
depend on pollinators. Bees are a major neces-
sity. Without them, we lose much of our fruits,
nuts and flowering vegetables. Without those,
we may face food shortages, higher food
prices and a loss of what we need for good
health. This is one small example of how our
small actions have a much wider effect. On a
larger scale, we are dealing with cancerous
chemicals in our agricultural programs and in
aerial forest sprays.
At home we can make a difference: stop
using insecticides, plant bee-attracting plants,
control insects by attracting birds, plant with
good compost for stronger plants, grow your
own vegetables, and let’s get rid of the chem-
icals that pollute our water table and soil, and
which endanger our pollinators.
We need to find ways to work with nature,
not against it. We will all be better for it in the
long run. For more information on the toxic
chemicals on our produce and flowering
plants, go to organicconsumers.org.
Joann Henderson
Florence
Wonderful care
Florence was a pleasant coastal town with a
fine local hospital, we were told two years ago
while looking for a home. We had occasion to
learn that first hand recently when my wife
faced a life-threatening health event.
From the ambulance personnel to the emer-
gency room staff to the nurses and doctors in
the ICU, the general hospital and the walk-in
clinic, my wife has had wonderful care. She
continues to get better and better, every day.
Thank you, very much, PeaceHealth.
Stan Pusieski
Florence
YESTERDAY’S NEWS
MOMENTS IN TIME
The History Channel
On March 22, 1765, to raise funds to pay
off debts and defend the new American territo-
ries won from the French, the British govern-
ment passes the Stamp Act. It levied a tax on all
materials printed in the colonies, from newspa-
pers and pamphlets to playing cards and even
dice.
On March 25, 1911, the Triangle
Shirtwaist Company factory in New York City
burns down, killing 145 workers. Owners had
refused to install sprinkler systems and take
other safety measures in case they needed to
burn down the shop to collect fire insurance, a
not uncommon practice at the time.
On March 23, 1937, Craig Breedlove, the
first person to reach land speeds of up to 600
mph in a jet-powered vehicle, is born. He
designed a three-wheeled, rocket-shaped vehi-
cle powered by a surplus military jet engine and
dubbed it the Spirit of America.
On March 27, 1945, Nazi Germany
launches its last V-2 long-range rockets, killing
162 civilians in England and Belgium. The V-2
could carry a 2,000-pound warhead and
became the precursor of the ICBM of the post-
war era.
On March 26, 1953, American medical
researcher Dr. Jonas Salk announces that he has
successfully tested a vaccine against the virus
that causes polio. In 1952 — an epidemic year
for the crippling disease — there were 58,000
new cases reported in the U.S.
On March 21, 1965, in the name of black
voting rights, 3,200 civil-rights demonstrators,
led by Martin Luther King Jr., begin a historic
54-mile march from Selma, Alabama, to the
state capitol at Montgomery.
On March 24, 1989, the worst oil spill in
U.S. territory begins when the supertanker
Exxon Valdez runs aground on a reef in
Alaska’s remote Prince William Sound. An
estimated 11 million gallons of oil was released
and eventually covered 1,300 miles of coast-
line.
(c) 2016 King Features Synd., Inc.
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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