16
D ISASTER P REPARATION • N OV . 2, 2016
W ERE
YOU READY IN
O CTOBER ? H OW
ABOUT NOW ?
C
ome to the Be
Ready Disaster
Preparedness Expo
to share your preparedness
actions taken in response
to the Oct. 15 Severe Wind
Warning issued by the
National Weather Service
(NWS) in Portland.
There has been some media
criticism that NWS overreacted,
but Category II hurricane force
winds passed by Florence 30
miles to the west, according to
Chris Nation, NBC Weather
Forecaster in Eugene.
In his worst-case scenario fore-
cast, this typhoon remnant could
have intensified, similar to the
typhoon Frieda remnant that dev-
astated the Pacific Northwest
with Category V hurricane force
winds on Oct. 12, 1962.
After you consider the steps
you took to prep for the storm —
checking your gutters, boarding
up windows, stocking up on fuel,
food and necessities — take a
moment to view the trees located
in the southwest quadrant of your
home and/or business.
None of the trees, which
attracted so many of us to the
Florence area, have root systems
that would keep the trees from
falling during Category II hurri-
cane force winds.
The NWS calculates the fre-
quency rate for these “severe
wind events” as occurring on a
10-year average. Consider your
trees. Are these trees more
important than your personal
safety and the ability to “shelter
in place” (in your own home)
when the next storm comes
ashore?
These severe wind events are
the highest probability disaster
which we must be prepared for.
By definition, disaster means
that so many of your neighbors
will be affected and available
motel rooms will be filled. Many
will have to endure survival in a
shelter for as much as 2-3 weeks
before electricity is restored and
debris has been cleared.
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