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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 21, 2008)
Page 14 The INDEPENDENT, February 21, 2008 Learn more about flood insurance From page 5 an example, if your home was built in the “A” zone in 1990, your premium will reflect the high flood risk. There are ways to reduce high premium rates, but they come with their own price tags. Raising your home a required amount above the “base flood elevation” (BFE is determined by the federal government), or moving it to a location that is safe according to the map, will reduce your premium rate, but both of these options are ex- pensive. Another consideration, one that we all need to be aware of, is that your flood insurance will not cover all of your losses. It is designed to cover about 80 percent of the recovery cost. Beyond this, there is the question of “substantial dam- age,” a designation that means your home was damaged to the extent that it is worth only 50 percent, or less, of its pre-flood value. This determination would trigger the ICC element of your flood insurance policy, providing funds to help with el- evating or relocating your home. Most of us, however, don’t want to wait for another flood, and there is no guaran- tee that your home would be designated as “substantially damaged.” Got a home to rent? Need to rent? Columbia County Flood Re- lief Center (CCFR) is interested in finding homeowners willing to rent homes that are current- ly for sale, to accomodate resi- dents displaced by the flood. Rental applications are available at the CCFR Center at 939 Bridge Street, for any- one who would like to rent a home in Vernonia while your damaged home is being re- paired. For more information, home- owners willing to rent and those needing a place to rent, should call Jill Hult at 503-369-5182. CCFR seeks heaters, paint, etc. Columbia County Flood Re- lief (CCFR) is asking those who are done with the free heaters to consider returning them to the donation center as there are still people in need of heaters to dry out homes. CCFR says there is a contin- uing need for volunteers. Do- nated supplies, such as; paint, brushes, rollers, and other wall finishing items could be put to good use in many households working on flood recovery now. Vernonia Flood Packages Carpet • Pad • Vinyl Free In-Home Estimates Professional Installation 503-936-3889 The Floor Covering Store 123 Engle Ave., Molalla CCB14369 Mention this ad at time of sale. Not good with other discounts or promotions Offer ends 3/31/08 lood ial F ith c e p w S ages Pack Number A FEM The Planning Commission public hearing on Flood Plain Ordinance adoption, held on Febru- ary 7 at the Vernonia Community Church, was held in front of a standing room only crowd. The ordinance, which outlines criteria for substantial damage determinations and what op- tions are available for those identified as having substantial damage was approved by Ver- nonia City Council later the same evening. Letters From page 3 stay. I don’t know what I would have done without them. I write this not to complain about the City/County, but with concern that lack of communi- cations in a life-threatening emergency is not serving public safety. Do you know how much has been spent on emergency services? I’m certain all of our officials, county and otherwise have spent boodles of tax dol- lars to attend these sessions with the slick brochures and ex- pensive training. (I’m certain because I have talked to folks who attended them.) I remem- ber an exercise Vernonia public safety people attended at the high school about 6 months ago. There were helicopters, police, etc. Quite an event. So did they learn anything? Where were they when we had a REAL emergency? Were they waiting for Al Qaeda to invade Vernonia? Here are my questions: 1. Why didn’t police notify residents in the flood area? They DID have time. With 5 po- licemen you would think a few of them could notify the affect- ed residents. Isn’t that what public safety is all about? 2. Since Fire knew we were to evacuate, why didn’t they use sirens? Water was not yet over the bank where I live. (At least they knew we were sup- posed to evacuate, thank you.) 3. I’ve been told that the County has a phone system that can automatically dial every resident in the County during an emergency. I’ll bet this was paid for with tax dol- lars in the form of a grant. Why didn’t they use it? 4. Why are the shelters lo- cated so if the streets/highway floods on either side – Nehalem or Rock Creek – people cannot get to shelters? I was never in- formed that there WAS a shel- ter at Lincoln School. The guys stopping traffic from going over the bridge at Rock Creek didn’t know that either. Just said I couldn’t get to the shelter up the hill. Again, a communica- tion breakdown. 5. Are not river measuring devices in effect and if not, why not? If so, was ANYONE moni- toring them? 6. Flood warnings were on the local news, on the National Weather Service. The flood wasn’t a TOTAL surprise. City and County emergency servic- es not having an action plan is. Where were they? Thank you to The Indepen- dent for such good information on the flood/FEMA, etc. I could- n’t attend any of the meetings because I didn’t have a place to stay here, so your recent is- sues were particularly helpful. There are a lot of you who lost more than I did. Please talk or write to the City counselors, the County Commissioners, or to The Independent . I hope it won’t flood again, but it could. Consider your comments on lack of communications as con- structive criticism. If we don’t speak up, we’ll never change anything. If there is another fast flood, we could drown in the middle of the night. To emergency personnel, both City and County, it is un- likely Al Qaeda will attack Ver- nonia. Our men and some women – loggers, hunters, women who know how to use firearms – would make short work of them. No, our threat is the Nehalem and Rock Creek. Our threat is City/County lack of coordination. So please, for- get all the meetings and the slick printed material; improve communications and prepare an action plan to protect us at home, save us from drowning if it floods at night. In closing, I want to tell you how I admire the volunteers in this town. I have never lived in a place with such spirit. You are amazing. You generous folks make this a wonderful place to live. God bless you. Mary Margaret Sykes Vernonia Please see page 20
