City’s draft evac plan released for public
Nuu-kwii-daa-naa-ye
By Amber Deyo newsguardeditor@countrymedia.net
After many people were required to evacuate last year, the City of Lincoln City now has a draft of an evacuation plan for the city council to review and possibly adopt. But before it goes to the council, Ken Murphy, Emergency Preparedness Coordinator, is putting it out for residents to review and comment. “Obviously after the fires last year, there was a need for it,” Murphy said. “But there’s plenty of other things to cause people to have to evacuate.” The plan covers fires, tsunamis, chlorine leaks, and bridge collapses as they are some of the more likely emergency scenarios in the area. Available on the home page of the city website, the 30-day window for public comment ends on August 31. An important aspect of getting feedback is that residents will be more likely to read it. He has already received emails and calls and appreciates all of the feedback. “I want them to be familiar with it and look at all the pieces and parts,” Murphy said. Murphy said two of the most important parts in the plan include the maps of town and the routes available around bridge failures and the information about radio stations and Lincoln Alerts. “You have to have multiple sources to know what’s going on,” he said. “We’re a very busy society and using these little tools will hopefully give you an edge to make you ready.” While he’s signed up for FEMA alerts, tsunami alerts and alerts from the National Weather Service, he encourages everyone to at least sign up for Lincoln alerts, which residents can do at www.co.lincoln.or.us/ alerts. “Today’s preparations will determine the outcome in an emergency situation,” Murphy said. “It’s never too late to start preparing yourself and your family for emergencies.” He said one thing to keep in mind is that disasters don’t discriminate. Last year, he had to evacuate his family, so he wasn’t able to provide support for others. People need to know what they should do if they have to evacuate, and they also need to know what
See DRAFT PLAN, Page 2
NLFR District #1 to host By Amber Deyo newsguardeditor@countrymedia.net
PHOTO BY AMBER DEYO
In 2018, this tree, located in Regatta Park, was named “Nuu-kwii-daa-naa-ye”, which is “Our Ancestor” in Siletz Dee-ni language—to honor its importance to communities past and present. On August 19, 2021, it will be dedicated as an Oregon Heritage Tree. The ceremony is open to the public and will take place at 2 p.m. See article on page 9 for details.
Prior to the almost $4 million dollar remodel that began in March of 2019, no part of the Bob Everest Station 14 had a sprinkler system. Rob Dahlman, Fire Chief for North Lincoln Fire & Rescue District #1, is a proponent of residents having sprinkler systems in their homes if at all possible, but there wasn’t even a system at the fire house. Now, they not only have a sprinkler system, but also a security system, a generator, solar panels, an elevator, an energy efficient furnace system with air scrubbers and so much more. In addition to an almost $1 million seismic rehabilitation grant from the state, the cost for the remodel was primarily paid for with a bond from 2018. There were three buildings including the original station that was built in 1964, another section that was built in 1975 and another built in 1991 that were all combined to make one large building. They have training rooms, individual bunk rooms and living quarters for three firefighters on each shift, and a little room to grow. They are now able to store their gear in one room and have a much-needed decontamination room. As firefighters have a greater risk of cancer than the general population, having machines that will wash out carcinogens helps protect them. Another safety measure was to add hose attachments that attach to the exhaust pipe of the trucks in the bays and directs it outside, so that when the trucks are running, they aren’t exposing everyone in the garage to carcinogens. Because the station is a public building, they were required to make sure everything complies with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations, including the elevator. The size of the project required them to improve the sidewalks. Dahlam said the requirements from the Oregon Department of Transportation and City of Lincoln City added another $750,000 to the price tag. One aspect of the project that has been a money saver is a reduction in operational
See FIRE HOUSE, Page 3
Upward COVID curve is getting pretty steep Cheri Brubaker Guest Contributor
In her update to the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners at its regular meeting August 2, Interim Public Health Director Florence Pourtal indicated COVID-19 cases are trending up at a rapid pace, and the Delta variant — more transmissible and more severe — is picking up and taking over against other variants. Cases more than doubled
from May to July and cases more than doubled from the first two weeks of July to the last two weeks, Pourtal told Board Chair Hunt and Commissioner Claire Hall. Commissioner Kaety Jacobson was excused. Following the meeting, 17 new cases were reported in the county for August 2, 11 for August 3 and 19 for August 4 leading up to press time. As of Thursday, August 5, hospitalizations due to COVID-19
across Oregon rose to COVID-19 rose to 422, 133 of those in intensive care unit beds. “The upward curve is getting pretty steep,” Pourtal said. With the Delta variant three times more transmissible than seen in the past, Pourtal compared its ease of transmission to the chicken pox. Early in the pandemic, if somebody got the virus they were able to transmit it to two or 2.5 people. With the new variant, one people
can infect eight, and each of those can infect eight more. “It can go pretty fast,” Pourtal said. “We knew the vaccine was really, really good at protecting us against severe disease, hospitalization and death, but some virus can get through some people. We didn’t know until last week that vaccinated people who get infected with COVID can also transmit the virus at the same level an unvaccinated person can,” Pourtal
added. “The person doesn’t have to be symptomatic to be able to pass that virus along to others.” The severity of the disease seems to increase also. Pourtal cited data from two studies, one out of the United Kingdom, one out of Israel. Both countries had vaccines in place. In the United Kingdom, the mask mandate was maintained. In Isreal, it was not. The vaccines in both contexts
See COVID CURVE, Page 3
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