It has been way too long since I updated my web page, and I apologize for my procrastination. Life here at the Estacada Fire District offices have been very busy and at times there doesn’t seem to be enough hours in the day to get everything completed.
Mother Nature is at the top of my list of reasons why we at the Department have been so busy. The “Arctic Blast” followed by the monsoon type rains have kept us very busy this winter. This no doubt has been one for the record book. I have never seen so much water come down in this area in such a short period of time. It wasn’t the Clackamas River that was of most concern, but instead it was the small streams, storm drains, and ditches alongside roads
and driveways that had us scrambling to find more sand and bags to put it in. Several slides and flooded roadways cut communities off from help or egress. Many normal routes were impassable. One mud slide pushed a house off its foundation and into a tree; the resulting fire had crews working for over 3 hours. Extinguishment was not possible without putting firefighter’s safety in jeopardy from further earth movement so a defensive fire attack was initiated. As our crews and those from several neighboring departments returned to quarters in the wee hours of the morning on January 2, a blizzard of snow greeted the wet and tired firefighters. Fortunately the water receded as fast as it rose. January 1 through the 4th was declared a disaster in Clackamas County thus making federal funds available to those brave enough to transverse the paperwork.
If any lesson could be learned from this event I think it would be first and foremost; Estacada is a great place to live, with neighbors wanting and willing to help each other out when needed. As I surveyed the damage and recovery efforts I was impressed with the citizens doing whatever it took to clean up debris and open roadways. Your Public Works employees in the City got right on the work of restoring infrastructure and preventing any further property damage. Randy Ely, City Manager, immediately began hiring local contractors to supplement public work crews in clean up efforts. Portland area news crews broadcasted our state of emergency and before we knew it we had more volunteers than tasks for them to complete. The problem with large number of volunteers showing up on your doorstep is in ensuring the accountability and safety of each one of them and in knowing their abilities as well as their limitations.
Mother Nature is at the top of my list of reasons why we at the Department have been so busy. The “Arctic Blast” followed by the monsoon type rains have kept us very busy this winter. This no doubt has been one for the record book. I have never seen so much water come down in this area in such a short period of time. It wasn’t the Clackamas River that was of most concern, but instead it was the small streams, storm drains, and ditches alongside roads
and driveways that had us scrambling to find more sand and bags to put it in. Several slides and flooded roadways cut communities off from help or egress. Many normal routes were impassable. One mud slide pushed a house off its foundation and into a tree; the resulting fire had crews working for over 3 hours. Extinguishment was not possible without putting firefighter’s safety in jeopardy from further earth movement so a defensive fire attack was initiated. As our crews and those from several neighboring departments returned to quarters in the wee hours of the morning on January 2, a blizzard of snow greeted the wet and tired firefighters. Fortunately the water receded as fast as it rose. January 1 through the 4th was declared a disaster in Clackamas County thus making federal funds available to those brave enough to transverse the paperwork.If any lesson could be learned from this event I think it would be first and foremost; Estacada is a great place to live, with neighbors wanting and willing to help each other out when needed. As I surveyed the damage and recovery efforts I was impressed with the citizens doing whatever it took to clean up debris and open roadways. Your Public Works employees in the City got right on the work of restoring infrastructure and preventing any further property damage. Randy Ely, City Manager, immediately began hiring local contractors to supplement public work crews in clean up efforts. Portland area news crews broadcasted our state of emergency and before we knew it we had more volunteers than tasks for them to complete. The problem with large number of volunteers showing up on your doorstep is in ensuring the accountability and safety of each one of them and in knowing their abilities as well as their limitations.
Every citizen should be prepared to care for themselves and their family for 72 hours after a disaster strikes. Emergency services have stressed the importance of individuals being prepared for many years, and even teach classes to help you get ready for “the big one”. Taking an all hazard approach to preparedness will increase your family’s chances of coming through a catastrophic event unscathed. Contact our Department if you would like a formal class or brochure on how to prepare.
Be Safe!
Alan L. Hull, Fire Chief
