Be Prepared; Rain Helps Fires; Uniforms Stolen; Coast Guard Evacs Heart Patient

Be Ready Expo

The Be Ready Expo is this Saturday from 10 to 2 at the Florence event center, and this year the focus is again on preparedness, but the amount of preparedness required has been increased after a statewide panel of Emergency responders and State leaders have determined that in the event of a large scale disaster wait times may be increased for emergency response.  Chief Tom Turner:

“We may not be on the top of the list depending on what else is going for us so we definitely have to be ready to care for ourselves.”

The be ready expo is designed in part to create awareness of the potential hazards but also to ensure that the community is at least making smart decisions and creating a plan of action.  Chief Turner says the event is the best ticket in town:

“There is no cost initially for the admission coming in.  there will be vendors there with all sorts of retail equipment which of course is for sale, but then there is a lot of free advice and information there for anyone who comes.”

The event is this Saturday at the FEC beginning at 10 am.

Rain Brings Welcomed Relief

Fire officials say the rains that have visited us since Sunday have not been enough to signal the end of the fire season.  The Oregon department of Forestry has issued fire levels that are low to moderate across the state, but fires continue to burn.  Areas around the Chetco Bar Fire are expected to receive more than an inch of rain according to forecasts which should help firefighters who are continuing to improve their control over the blaze.  Continued rain and higher humidity will also help efforts.  Other parts of the state are expecting warmer temperatures and lower humidity which could mean increased fire activity for areas east of Eugene and near sisters.

Uniforms Stolen

Several Marion County Sheriff’s office uniforms were stolen from a vehicle in Lane county.  Lane County Sheriff’s office is asking anyone with information about the theft to contact them.  In addition they are concerned that these uniforms may be used to impersonate a sheriff’s deputy and ask citizens to be aware.

Coast Guard to the Rescue

The Coast Guard rescued a man suffering from heart attack like symptoms from a cruise ship 45 miles off the coast of Newport, Oregon, Wednesday.  A Coast Guard Air Facility Newport MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew successfully hoisted the man and transported him to Samaritan Pacific Hospital in Newport for further medical care.  Coast Guard Sector Columbia River Watchstanders received the request for help from the captain of the cruise ship stating that the 79-year-old man was suffering from a potential heart attack. Watchstanders consulted the duty flight surgeon who recommended the medevac.