Preparedness Report for La Pine, OR Nov 2013
Information/Emergency Contacts:
·
Fire,
rescue, medical, crime reporting (emergency only): 911
·
Deschutes
County Sheriff’s Office (non-emergency): (541) 693-6911
·
Deschutes
County Health Department (non-emergency): (541) 322-7400
Common Hazards:
Wildfires: Wildfires make up the number one
priority natural hazard for Deschutes County, OR, having a high vulnerability
to these circumstances as well as a high probability of occurrence. The path
and destructive forces of a wildfire will most often be determined by weather
patterns at the time (such as wind direction and speed, level of precipitation
and drought prior to a fire, etc.), the terrain (often spreading uphill faster
than downhill, as heat rises), and the amount of flammable material near houses
(trees, shrubs, dead grass, etc.), as well as the proximity of the houses to
one another.
Severe Winter Storms: This county is also classified as
having a high vulnerability to winter storms, with a moderate level of
probability that these events will happen. Winter storms come with a number of
hazards including potential loss of power, limited mobility (for both residents
and emergency services), and individual risks such as hypothermia, frostbite,
etc.
Flooding: The third highest priority of natural
emergencies is flooding with a moderate vulnerability as well as a moderate probability
of these occurrences. Flooding will often be a more significant factor
following a wildfire as there will be a lack of living vegetation to absorb the
rainfall and reduce the runoff. It may take up to five years following a
wildfire for vegetation to grow back to reduce the risk of significant flood.
Emergency Shelters: (Marked on map below)
Though
emergency shelters in and around La Pine have not been specified in emergency
plans available online, the following are school buildings that may potentially
be utilized by emergency management personnel for the public in the event of an
emergency: (Please listen to the instructions of the emergency personnel on the
radio or on TV as to where you should go in an emergency event and follow their
instructions.)
La Pine High School
51633 Coach Rd
La Pine, OR 97739
51633 Coach Rd
La Pine, OR 97739
La Pine
Elementary School
51615 Coach Rd
La Pine, OR 97739
51615 Coach Rd
La Pine, OR 97739
La Pine Middle
School
16360 First Street
La Pine, OR 97739
16360 First Street
La Pine, OR 97739
Gilchrist
Junior/Senior High School (South of La Pine)
201 Mountain View Drive
Gilchrist, OR 97737
201 Mountain View Drive
Gilchrist, OR 97737
Three Rivers
Elementary School (North
of La Pine)
56900 Enterprise Dr
Sunriver, OR 97707
56900 Enterprise Dr
Sunriver, OR 97707
Likely Evacuation Routes: (Marked on map below)
Route 97
South (or North depending on circumstances), and Route 31 South will likely be
used for evacuation. Based on a Forest Fire Evacuation Analysis of Bend, OR,
south west and south east of the city of Bend are areas that are more prone to
wildfires, and therefore southbound roads may be the best option for residents
in La Pine, should a forest fire occur in that area.
Maps:
City-wide view with potential immediate area emergency shelters and evacuation route:
City-wide view with potential immediate area emergency shelters and evacuation route:
Legend: Blue lines indicate potential emergency evacuation
routes (Route 97 and Route 31)
Wide multi-county view with other nearby potential emergency shelters:
Home and Evacuation Preparedness
Measures:
In the event
a wildfire occurs, should you have the time and means, EVACUATE if emergency personnel instruct you to do so, or if you
feel that you are in danger; however, do NOT try to outrun the fire. Follow the
instructions in the Evacuation Guide link provided following this section for
various scenarios. Should you not be able to leave your home, shelter in place,
but note that this is only a LAST RESORT. Some
precautions to take to prepare for, and limit the exposure to wildfire
events could include: creating a defensible space around your home
of at least 30 feet (meaning keeping flammable materials (such as vegetation,
flammable liquids such as gasoline, paints, etc.) away from your home); preparing
a 72-hour kit to include items such as flashlights with extra
batteries, water (at least one gallon per person), a first aid kit, important
documents, clothing for each person, and sleeping bag(s); gain information on specific
evacuation procedures, such as for schools, child-care facilities,
assisted-living communities, where you can take your pet(s), etc.; keep
your vehicle’s gas tank at least half full when wildfires are more
likely to occur; and wear protective clothing, such as
wool or cotton long sleeve shirts and pants, a hat, gloves, a handkerchief or
some other way to protect your nose and mouth, and protective glasses.
Deschutes
County Evacuation Guide: http://www.projectwildfire.org/images/uploads/Evacuation%20Guide.pdf
Additional Info/Comments:
ALWAYS LISTEN FOR AND
FOLLOW EMERGENCY INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN BY LOCAL, STATE, FEDERAL, OR TRIBAL
GOVERNMENT ENTITIES. They
will provide you with proper actions to take regarding your specific
jurisdiction. According to the Deschutes County Sheriff and other affiliated
emergency personnel for the county, “A fire within sight or smell is a threat.”
If it is too late to evacuate, stay indoors, and DO NOT go outside until the
fire passes.
Sources:
Google Earth
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