AN EDITION OF
Bandon
WESTERN WORLD Thursday, May 15, 2014
theworldlink.com/bandon ♦ $1.00
Recreation:
Improvements:
Inside this edition:
Summer signups begin, see page A2 for the full story
Facade program expands, see page A10 for the story
Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A2 Bandon Police Log. . . . . . . . A6 Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A4
Arts and Entertainment . . . A5 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B1 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B3
Bandon’s Quonset hut torn down By Amy Moss Strong and Jim Proehl Bandon Western World
BANDON — Social media was abuzz May 8 over the demolition of the building known by most residents as the Quonset hut at Bandon Heights, which was used by the Bandon School District for several functions and under a variety of names over its 65-year history. People came by to take a last photo in front of the building where they attended elementary school at what was then called Bandon
Tumbling down
Online See the video for this story online at: theworldlink.com/bandon
A contractor finishes the demolition of the Quonset hut at Bandon Heights on May 8. A new, similar building will be erected in its place.
Heights School. Others took away a brick as a memento. Photos of classes in front of the building were posted and comments lamented the end of an era, though the building hasn’t been used for anything other than storage and as a batting cage for many years. “Now this makes me feel old,”
Contributed photo by Jim Proehl
■ See Quonset, A8
Emergency preparedness: Are we ready for a disaster?
Ocean Crest could collapse By Amy Moss Strong Bandon Western World
Photo by Amy Moss Strong
Disaster exercise Community Emergency Response Team members work together during a mock disaster as part of their CERT final last December. Classes were held weekly for about three months at the Bandon Fire Hall and included about 30 members.
You will be on your own By Amy Moss Strong Bandon Western World
BANDON — It’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when. A major local earthquake is predicted to happen along the Cascadia Subduction Zone off Bandon’s coast in the Pacific Ocean, which will then set off a tsunami within minutes. While scientists don’t all agree exactly when this might happen, or to what degree, all do agree that it’s just a matter of time. And, according to similar historic events, the South Coast is overdue. Those who think the recent “little” quakes that have occurred right along the fault line are relieving the pressure, think again. The little quakes are only a few miles down, but the Cascadia fault line is many miles deep. When it goes, the quake and resulting tsunami will be very large. Since roads and bridges will be impassable, and electric, water, sewer will be out, people must be prepared to camp out for a time before any help arrives. Are you prepared? While there is a multitude of informa-
tion surrounding this topic, in addition to regular presentations by experts, many people still seem unable to grasp the importance of preparing. Studies have shown that in the devastating earthquake and subsequent tsunami in Japan in 2011, those who were prepared fared much better than those who weren’t. The Japanese government also had put into place safeguards that helped with a quicker recovery following the quake and lessened the death toll, which still was huge.
So what are you waiting for? One of the major messages state and local governments have been giving is that when the event happens, residents will be on their own. They can’t expect to be taken care of by city, county, state or national agencies, especially in the first days and even weeks following a devastating quake and tsunami. Residents must prepare for themselves. And it’s not that difficult.
■ See When, A8
Disaster Movie Night intended to foster discussion Southwestern Oregon Preppers and the city of Bandon will be hosting a Disaster Movie Night at 7 p.m. Friday, May 23, at the Bandon Public Library Sprague Room, 1204 11th St. SW. Admission is free. The movie is “Earthquake 10.5” and is described as, “An earthquake reaching a 10.5 magnitude strikes the West Coast of the
U.S. and Canada. A large portion of land falls into the ocean, and the situation is worsened by aftershocks and tsunami.” After the movie ends, there will be an open discussion to determine what residents should and shouldn’t do in a similar disaster. This is a free public meeting to get
to know fellow local preppers in southwestern Oregon counties and to exchange information and ideas. It is important for individuals to understand that they will be “on their own” in the event of a disaster and not to depend on receiving outside help. Join Southwestern Oregon Preppers on Facebook and/or meetup.com.
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BANDON — What if the worstcase scenario happened: A 9.2 magnitude quake followed 8-15 minutes later by a tsunami at high tide during a weekday — a school day? What would happen to the children attending public schools in Bandon? That scenario is more than a possibility, according to some experts. Some local parents, teachers and administrators feel the school district hasn’t done enough to safeguard students when the “big one” hits the South Coast. About 35 people attended a meeting Thursday at The Barn, organized by parent Jaime Sterling, a member of the Ocean Crest Elementary School safety committee. Coos County Emergency Coordinator Mike Murphy gave updated information regarding a local earthquake and tsunami, which are considered overdue to hit the South Coast. Murphy and Sterling believe Ocean Crest, built in 1937, has a high probability — some experts have said 100 percent — of collapse in the case of a major earthquake. In addition, Ocean Crest is in the tsunami inundation zone on recently updated maps prepared by experts, meaning a series of giant waves created by the earthquake will make their way up Gross Creek and right into Ocean Crest. An evaluation of Bandon schools was issued in 2006, directed by DOGAMI using “rapid visual screening” of buildings for potential seismic hazards. That report suggested that while Ocean Crest had a 100 percent probability of collapse, BHS has a 32 percent chance and HLMS 10 percent, not including the gyms. “Most of us live and work in buildings that aren’t up to code,”
■ See Collapse, A6
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