Re: [IRCA] I'm baack

["Tim Kridel" <tim@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Patrick, can you post a few of those pictures?


 -------------- Original message ----------------------
From: mwdxer@xxxxxxxxx (Patrick Martin)
> Hi everyone,
> 
> After going through the worst Pacific storms in my like, I am happy to
> report I am alive and well. But for a while, I was really wondering.
>    It all started in last week with the forecast from the National
> Weather Service that a HUGE storm was going to hit the Oregon &
> Washington coasts. Early on they were forecasting winds of 80-90 MPH.
> But as it got closer, the forecast was changed to over 100 MPH. 
>    Saturday during the day our winds started to pick up to gusts to
> about 50 MPH. By Sunday the gusts picked up 80 MPH. Not uncommon for the
> coast. As they say on the Portland TV station weather reports "A garden
> variety Pacific storm". That was a good sized storm alone, but only the
> beginning. The granddaddy them them all was forcast to hit Sunday night.
> I was not at home when it hit, but in East Astoria. By 9-10 PM, we lost
> all power, internet, cel phone, and even local phone, including 9-1-1,
> the emergency number. We had nothing. He were totally cut off. The huge
> transmission Bonneville lines coming East we had lost. The wind was up
> to about 130 MPH out here and 80+ MPH where I was in East Astoria. The
> wind was really shaking the building. I spent the night there thinking I
> would return Monday morning. Boy was I wrong! The wind howled all night.
> I was really worried about my house, but it was impossible to drive
> home. I did not sleep all night. Too much racket. Monday morning "I
> thouight" the wind died down. Well I took off and drove through downtown
> Astoria. I was driving through a diaster war zone. Broken windows,
> debris flying all over the place. The winds downtown Astoria were 70+
> MPH even Monday morning. Infact the van almost got him by a 50 square
> foot piece of roof from a building. It flew right past the front of the
> van. I drive on trying to dodge all of the debris. As I approached
> Youngs Bay to cross the bridge to Warrenton, I was driving right into a
> squal. I have never seen one, but according to the weather service, that
> is what I was driving into across the bridge. There the winds were 100+
> MPH. The wind  knocked the van all over the road. I made a fast U-turn
> and headed back East. I spend Monday night in East Astoria again. I was
> still worried about my house, but I was still in the dark, no phone
> service. I did finally picked up a tint tiny amount to cel signal from
> Washington that I could barely use, but I got a short message to Bill
> Block.  Again I got little sleep. The wind semed a bit less Monday
> night, but still strong. Tuesday morning I took off again and this time
> the gusts were 60-70 MPH off across Youngs Bay and I could drive in
> that. But still debris everywhere. Driving through Astoria looked worse
> than the day before.
> Trees distroyed everywhere, roofs, pieces of building, etc. I thought,
> my house is toast. But as I got close to it I could see it from the
> highway and my metal roof I put on it in 1999 was still on the house. I
> was surprised. The porch area on the back (wind side), the covering was
> ripped off. The trees behind my house were distroyed for the most part.
> Including 3 of my antennas. The only antenna still standng was the WNW
> EWE. I went in the house, no leaks, dry but a bit musty feeling from the
> rain and wind and the power being off. Some dents and scrathes outside
> in the wood from flying debris it looks like. The gutter bent up, but
> the house was ok. I took the camera and took pictures for the insurance.
> After that I checked both sides of the house, checking my big dish. It
> was still fine, but loose on the pole. Some bolts loosened up. I saw
> where the SW EWE came down and I repaired that. The beverage snapped and
> the vertical snapped off the top of the tree. Those two I have not
> repaired as yet as we got to clean up the mess first.   Over all I
> lucked out well. Three homes nearby suffered trees falling onto the
> house and I don't know how many roofs blew off. But mine held fine. As I
> said, downed trees everywhere. A mess to say the least. 
> 
> In driving around Clatsop County, it is hard to believe the damage. It
> is by far the worst storm in 80 years. The Columbus Day storm was a walk
> in the part on the coast compared to this. The Columbus Day storm
> created winds almost as bad, but they were short-liven as 3-4 hours.
> These winds last for 3 days! 
> 
> On a side note, all the time I was listening to KAST-1370-Astoria, as
> they were knocked off the air Sunday night with no power. Tom Freel OM,
> got the station back on the air with the generator fighting the 130 MPH
> winds and getting gasoline on him. The station went local, as they have
> been for the last several days. Once the phones started working, you
> could only dial in your prefix. In Astoria the prefix is 325, so you
> could only dial a 325 number and get through. You could could not call
> an 861 (Warrenton) number and get through. Again, no 9-1-1 either. But
> KAST stayed with us as a good friend announcing any changes, the
> storm,etc. KAST interviewed the Mayor, City Manager, Coast Guard, you
> name it. Everybody has joined forces to help out. Really very well
> organized. We have the CG and they are also helping out. This is true
> local radio and that is where a station shines. KAST has been there for
> us. Infact the GM celebated his 31st Wedding Anniversary on the air,
> took calls from listeners in Astoria and it was a great time. It put a
> smile on my face when Ithought I had little to smile about. A great
> group of broadcasters. They should win an award for their service to our
> community. 
>    For some reason, we got power first. Why, I don't know, but I sure
> was surprised being without it for only 72 hours. But with the
> interstructure of the Pacic Power system being totally wiped out, I
> thought it may be at least a week. The huge power towers  were wiped out
> like toothpicks  But I have been very impressed with everyone involved.
> No support from FEMA or anyone other than our locals including the CG.
> Even Power Power contacte other power companies and got extra help.
> They are all great perfessionals and should to praised.
>    I have considered moving from Clatsop County, but where would I find
> a a group (as I call them) extended family like this? Places like this
> do not grow on trees.  Even if we don't have many left. hi.


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