Cedar Mill Stake Emergency Communications Drill Scenario
On 25-September-1999, the Cedar Mill Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints held a drill to test their emergency communications readiness.
This drill involved Amateur, FRS, and Citizen's Band radio operators working together.
The following is the base scenario they used.
Date: 25 Sep 1999 Time: Official start is 7 AM
General Situation: A strong storm has come in from the Pacific. Although there was some warning, the storm turned out to be much stronger and more destructive than predicted.
At zero hour the situation is:
12 hours ago leading edge of the storm struck bringing heavy rain and moderate wind. The ground became soaked.
One hour ago winds of 60 mph with gusts to 75 mph struck the area. These were accompanied by heavy rain and rising temperatures. As a result of the wind and wet ground 25% of the mature trees in the area have fallen and nearly all roads are impassable to motor vehicles. The phone system has ceased to work and the phone company estimates 12 hours to restore rudimentary service, 48 hours to have most of the system working if the storm abates. The few cells still functioning for cellular phones are strictly controlled and not available to anybody except government emergency personnel and extremely urgent communications.
The worst of the wind has now passed and temperatures are dropping rapidly to 20-30 degrees below normal for this time of year. Winds are now 30-50 mph and heavy rain continues to fall.
Any street with more than 5 mature trees on it is blocked by at least one fallen tree and impassable to motor vehicles. Any trees with power lines within reach should be considered unsafe to touch (pretend half of such trees have fallen across the roads).
The BPA lines and other high voltage main lines are down in various places. (Details to be provided ward by ward.) PGE is unable to check these so all down power lines must be considered hot. Power is out throughout the entire area.
Any creeks are flooded and unsafe to cross without special techniques.
Springville and Sunset Hills wards have had landslides. All wards have bridges out, wash-outs in various places etc.
In addition to the above problems common to the stake, please find attached a list of specific problems within your ward.
These are ward specific problems in addition to those planned for the stake as a whole:
Beaver Creek Ward has the following problems in addition to those affecting the stake in general:
The BPA lines are down and probably still charged
The power lines along Cornelius Pass Road are hanging 2-3 feet above the road where they cross Rock Road and again where they cross Jay Street.
There is severe flooding in the Shadowbrook area.
There is also severe flooding near Jay and SW 200th street. Streets are impassable.
The apartments on 205th street are cut off by high water (near Beaverton Creek)
The bridge is out on 197th south of the light rail line.
Bethany Ward has the following problems in addition to those affecting the stake in general:
The area around the junction of 185th and West Union Road is flooded and impassable.
The BPA lines are down and probably charged.
Bronson Creek is flooded and impassable. Bridges and roads east of that area are compromised so that road access to that part of the ward is not available.
West Union is flooded west of 185th to Rock Creek on the west.
Five Oaks Ward has the following problems in addition to those affecting the stake in general:
The creeks are flooded near 185th and Baseline. There is no road access to the mobile home park near there.
The apartments near the NW corner of the ward are flooded and isolated.
The power lines on the east end of the ward are down and probably charged.
173rd is washed out just north of the stake center.
There is mild flooding at 167th and Walker (passable with care).
The traffic circle at 16th/Deltal Estuary is totally blocked by a truck and large trailer which hit the curb in a panicky attempt to flee.
Oak Hills Ward has the following problems in addition to those affecting the stake in general:
The intersection of Walker and Murray is flooded two blocks in each direction (to the higher ground).
Walker is flooded at Meadow Drive (the Nike entrance).
The intersection of Meadow Drive and Pioneer is flooded.
Home depot is burning. Because of the materials therein, this is considered a hazardous materials incident and nobody should approach within a quarter mile of this store.
An overturned truck blocks the entrance to Brighten appartments on 148th off Walker.
153rd is flooded and trees are blocking it at 153rd Place.
Bethany Blvd.· is washed out just north of West Union.
Reedville Ward has the following problems in addition to those affecting the stake in general:
The BPA lines are down and probably charged.
The power lines along Cornelius Pass Road are 2-3 feet above the street where they cross Johnson and again where they cross Rock Road.
Reedville Creek is flooded and impassable.
Johnson Street is flooded where it turns by Fred Meyers.
Rock Creek Ward has the following problems in addition to those affecting the stake in general:
Rock Creek is flooded and impassable throughout its entire length.
A truck overturned on the Sunset Highway and also blocks Rock Creek Blvd. near Mahama
West Union is flooded west of 185th to Rock Creek on the west.
Cornelius Pass is washed out at the Skyline/Germantown area.
Springville Ward has the following problems in addition to those affecting the stake in general:
There are multiple landslides making Skyline impassable from 1/4 mile northwest of McTavish to Germantown Road. If the side of the road is steep, assume it has slid.
Old Germantown Road is impassable from Skyline to Kaiser.
The road into Forest Heights form Skyline (near the cemetery) is impassable due to a landslide.
Forest Heights Road is totally impassable.
West Union is flooded west of 185th to Rock Creek on the west.
Sunset Hills Ward has the follovving problems in addition to those affecting the stake in general:
Jackson Lane at Spencer Street blocked by high water.
Saltzman flooded at Hartford (Bauer Woods entry).
Devonshire is flooded from Walker to Foothill.
The intersection of Walker and Murray is flooded, all low-lying area there.
Huntington is washed out at Foothill Park.
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