Death, Destruction, Pestilence, Famine. We are probably not facing
annihilation at the hands of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, but neither
do we live in Never-Never Land.

At the Aug. 21 Town Hall Meeting of the Villages at Mt. Hood, speakers from
the Hoodland Fire Department, Clackamas County Emergency Management
Team and the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office outlined the dangers facing
residents of the Mountain community.

Based on the turnout – six people – the remainder of the thousands of
Mountain residents are either totally prepared or whistling past the graveyard.
We’re probably safe from a surprise tsunami, and don’t have to be overly
concerned of a tornado howling through the canopy. But earthquake, volcano,
wildfire and flood are the Four Horsemen who gallop ghost-like around our
Mountain.

“It’s not just a mountain, it’s a volcano,” said Jay Wilson, spokesman for the
county’s EMT. “Crater rock is a lava dome on the south-facing side of Mount
Hood. And it was just 200 years ago that this mountain erupted. Statistics
indicate the lava flow from an eruption would reach Timberline Lodge and
Government Camp within 30 minutes.”

Wilson pointed out there are active fumaroles belching out sulfuric steam that
could trigger lahars – slurries of rock, water and mud – that would stream
down off the flanks of Mount Hood.

“The proof is that the Sandy River channel is full of lahars,” Wilson said,
proving the point there is much to learn from the past.

But EMT member Dana Robinson said there is only so much that personnel
can do in case of such an emergency.

“We’re working on evacuation plans,” Robinson said. “We are working with the
Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office and local fire departments, but there’s only
one route off the Mountain (Hwy. 26).”

Hoodland Fire Department Fire Marshal Scott Klein concurred, citing the heavy
work load that local firefighters struggle with on a regular basis.

“We get about 750 calls a year,” Klein said. “And we operate with a staff of
eight paid staff and 40 volunteers. However, all our volunteers are paramedic
trained.”

Deputy Steve Shelly of CCSO added his perspective of the workload dilemma
on the Mountain.

“Right now, for example, we have nine officers covering 2,000 square miles in
the county,” Shelly said.

Add to the risk of volcano, there are earthquakes – minor in nature usually –
occurring all the time on Mount Hood, and there is a history of floods and
wildfire as well.

The best solution, said senior firefighter Kim Weaver of HFD, is for citizens to
be prepared as well.

“Our wish is that one in four citizens in the Hoodland area be trained (for
emergencies),” Weaver said. “That’s why we have the community action
group HEART.”

HEART, the Hoodland Emergency Action Response Team, is a volunteer
program sponsored by the Hoodland Fire District that trains volunteer
emergency assistant responders who are committed to aid the fire district in a
well-planned and effective disaster response.

HEART will hold its next meeting at 7 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 18, at the
Hoodland Fire Station.

For more information about HEART, contact Kim Weaver at the Hoodland Fire
District, 622-3256.
* * *
In other business the Villages Board received resignations from two board
members, Carol Burk and Bridget Romeo. Both cited the pressing needs of
running a business to be too demanding on their time to participate as board
members.

Burk was elected at the previous Town Hall Meeting and served for a brief
period of time.

“After I did it (attended board meetings) a couple times I realized I need to
pay more attention to my work,” Burk said. “I don’t know what I was thinking.
Also, the issues seem to be redundant. They don’t need me. They need a
retired person not running a business.”