So here's what was announced earlier today:
A red
flag warning has been issued for Western Washington, including the Olympic
Mountains and the lowlands along the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Puget Sound,
and will last through 11 p.m. today as thunderstorms approach the region.
The warning was issued by the National Weather Service at 8:21 a.m. today.
A red flag warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either
occurring now or will develop shortly.
Here's the first (and thus far only) comment about this on the PDN's website:
I say Sequim has nothing to worry about; we rarely have thunderstorms. I think in the 10 yrs I've lived here, I've seen 2 thunderstorms, maybe 3 at most.
Now...Given the nature of climate change, as generally understood, and given the current record low flows in rivers in Clallam County, which are a result of the non-existent snowpack in the Olympics...Does anyone see any sort of attitudinal red flag warning that should be raised by statements like this one? How can you expect your elected "leaders" to focus on the future when they're too busy looking back at how things used to be - and are joined in this exercise by the people living there?
Yes, things might have been "that way" back in the day, but that's no guarantee that they will be "that way" tomorrow, or next year, or ten years from now. The world is changing around us. But unless we change our perspectives as well, then we'll always be behind the curve.
Way, way behind the curve.
That thunder you might hear signifies danger in more ways than one.
Yes, you've hit the nail on the head. Why face reality? Weather service warnings? What do they know?
ReplyDeleteLike those geotechnical guys saying the bluffs erode, and the houses on the bluffs are in danger. The houses haven't fallen in yet, so obviously they never will.
How many millions of folks live on earthquake faults or known tornado or hurricane areas?
DeleteYes, but in those areas, people acknowledge those realities. They have drills, and tornado shelters, and set aside supplies. They have earthquake drills and public education to prepare people.
DeleteHere, we just ignore it all, and say everything is wonderful.
What am I doing with these totes of non-perishable food, water purification system, ground motion sensors and backup power?
DeleteUmm, being prepared for the "Big One" expected on the Cascadian Fault line off the Clallam coastline?
DeleteAnd the fireworks stands are ready to sell pyrotechnics!
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of things to come, and things the PDN does not seem to think we need to know about, check this out:
ReplyDeletehttp://nwifc.org/2015/05/jamestown-sklallam-reconnects-creek-to-strait-to-save-fish/
Denial is a way of life in Clallam County. I'm not surprised to hear people say things like the quote above, no matter how ridiculous they sound. And it does give license to our elected officials to pander and pass the buck on all sorts of important issues.
ReplyDeleteThat's why we have the race to the bottom here. The bottom of the IQ chart, the bottomed out economy, etc.
Agreed, but I would suggest denial is no more a way of life here than acceptance is. I also observe how overt negativity is a way of Clallam life for some (as exhibited on this blog), that it is met with an equal amount of overt optimism (ie: Revitalize). Hense a dysfunctional sort of equilibrium is actually achieved.
DeleteTypical, pockets of a community banding together in an "Us against Them", small town, local mentality. Travel a bit and you'll find it happens all over the country, especially in smaller, isolated, seasonal communities. It is certainly well exhibited across the North Olympic Peninsula - west of Port Townsend.
My advice, live with it and be happy, move away and seek happiness, or die and be at peace!
The Clallam County motto: What, Me Worry?
ReplyDeleteThe motto for people visiting Clallam County: What the fuck?!?
DeleteCK, I think ya gone done hurt Hoss's feelin's by talkin' 'bout that theater thing like ya have. Hoss is a lookin' like he's gunna cry, cuz he is all broke up about this. He is a talkin' 'bout takin' his crayons an' goin' ta play in sum uther sandbox.
ReplyDeleteHe said he didn't wanna be friens anymore. He sez he ain't gunna talk with you any more. Boo hoo.
We've been told the "aquifers" were going to be the salvation, no matter what.
ReplyDelete" FORKS — Residents are being asked to voluntarily cut back on water use to try and slow rapidly falling water levels in city wells.
“Right now, the wells are where they are typically in late July or early August,” Rod Fleck, city planner and attorney, said Monday.
The city will be checking the wells every few days to monitor the fall of the aquifer levels, Fleck said.
City officials are hoping that voluntary water restrictions will be enough to prevent stricter action later.
In an official message to city residents, Mayor Bryon Monohon recommended the following:
■ Do not water lawns.
■ Water gardens late at night or early in the morning or install a drip system.
■ Do not water during windy weather.
■ Check sprinklers to make sure they are not watering the sidewalk, driveway or street.
The Quillayute Valley School District has already agreed to reduce water use, Fleck said.
The district will not water lawns and fields, with the exception of the football field and newly planted trees, he said.
Fleck said a day of recent rainfall has not made a difference in the water supply.
“The rain we got Sunday, all it did was knock down the dust,” he said.
The National Weather Service forecast has no rain in the 10-day forecast, and includes continued unusually warm, dry weather.
Public Works Director Dave Zellar warned it may be October or later before the kind of rain needed for relief arrives.
It will take least three weeks of winter-heavy rain to begin raising aquifer levels, Zellar said.
Last modified: June 29. 2015 7:17PM "
Will they be saying the same thing? "We haven't run out of water before, so, it can't happen?"
Good luck with that.
Here's a contest idea. See who can be the first to get a realtor to admit there is a potential water problem on the peninsula. Ten dollars first prize for the first quotable quote from a local realtor suggesting we have water "issues."
ReplyDeleteThat fire over in Wenatchee should be a wake up call! Remember, Clallam ranks "Number One" in the State for catastrophic fire potential.
ReplyDelete