Frost Bites

To me, winter can be one of the most beautiful times of the year depending on where you live. I love waking up in the morning and seeing snow covered rooftops and white flocked trees. It filters out traffic noises and brightens everything. When the snow falls over a weekend, and then it’s all gone by Monday, it’s magical. But if it lingers into the work week and for more than a couple of days, that white magic becomes a dirty frozen curse casting its precipitous forces over the river and through the woods to GamGams slowing the city to a slippery crawl.

The first month of 2024 has really started off with brrr, bang, zap, and pow! 

The sting of winter has already left its mark here in the Pacific Northwest and the season is just getting started. The storms that passed through Portland, OR, during January 13 through January 20, left a trail of death and destruction that will have a lasting impression on the region. Storms during the winter aren’t uncommon this time of year, but the severity and the aftermath caught many residents, city, and county heads off guard. 

I’ll be honest, I was really skeptical about the pending upcoming forecast. In the past, we’ve had predictions of wintery snowpocalypse covering the Willamette (pronounced will-am-et 😁) Valley floor only to end up with barely a trace if anything at all. I know that prognostication is not a perfect science and there are no real guarantees when it comes to predicting the weather. 

Portland is a pretty entertaining place to be when we receive threats of wintery weather. There’s always a collection of comical digital memes floating on social media that depict a Portlander’s response to snow that make me laugh.

In all seriousness, this storm had all the right stuff for a Hollywood blockbuster disaster movie starring the trifecta of tragedy; wind, snow, and ice all competing to have more screen time. Anyone who has spent any time in Oregon knows that folks here are tree-huggin’ and forest-lovin’ people. And why not, the trees provide oxygen, shade, and part of the historical legacy of this state. But when you wake up with a 60 foot Fir tree crashing into your bedroom and it’s 15 degrees outside, those loving trees outside have become part of a frozen nightmare inside. We didn’t get much snow this time but what did fall combined with the layers of ice on the surfaces, made even stepping outside on the front porch an uneasy exercise in balance. Trees already weakened from the winds, now became weighted anchors losing their battle with gravity fell on power lines crushing cars, homes, and lives. 

During this storm, thousands of Portland residents lost power, not for just a few hours but for days. A buddy of mine and the hubster’s (Eric) apartment was so cold, that he could see his breath when he exhaled. All of his utilities: heating, water, and cooking (electric) were all impacted. He kept himself warm by bundling up under layers of blankets and isolating in his bedroom. A nearby bar was kind enough to let him charge his phone and briefly thaw for the duration. Eric and I were fortunate not to have lost power or sustain damage during the storm. We were making plans to pick up our friend and his cat, when his power was restored. Other people who could afford it, sought refuge in hotels but they had to first navigate the icy roads, downed trees, and other obstructions. 

I often wonder how different things would have been had the power lines been buried underground rather than planted like dead trees throughout neighborhood streetscapes everywhere. I know this is already done in more affluent cities and gated  enclaves but the broader and more aesthetically pleasing infrastructure change during wind and ice storms, benefits everyone. Yes, I know this unconventional method of rigging power lines may cost more initially, but considering we live and love the greenery around us, maybe it’s time city planners and engineers think about how the environment (climate) is forcing us to adapt in ways no one previously thought about. Don’t you think it’s worth it?

Fallen trees and power lines were only part of the problems that were caused by the storms. Once temperatures began to rise and the sun came out, the freezing rain that had previously encased everything began to melt. In doing so, causing freshly thawed water to start moving and breaking ill-insulated pipes in homes and buildings adding yet another problem to solve. In fact, the building where I work suffered minor damage when several second floor sprinklers were activated releasing water all the way down to the basement. 

Despite the deadly conditions that kept most of us sheltered in place, some people had no choice but to venture out onto Portland streets. When a large tree branch fell on power lines and onto a vehicle electrocuting the 3 adults and injuring an infant when they exited the vehicle, Majiah Washington sprang into action and was able to rescue the infant from further injuries. I watched an interview of the 18-year old and she doesn’t consider herself a heroine (hero) for what she did and claims adrenaline compelled her to act. How many of us would honestly have the focus and character to step up and engage in a life or death situation? Self-preservation is a powerful thing. If I were in a similar situation, I hope that I would have the courage to respond in a similar manner.

Other heroes and heroines during the storm include the many utility crews and first responders working long hours and extended shifts to save lives and bring the lights back on. Often forgotten about and equally important are the crews that maintain the roads. The city of Portland’s transportation department (Portland Bureau of Transportation or PBOT for short) recently posted a few random storm facts: crews worked 8 days of 12 hour shifts and cleared 545 fallen trees within the city limits. There are still residual issues leftover from the storm in the form of the potholes that were created from the ice storm. Gravel in the bike lanes is another lingering problem from the storms that is spoiling rides for many Portland cyclists. Even before the storms, the backlog of roadwork and maintenance for the city was staggering.

In 2020, we experienced the global Covid-19 pandemic which revealed the truths about our inability to handle a widespread viral outbreak without having it become politicized. The storms that Portland, and elsewhere have been experiencing lately have become more powerful and extreme each year. The wind and ice storms crippled our city for days and exposed how vulnerable our utility infrastructure really is. Many people with damaged homes and other damaged property now must navigate the cumbersome landscape of insurance to begin the road to recovery, a process that will likely take months before anything is paid, leaving people in a state of financial limbo.

Winter isn’t over. There’s still a chance we may be dealing with wintery weather again before spring starts, and as I am writing this post, there is a winter advisory for the Portland metro area tonight into tomorrow afternoon. Hopefully, if anything does happen, we will be more prepared and have more contingencies in place to handle what Mother Nature throws our way.