Safety & Health

Safety & Health

Emergencies - 911

BOATERS AND SWIMMERS - PLEASE STAY SAFE: Lifeguards are not on duty at the swimming areas around Devils Lake. Wear a lifejacket in or near the water and boats, and on or near docks around Devils Lake, especially if you do not swim. Even if you do know how to swim, if a boat capsizes and you are thrown into the water fully clothed with a vest of fishing gear, you may not have time to get out of your gear and swim to shore, especially if the water is cold. Hypothermia can be deadly. Parents should have their children wear approved lifejackets or swimsuits with approved floating features built into the design, especially if their children do not know how to swim. download life jacket pdf

Law Enforcement
On the lake (Sheriff in Newport) - 541-265-4231
In the Forest (Sheriff in Newport) - 541-265-4231
County (Sheriff in Newport) - 541-265-4231
City (Police) - 541-994-3636

Marine Patrol
Lincoln County Sheriff provides law enforcement on the lake. The Marine Patrol is funded by an 80/20 sharing arrangement - 80 percent by the Oregon State Marine Board and 20 percent by Lincoln County. Oregon State Marine Board asks that two officers patrol together. The Patrol has all of Lincoln County to cover with a two boat patrol force. Violations can be reported to the sheriff at 541-265-4231, Newport. Be sure to give date, time, location, and boat number if possible. To protect marine deputies from carbon monoxide poisoning from boat engines, the state has limited the use of decibel readers to measure boat noise. Read the Oregon Boater's Handbook by the Oregon State Marine Board. See www.boatoregon.com. The number of complaints helps determine the amount of patrol time needed.

Emergencies & Disasters (Preparedness)
Life threatening emergencies - call 911. Both Devils Lake Fire District and Taft Nelscott Fire District have water rescue equipment.

S.E.T. (Severe Event Training) - North Lincoln Fire and Rescue publishes and distributes a booklet called S.E.T. (Severe Event Training). Pick up a copy at the Oceanlake Station at 2525 NW Highway 101. It is a do-it-yourself guide for your home, workplace or automobile. Are you ready? See North Lincoln Fire and Rescue at www.nlfr.org/.

Several organizations offer disaster preparedness information, including the Red Cross, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). See Earthquake and Tsunami information below.

Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital
3043 NE 28th St
Lincoln City, OR 97367
541-994-3661
www.samhealth.org/shs_facilities/snlh/

Medical Clinics
Several Medical Clinics are located off West Devils Lake Road near the hospital. An Immediate Care Center is located across the street from the Tanger Outlet Mall on Hwy 101 and East Devils Lake Road.

Algae Blooms & Bacteria
Blue-green algae blooms on Devils Lake can occur when conditions are right. Most are non-toxic. You should avoid swimming in an area where there is an abundance of algae blooms. Some algae toxins can be harmful to pets, so keep your pets away from algae blooms.
High levels of bacteria have been found in Thompson Creek at the north end of Devils Lake. The site is tested for bacteria.

PADL requested that DLWID post and distribute the Oregon Department of Human Services' blue-green algae health concerns information sheet. Toxic algal blooms have not been recorded in Devils Lake. Please read the state's blue-green algae health concerns download pdf. The State's blue-green algae advisories can be found at www.oregon.gov/DHS/ph/envtox
8/10/06 - DLWID posted laminated signs at: Regatta, Holmes, Campground, Sand Point & Brown Bear

Avian Flu
The Oregon State website has information about the avian flu. Please read - www.dfw.state.or.us/avian-flu/

Boaters
Devils Lake has laws and rules affecting boating. Know the safety rules. Read the safety signs at the boat launch areas. Water skiers can read about safety at the Regatta Park information kiosk. Click here for more information.

Drivers
Obey the speed limits around Devils Lake. The curves around the lake can be hazardous. Low lying sections of East Devils Lake Road can be under water after a major storm event. Watch for warning signs of high water. Ice, particularly patches of black ice in the morning, can make roads slippery. Don't end up in the lake.

Earthquakes & Tsunamis - download pdf map
Pick up a tsunami brochure at City Hall. An Earthquake Hazard Map for Lincoln City by the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI) should be available on CD-ROM for purchase through Nature of the Northwest Information Center, 800 NE Oregon St., #5, Portland, OR 97232, 503-872-2750 or www.naturenw.org. If a huge tsunami occurs, Devils Lake could flood. Evacuation signs are posted throughout the city. The Preservation Association of Devils Lake helped fund a tsunami information sign at Regatta Park. The Red Cross has first aid kits and backpacks with emergency supplies that can be purchased.

If you feel an earthquake, move to high ground immediately. Listen for warning sirens. Do not return to low ground after the first wave - later waves can often be more dangerous. Lincoln City shows an informative video about tsunamis on the Channel 4 public access station. Call City Hall to find out the next viewing date and time. The video was filmed in Oregon and is very impressive. The Alaska earthquake tsunami in 1964 was severe enough to cause loss of life in Newport, Oregon and property damage at the D River and elsewhere in Oregon. Tsunami inundation zone maps and information on 72-hour kits are available at both the Oceanlake and Taft Fire Stations, in Lincoln City.

Earthquake and Tsunami Websites:
Office of Emergency Management Lincoln County, www.lincolncoemergencyservices.us/
Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, www.oregongeology.com
Oregon Emergency Management, egov.oregon.gov/osp/oem
The National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program, pmel.noaa.gov/tsunami-hazard/
The Pacific Northwest Seismograph Network (PNSN) map, www.geophys.washington.edu/recenteqs/latest.htm
West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center, http://wcatwc.arh.noaa.gov

Fire
Lincoln City has an outdoor burn ban. Check with the local fire department about protecting your house from fire. Keep debris that can burn, away from your house. Coastal winds can spread fire quickly. North Lincoln Fire & Rescue, 541-994-3100, www.nlfr.org/.

Floating Debris
Wind and rain storms can create floating debris on the lake. Take care when navigating around Devils Lake after a storm.

Kite Tubes - Don't use
A kite tube is a large, saucer-shaped, inflatable object about 10-feet across designed to be pulled behind a boat at 25 to 35 miles per hour. Its large size means wind can lift it easily from the water, with straps on the tube giving the rider some control of the degree of lift.
According to a press release from the Oregon State Marine Board, in cooperation with the Consumer Products Safety Commission, "At least three kite tube fatalities have occurred this summer (2006) in the U.S., as well as several dozen personal injury accidents."
The Oregon State Marine Board writes, "Conditions of highest concern to the CPSC are wind gusts that can cause the tube to spin out of control, or suddenly stopping or slowing by the boat operator. According to the CPSC, slowing can cause the tube to nose dive and hit the water or allow the tube rider to continue past the top of the boat and hit the towing boat, another watercraft or other objects such as a bridge."

Safety Signs
Safety signs are posted at all boat launches and copies of a smaller version are available for property owners to post by their docks as an educational guide for their families and guests. Contact the Devils Lake Water Improvement District.

Safety Zone
Observe a 100 ft. courtesy "Safety Zone" around the entire shoreline of the lake. This zone is set up for the safety of all users of Devils Lake - fishermen, tubers, canoes, swimmers, people on their docks, as well as the wildlife and fish that hang close to shore, such as the grass carp.

Sewage spills
During storms, sewage spills can occur into Devils Lake, causing unsafe bacterial levels in the vicinity of the spill. One spill on June 10, 1997 at the Holmes Road pump station dumped 24,000 gallons of raw sewage into Devils Lake. In November of 1997 about 750,00 gallons of sewage spilled into Devils lake. In 2000 the pump station near West Devils Lake State Park was upgraded. Upgrading the sewer system is an ongoing project for the city. Most pump stations have alarms to warn of a failure, but even the alarms can fail. Watch for warning signs. Avoid getting near the lake after a sewage spill. Keep your pets away from the lake, if there is a sewage spill.

Swimmers
Parents and others: Lifeguards are not on duty at any of the swimming areas around Devils Lake. Your children should wear a lifejacket in or near the water or boats, and on or around docks around the lake, especially if they do not know how to swim. Variety stores sell inexpensive swimsuits with Coast Guard approved flotation devices built right into the design. At the Lincoln City Community Center, the Lincoln City Parks and Recreation Department offers swim classes and safe, indoor swimming with a lifeguard on duty. Make sure your child knows how to swim.
Tragically, in July of 2004 a child drowned at the Regatta Grounds swimming area. Please prevent this from ever happening again. Sadly, in November of 2006 a fisherman drowned when his boat capsized in cold water off Sand Point. No life jackets were on board.

Beach safety
If you go near the Pacific Ocean beach - Watch for sneaker waves. Stay away from beach logs - they can roll in the surf and cause fatal injuries. Don't climb on cliffs.

Photos: Tsunami Sign (R. Erickson)

site map

home

P.O. Box 36
Lincoln City, OR 97367
PADLsteward@wcn.net