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7.2.3 Historical Winter Storm Data for the Eugene/Springfield Metro Area Winter storms can affect the area directly, with damage within the Eugene/Springfield Metro Areaa, or indirectly, with damage outside the area but affecting transportation to/from the area and/or utility services (especially electric power). Historically, the area has often been subject to both direct and indirect impacts of winter storms. The winter storms that affect the Eugene/Springfield Metro Area are not local events affecting only the immediate area. Rather, the winter storms are typically large cyclonic Iow pressure systems moving from the Pacific Ocean and that thus usually affect large areas of Oregon and/or the whole Pacific Northwest. Historical winter storm data com¢ied by the Portland Office of the National Weather Service (www.wrh.noaa.gov/Port~and/windstorm.html) list the following major winter storm events with substantial wind damage in Oregon: 1. February 7, 2002 2. December 12, 1995 3. November 13-15, 1981 4. March 25-26, 1971 5. October 2, 1967 6. March 27, 1963 7. October 12, 1962 8. November 3, 1958 9. December21-23, 1955 10. December 4, 1951 11.November 10-11, 1951 12. April 21422, 1931 13. January 20, 1921 14. January 9, 1880. The website referenced above has informative narrative summaries of each winter storm event, including wind speed data and damage reports. Similar reports of historical wind storm data have been compiled by Wolf Read (The Storm King) at Oregon State University (http://oregonstate.edu/-readw/). The OSU website has a vast archive of historical winter storm data for Oregon. The effects of the major historical winter storm events listed above varied significantly with geographic location. Similar variations in effects occur as well with the numerous smaller winter storm events. However, in terms of sustained wind speeds in the Willamette Valley and damage levels, the 1880 and 1962 storms stand out as the most severe such events. The most recent major winter storm event to significantly affect the Eugene/Springfield Metro Area was the February 7, 2002 storm. National Weather Service data show peak sustained winds and peak gusts at the Eugene Airport of 49 mph and 70 mph, respectively. This windstorm was a Federally-declared disaster (FEMA-1405-DR-OR) for five counties, including Lane County. In the five county FEMA-dedared disaster area, damages and costs to public facilities eligible for FEMA reimbursement (75%) totaled more than $6 million. Damages to private property are not included in this $6 million figure. Public Review Draft: August 6, 2004 7-8