PERSPECTIVE FROM THE 19^TH HOLE: This is the title I chose for my personal blog, which is meant to give me an outlet for one of my favorite crafts – writing – plus use an image from my favorite sport, golf. Out of college, my first job was as a reporter for the Daily Astorian in Astoria, Oregon, and I went on from there to practice writing in all of my professional positions, including as a Congressional press secretary in Washington, D.C., an Oregon state government manager in Salem and Portland, press secretary for Oregon’s last Republican governor (Vic Atiyeh), and a private sector lobbyist. This blog also allows me to link another favorite pastime – politics and the art of developing public policy – to what I write.

The news was earth-shaking for some.

Don’t drink water supplied by the City of Salem’s system. At least don’t let your young children or pets do so. Some older adults, as well. The water could be contaminated.

The first time around, the news emerged in an over-the-top way as the state government Office of Emergency Management (OEM) produced an alert that caught most readers or hearers off-guard as the words made it sound like something far worse was in store.

The OEM apologized for not making the alert very specific about the problem – problems with the city’s water system.

But, that reality aside, all of us can learn something from this episode, which, by the way, is continuing as OEM issued another alert saying that, after a few days of relatively clean water, the supply was contaminated again.

The best advice: Be prepared! It was advice we took to heart several months ago in response to concern about a major natural disaster, such as an earthquake, that could leave us and neighbors in South Salem in jeopardy, as well as cut off from first-responder aid. We were advised to make preparations, such as, for instance, having a supply of water on hand in case we couldn’t be reached for some time in the face of a disaster.

So, we did.

One of our neighbors ridiculed our efforts, saying in jest I knew, that, if there was a natural disaster, he/she would just come to our supply of food and water and take what he/she needed.

All kidding aside, I said we would have enough supplies to help neighbors in need.

In response to the initial water contamination, Oregon Governor Kate Brown declared a state of emergency for portions of Marion and Polk counties, thus opening the door for national guard troops to truck in fresh water for residents grappling with the discovery of low-level toxins in tap water.

Under state law, her alert also allowed the state attorney general to investigate allegations of price gouging and, if true, to prosecute the offenders.  In the face of a natural disaster, retailers are limited to imposing a 15 per cent price increase for disaster-related supplies.

My wife went shopping the other day after the first emergency alert and found many people stocking up on supplies of water. Apparently, they didn’t have some already at home as we did.  Plus, it should be added that we are served by a separate water system, one based on wells, so Salem’s water problem doesn’t affect us.

At Costco, she also found that the company had not increased the cost of water, which is good news for Costco’s commitment to the community.

Beyond Costco and other smart retailers, another piece of good news was that the City of Keizer, which gets its water from wells, stepped up to provide supplies for use by Salem residents.

Back to the lessons learned.

This episode, a relatively minor one by most standards, should be used by residents to illustrate the value of stocking up on supplies, including water, if some other, more serious natural disaster occurs.

The director of OEM, Andrew Phelps, after he had apologized for his office’s initial strange alert, said the runs on bottled water illustrate how ill-prepared Oregonians are for any kind of emergency. Residents are advised to have a 14-day stock of potable water at all times.

“As best you can, prepare for whatever bad day lies ahead,” Phelps said.

Good advice!