Blown away

March 2, 2007

By Russell Stigall

Frontiersman

MAT-SU - Wind blows. And it blows hard in the Valley.

Commuters driving in and out of the Parks and Glenn Highways were welcomed at the Palmer Hay Flats by clouds of flying grit and gusts that rocked cars on their shocks and struts.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association reported gusts up to 80 mph as of 2 p.m. Thursday. Winds officially hit hurricane force at a mere 74 mph.

On the Beaufort scales of wind speed, 74 mph wind causes &#8220severe structural damage

to buildings, wide spread

devastation.”

However, Patty Sullivan, borough public affairs manager, said Thursday, &#8220Surprisingly, at least as of an hour ago (3 p.m.) the Wasilla-Lakes fire district has reported no damage.”

NOAA weather reports high wind warnings until 9 p.m. Friday, with gusts up to 75 mph and sustained winds 20 to 35 mph out of the Northeast through Friday night.

Johnny Murdock manned the phones for the Emergency Operations Center Thursday. There was very little carnage or mayhem, Murdock said by phone at around 3 p.m.

&#8220I just hope it stays that way,” he said.

If the forecast is correct, Murdock said, the EOC could shut down as early as 5 p.m. Friday.

&#8220It is just up to Mother Nature at this point,” he said.

Murdock said he received calls of &#8220trees down and short-term power outages, and garbage cans flying around neighborhoods.”

Murdock was on his own Thursday night, but Emergency Services Director Dennis Brodigan said the service would grow if needed.

The borough increased the number of emergency responders on Thursday in response to the high winds. The extra crews will be able to provide faster responses should we have a fire or other emergency during this high wind event, said Mat-Su Borough Manager John Duffy.

Fierce winds in the Mat-Su are reminders of the March windstorms of 2003, Sullivan said. Over nine days that year, heavy winds did more than $5 million in property damage.

A wind chill advisory remains in effect in areas near Willow and Talkeetna until Saturday at 9 a.m.