Brain freeze

It was not so long ago that Portland was known for its hardy, pioneer spirit, a city full of lumberjacks and sailors that belched self-reliance and ingenuity. The last remnants of a recent snowstorm have melted away, along with any hope we had of regaining our robust reputation.

I enjoy the new Portlander. We’re tech-savvy, beer-swilling, bike-riding eco-mentalists and we’re friendly to boot. We wear Columbia jackets and duck boots to show that at any minute, we really could dart in to Forest Park and “really live, bro.” But as soon as a little snow falls on Highway 26, we lose it. According to the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), the most recent snowstorm was responsible for 1,000 abandoned vehicles and 291 reported crashes. The news touts the snowfall in the middle of winter as a “surprise.”

Commuters were caught without chains in their vehicles or proper winter garb to help them brave the cold as they waited for public transit. A family returning from Idaho, using a route that follows the Oregon Trail, no less, almost died because their GPS suggested a shortcut that turned out to be full of snow banks. They were forced to walk 17 miles to find cell phone service. This is a perfect example of how far we have fallen. We assume technology and city officials will provide for us and we’ve forgotten how to depend on ourselves.

Mayor Sam Adams has been working on a new emergency response system since the winter of 2008, the last time a freak snowstorm hit Portland exactly one year before this year’s surprise. The recent E. coli scare in November proved that the city needs a streamlined flow of information from officials to Portland residents. A great new Web site, www.publicalerts.org, was created to provide regular updates on current conditions and closures in the Portland area. They even have a Twitter stream on the clean, easy to read homepage. Mayor Adams is a regular contributor.

Say what you will about his politics, but it cannot be denied that Mayor Adams loves this city. He spent the first day of the storm, during his vacation, on his Twitter account posting updates from ODOT and rescue crews, forwarding live reports from commuters. The Oregonian posted a Twitter-esque page on their website that provided updates on road closures and quick, personal tales from stranded Portlanders. On the city’s end, it was a great experiment and a hopeful sign of things to come. Twitter and Google Wave are cheap services that could save the city millions of dollars and save lives.

All of these advances in technology and a more accessible government are wonderful tools residents can use to stay informed and safe. Twitter streams, radios and cell phones are great for emergency notification. However, common sense is the most effective emergency response system. The city is actually doing a fine job on its part, though the snowstorm shows that we’ve failed on ours. Snow chains and an emergency-preparedness kit should be in every vehicle. And it’s winter—wear a real jacket.

It’s amazing to me how few drivers know how to control their vehicle in inclement weather in a state that is constantly trying to kill you. Our roads are always plagued by torrential rain, black ice, hail and snow. In Finland, every driver is trained on skid pads to control a car in a spin. They also get 20 hours of driving theory lessons that help young drivers fully understand their vehicle. As a result, Finland has produced the most Formula One drivers per capita than any other country in the world. The average American is granted a driver’s license if they can parallel park. Portland International Raceway offers defensive driving classes for about $200. Weigh that against the cost of repairs and insurance, and it seems like a pittance.

Portlanders still enjoy a little of our storied pioneer past. Take a look around at any bearded, plaid-shirt-wearing Portland State student digging through his enormous, waterproof backpack. It’s time for all of us to stop dressing the part and actually practice the independence and personal responsibility that made our state so revered. The pioneers didn’t use GPS systems or the latest, fancy gadgets. Trust me, I play Oregon Trail on my iPhone.