Sisters recalls the hard winter of 1992-93

As Sisters Country sees its first snowfall of the winter, the memories of longtime residents roll back 20 years to one of the snowiest winters on record. The first snowflakes began to fall in early December 1992 and persisted until March 1993.

"That was the year we all desperately wanted snow; there hadn't been much for a couple of years," said Annette Ehrenstrom, owner of High Desert Hair Co.

"I remember sitting with a friend watching the first snowflakes come down in early December," recalled Ehrenstrom. "I had hoped it wouldn't stop."

It didn't.

The snow, so delightful and picturesque at first, became a nuisance by January. Still the snow continued to fall. By late January the depth of snow on the roofs of houses was an estimated three feet. By then shoveling snow from roofs, driveways and sidewalks was a new pastime for Sisters residents

"The snow would come down off the metal roof of Sisters Elementary School and block all the exits; we were encased in snow," recalled Craig Benton, retired schoolteacher. "It was known as the three-foot three-month winter; we never stopped shoveling."

There were winters in Sisters with heavy snow accumulations; it usually melted away quickly with rising temperatures. But it was one of the coldest Januarys on record in Sisters and the snow piled up. And piled up.

The accumulation of deep snow on Sisters High School during that winter of 1992-93 posed a danger of snow falling onto people entering the building, so school officials constructed a temporary entrance.

Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) plowed the main highway, while the City of Sisters plowed the other streets.

"We were trying hard to keep the streets open that year," recalled Dave Moyer. "It was my job to see that the intersections were kept open."

The streets were plowed almost daily. By the end of January, high ridges of snow lined the streets. Children were tempted to sled down the high snow banks.

The harshness of the winter of 1992-93 was unexpected. It was particularly hard on many Sisters residents, especially those who depended on firewood for heating, and the elderly, who were physically unable to shovel snow from their driveways and roofs, and couldn't afford the cost of snow removal.

Other residents living in more remote areas discovered that isolation had its drawbacks during that winter.

The heavy snow caused two large equestrian structures to collapse, and roofs were damaged on many houses. There were numerous power outages, especially in the Camp Sherman area; it was one of the most trying experiences in Central Electric Cooperative history. By the end of February, snowfalls totaled 100 inches in Sisters.

When the snow started to melt, it caused even more headaches.

"Back then the ground around the Elementary School sloped toward the building," Recalled Marie Phillips, school librarian. "When the snow finally melted it flooded back into the school, they since have leveled out the ground."

Sisters residents who experienced it will not forget the winter of 1992-93 - and they know it could happen again. Some local folks are working to make sure individuals and families are prepared for the hardships such an event can bring.

Sisters Country: Prepared & Ready is a community initiative made possible by the American Red Cross and other partners. This past September 2012 they held an Emergency Preparedness Fair for the whole family to help our community become more self-reliant when we face emergencies.

"We want to get Sisters Country residents to be prepared by being self-contained for any emergency, it puts less strain on the emergency personnel," said Jack McGowan, community organizer. "The new thought for Prepared & Ready is shelter in place; you can hunker down and have enough supplies to last 72 to 96 hours."

For more information on preparedness, visit http://www.SistersCountryPreparedand

Ready.org. And keep an eye on those winter weather forecasts...