September 11, 2014 | REX HILL
After the earthquake hit the heart of Napa, KGW visited REX HILL to investigate our preparedness. Oregon is due for an enormous earthquake at an estimated 9.0 magnitude! If this were to occur, Kelly House of the Oregonian reported that it would take up to three months just to restore electricity in the Willamette Valley alone!
Despite the tremendous care we take with our wines, the safety of our employees is a top priority. We have plans in place for fires, earthquakes, and other natural disasters and have occasional, unannounced drills to measure our preparedness. REX HILL, like many Oregon wineries, was originally built around an old building designed for something else (in our case, it was a barn used to dry fruit and nuts). Realistically assessing these old, repurposed structures is very important. Even small measures could make a big difference in an emergency, for instance, adding lighted exit signs, choosing not to stack barrels too high or bolting tanks to reinforced concrete pads.
See our seven tips for emergency procedures.
