Great quake drill puts local responders on solid ground

In case of a major earthquake here, local first responders will be on shaky ground only in a literal sense.

Their training for such an event – one that experts say is a matter of when, not if – has put them on solid footing to save lives and limit disruptions caused by a major quake and the tidal waves likely to follow.

Fire District 13 personnel, Swinomish Tribal Police, Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) members, HAM radio operators and Skagit County Department of Emergency Management staff participated in comprehensive Great ShakeOut drills launched from the SneeOosh Road fire station last Thursday.

Meanwhile, at La Conner’s schools, students practiced the “stop, drop and hold” technique at precisely 10:18 that morning.

The La Conner area added its own distinct flavor to the mix in joining the rest of the nation in the Great ShakeOut.

District 13 Capt. Ted Taylor developed an area-specific scenario in which responders dealt with the likely effects of a 7.2 magnitude quake on and around Fidalgo Island.

Teams of participants were sent to various areas, including Padilla Heights, the Swinomish Casino, and Shelter Bay –where the water tower on Muckleshoot Circle atop the residential community was checked out – to gather information and assess conditions.

The plan going in was to rely on alternative forms of communication – such as HAM radios – as part of the scenario.

“We decided that with an earthquake of that magnitude the internet would be down and there would be no cell service,” said Fire District 13 Lt. Gary Ladd.

Thus, the importance of amateur radio operators and even those able to run messages between locations, much like the original marathoner, Pheidippides, of ancient Greek lore.

“My assumption for this exercise,” Taylor explained later, “was only the most primitive systems would survive.”

Those who took part gathered at the fire station to debrief prior to dismissing for the day.

“I’m absolutely delighted to see all you guys here,” said Taylor. “I think this exercise was an enormous success and when the big one happens its guys like you who we’ll have.”

Everyone thought the Great ShakeOut was a positive learning experience, which will allow them to avoid going into an actual earthquake or major emergency blind.

“I thought we worked well with what we had,” said Swinomish Tribal Police Community Service Officer Brian Geer. “We overcame some obstacles with emergency communications, but that’s always going to be an issue in situations like this.”

Geer praised the participation of citizen volunteers like HAM operators and CERT members.

“You are the eyes and ears,” he said. “The information that’s gathered in the early stages (of an emergency) is crucial.”

La Conner students also proved adept at emergency response. Fourth grade teacher Megan Lee led her class through a point-by-point discussion of what to do in an emergency, a Socratic lesson the students clearly mastered.

They were unrattled when Thursday’s campus earthquake drill commenced and knew exactly how to respond.

The fire station on Thursday afternoon was every bit a classroom itself.

Feedback revealed the need for future investment in additional emergency equipment, and generated kudos for on-the-spot decisions made in the field.

“We did a good job in the field relating information,” Ladd said. “We know now we have lots of opportunities and lots of challenges but have done lots of growing.”

“In any major situation,” Taylor added, “there’ll be a lot of innovations and work-arounds.”

“We’re very pleased with the results of the exercise,” said Ladd, “and we’ll see after (studying) the critical report what modifications can be made.”