Swinomish fair prepares against natural disasters

Despite perfect late summer weather, thoughts of potential natural disasters – earthquakes, tsunamis, wildland fires and more – were on the minds of those visiting John K. Bob Ball Park on Swinomish Reservation Saturday afternoon.

Emergency management staff and volunteers from throughout the region shared information and provided take-home items for use during major disaster events.

The four-hour Swinomish Disaster Preparedness Fair, coordinated by the tribal emergency management department, was the first in a series of local events in coming days and weeks to increase public awareness of effective readiness strategies against possible disasters.

On Sept. 19 the Shelter Bay Community will host a 6:30 p.m. disaster preparedness program at its clubhouse. A month later, on Oct. 19, Skagit County Fire District 13 – whose coverage area is Swinomish Reservation and rural La Conner – will stage Great ShakeOut earthquake response drills.

In addition, the Federal Emergency Management Agency designates September as National Preparedness Month: ready.gov/september.

Summer wildfires in British Columbia and on the Hawaiian island of Maui have made disaster preparedness here a topic of growing concern.

"When you have a fast-moving wildfire," said fair participant Brock Ward of Anacortes, "you have to get up and go. And there isn't a lot of egress in places like Shelter Bay."

Ward noted that historically the Puget Sound region is overdue for a major earthquake.

"If there were to be a major earthquake here," he said, "we'd have to be prepared to help our families and communities."

He cited the need for more people to secure HAM radio licenses because traditional forms of communication would likely be rendered inoperable by a significant earthquake.

"The backup batteries for cell towers are only good for a few hours," he said, pointing out that "people in their 90s and eight-year-olds have passed the test" for HAM radio licenses.

Swinomish Indian Tribal Community Police Officer and Emergency Manager Brian Geer said there is no shortage of possibilities for which residents here must be prepared should a large earthquake strike.

"Everybody talks about 'The Big One' taking out all the bridges around here," said Geer, a combat veteran with more than 25 years of experience in the emergency response and preparation field, "but what worries me is the rocks over there (at Warrior Lookout Point, just west of Rainbow Bridge) crashing down."

The fair, where tribal Sen. and vice Chair Alana Quintasket managed an information booth, also offered a series pre-emergency food preservation and home preparedness classes.

A popular feature was distribution of free backpacks and "emergency go-bags" stocked with items to be taken home for emergency use.

"They're filled with food and other specific items that if you have to go in a hurry, you can carry them with you," said Geer. "But you can also take these home and personalize them for you and your family."

Geer said a steady stream of fair goers visited information booths, attended the preparedness classes, picked up the backpacks and bags and partook of free food.

And received free advice.

A suggestion frequently made was people take home extra emergency preparedness backpacks and bags as Christmas presents for friends and family members.

"That way," said one vendor, "you're not out a lot of money and it's a gift that probably won't be duplicated."

Quintasket stressed that the Swinomish fair was a way to be proactive rather than reactive when it comes to emergency management and disaster preparedness.

"And the beauty of it," said Geer, who has compared notes with Town of La Conner emergency management commissioner Jerry George, "is that this is something we can build off of."