Town Council approves purchases of key saltwater flood mitigation items

The sands of time have shifted from the hourglass to poly bags that will soon be strategically placed along the La Conner waterfront ahead of king tide season.

Facing an Oct. 1 deadline to install sandbags and ecology blocks in areas prone to flooding, the La Conner Town Council last week approved purchases of equipment and barriers designed to thwart the high-water damage that plagued the town last December.

The council, acting upon recommendations of the Emergency Management Commission, gave Public Works Director Brian Lease the go-ahead at its Sept. 12 hybrid session to buy ecology blocks, pre-filled poly sandbags and a generator in preparation for fall and winter high tide conditions on Swinomish Channel.

Commission chair Bill Stokes said beforehand it was imperative that the council take immediate action.

“We only have until October for Brian to get all this done in time,” Stokes said.

Lease, whose staff have filled nearly 800 bags to date, said he will order another 5,600 pre-filled bags. He said the poly bags can last up to three years if properly handled and stored.

“We intend to get them staged right away and we intend to reuse them,” Lease said.

Lease said he had received overwhelming support from waterfront store owners to proactively place flood barriers on their properties. Stokes also reported positive responses from Upper Skagit Indian Tribe representatives, whom he had met with on Sept. 1, about putting ecology blocks on their spacious south waterfront site.

The Town has secured temporary use of pumps, a sandbagger machine and forklift to round out its short-term flood mitigation plan.

The emergency management commission, which convenes the hour prior to council meetings, is charged with addressing short-term and long-range flood impacts as well as preparedness strategies for other natural disasters, including earthquakes, tsunamis and wildland fires.

“Washington is the second most seismic state in the lower 48,” reminded commissioner Jerry George. “A category seven earthquake would knock out La Conner’s water and power. We, as a group, should continue to work on this.”

Town Administrator Scott Thomas agreed.

“In the case of an earthquake,” Thomas said, “we’re going to rely on others beyond what we can handle ourselves.”

Councilmember Rick Dole, liaison to the commission, said a good starting point is for residents to collaborate with their neighbors.

“It’s important to get to know your neighbors and their needs,” Dole said, “so that there’s that level of awareness in case of an emergency. Communication is the key.”

Stokes suggested the development of emergency preparedness brochures for distribution at community events such as high school football games.

Commissioner Jamie Throgmorton provided her colleagues with a detailed handout on climate change.

“People are worried about climate change,” she said, “but people don’t know where to turn yet.”

Throgmorton favors integrating La Conner’s disaster preparedness and emergency management experience with similar communities.

“I would like to communicate with other coastal towns impacted by climate change,” she said. “We need more education and communication. These are going to be serious times in the next couple of decades. All of us need to start thinking about it in order to make more informed decisions. It will be a long process. It’s not going to happen today or tomorrow.”