Emergency management means issues beyond flooding

La Conner's new flood barriers are staged and in place up and down the waterfront.

But the work of the Town's six-member Emergency Management Commission has only just begun.

The Nov. 11 power outage here that impacted residents, businesses and those attending the annual Art's Alive celebration underscored in real time that the mission of the local advisory board is to focus on all forms of emergencies.

"The commission met an immediate need by addressing flood mitigation," said Rick Dole, town council liaison. "Now it's moving on to power outages, earthquakes and the like."

Commissioner Jerry George concurred.

"We're moving on how and what to do with other emergencies," George said during the council's Nov. 14 meeting.

The commission discussed strategies to contend with a wide range of disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis and wildland and structure fires and issues posed by long-term climate change and sea level rise.

The power outage, triggered by seasonal high winds, provided yet another point of emphasis.

Trees and vegetation fell on power lines, disrupting some electrical service for more than 12 hours. Retail activity was hampered on what was expected to be a robust weekend shopping day with a large influx of people in town for Art's Alive events.

"I walked the town during power outage," said councilor Mary Wohleb. "Here was a bright, sunny day and the restaurants weren't open. Cash registers were down. It was very concerning."

Cell phone service was interrupted and there were multiple reports of household appliances not working after power was restored. In addition, relatively few homes and commercial buildings are equipped with backup generators.

La Conner fire chief and code enforcement officer Aaron Reinstra noted that future refurbishment and installation at the fire station of the message board that formerly stood at Sixth and Morris could make public emergency information when technology is down.

"It would be for events and public safety concerns," Reinstra told council members.

Reinstra hopes to continue talks with Port of Skagit and La Conner Schools officials about partnering on a reader board project.

"It's not the greatest location," he said of placing the board off Chilberg Road, just east of the roundabout, "but if we get it going, it's something."

Mayor Ramon Hayes expressed support for Town participation so long as proper procedures are followed.

"From a process standpoint, if the Town is involved, we have to be very careful," said Hayes, who nevertheless stressed that restoration of the old message board is "doable."

"You see the support," he said. "It's here. It's the process."

Reinstra estimated that restoring and illuminating the existing reader board, which was taken down to clear space for construction of the La Conner Swinomish Library, will cost around $10,000. He said the La Conner Fire Association has agreed to cover refurbishment costs.

The price tag of a new digital board, said Reinstra, would be "extremely high," perhaps $30,000 or more.

Another emergency worry is the prospect of a waterfront fire, which has led Town leaders to prioritize acquisition of a fire boat. Hayes said he and his successor, mayor-elect Marna Hanneman, have spoken with State Sen. Ron Muzzall (R-Oak Harbor) about potential funding support in Olympia for a La Conner firefighting vessel.

After speaking with the senator, Hayes believes the matter will at least be "on the list" for consideration by state lawmakers.

For now, though, La Conner residents and business owners who suffered significant property damage during flooding last December, are relieved to see proactive flood protection measures in place.

"It's so impressive," said former Weekly News publisher and editor Sandy Stokes, spouse of the emergency board's chairman. "I can sleep well at night again after the trauma last year."

The Stokes' Caledonia Street home was among those flooded when saltwater from Swinomish Channel surged like a river over the shoreline and into town.

Town Public Works Director Brian Lease, whose department was lauded by Sandy Stokes, is hopeful still more can be done going forward. He presented to the council as part of a major Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP) proposed permanent flood protection on South First Street from Commercial to Caledonia.

What's been done thus far, by all accounts, is being well-received. Public Works staff have gotten positive feedback when asked by passersby why they are putting out sandbags and placing Ecology Blocks along the waterfront.

"It's nice to see that infrastructure going in," said Hayes.