Emergency Management Commission gets to work early in new year

The Town’s newest advisory panel didn’t wait long getting to work in the New Year.

The six-member Emergency Management Commission, which spent much of 2023 developing and implementing immediate saltwater flood barriers along the waterfront and in low-lying areas, met yesterday afternoon at Maple Hall.

The main agenda topic was their ongoing efforts to craft a community emergency management plan for La Conner.

Commissioners were scheduled at their Jan. 2 hybrid session to hear from Skagit Department of Emergency Planner Joan Cromley.

“We need to develop a process and procedure for our plan,” Administrator Scott Thomas told commissioners when they met Dec. 12, noting that the task – producing a working document to deal with the full spectrum of potential emergencies and natural disasters – will be challenging. One thing that occurs to me is it’s easy to get overwhelmed really quick.

“There are more people in this room,” he added, “than staff at Public Works who would do the work.”

At that meeting it was suggested someone from the county’s emergency management team be invited to address the commission.

“The Skagit (emergency management) plan is important,” explained commissioner Jerry George, “because most of the resources we’d call upon would be from the county. So, we should tailor our plan to what the county expects.”

George also suggested Swinomish Emergency Management Coordinator Brian Geer, a member of the Swinomish Tribal Community police force, as a source to be tapped as the plan takes shape.

“He has agreed to speak to the commission,” George said.

Meetings will be on the first Tuesday of each month at 4:30 p.m. this year, prior to Town Planning Commission meetings.

The planning commission cancelled its Jan. 2 meeting. It will next meet on Jan. 16 at Maple Hall, starting at 6 p.m.