Third Street neighbors start emergency mapping planning

Jerry George put on his hardhat Sunday and went to work helping neighbors prepare for natural disasters or emergency situations that could strike La Conner.

The town's emergency management commission chair joined north end residents at the Matthews North Third Street home for a 75-minute session on neighborhood mapping – the process of establishing a set of steps enhancing emergency preparedness.

Leslie Smith led the meeting. She lives on Center Street with her husband, William. Their home was threatened by the June 19 house fire behind them.

She had the group list specific skills and resources they can employ in an emergency. "As individuals," Smith asked, "what can we do to help if disaster strikes?"

As an example, the Smiths own a business with a couple trucks they could provide if needed, she said. Jim Matthews offered a 12-foot aluminum boat for a flood.

William Smith, citing the Dec. 27, 2022 Swinomish Channel flood that caused nearly $2 million in property damage, spoke to the value of neighborhood mapping.

"When we had the flood," he recalled, "the residents responded but there was no plan."

Smith said people were spurred to action not knowing what was happening a couple of blocks away.

Attendees, representing a 29-household area, remembered that Gary Nelson labored to clear drains during the flooding.

"Gary Nelson, who's lived here forever," said Mollie Rights, "said he'd never seen anything like that here before."

George shared a brief history of the origin of neighborhood mapping, which dates to a devastating wildfire that struck Oakland, California in the 1990s.

"Following the fire," said George, "Oakland organized itself by mapping neighborhoods so people would be better able to respond to fires."

George called it "a tool to get people talking to one another."

He also referenced the 2022 flooding, which provided the impetus for the town forming the emergency management commission.

"It wasn't just the (king) tide that day," George reflected. "You had a west wind, snow melt and extremely low atmospheric pressure."

George also identified earthquakes as a primary local disaster threat, especially given the number of older homes in town.

He passed out "Help/Okay" signs that can be placed in the windows of homes for responders to see in an emergency.

"This simple tool," he said, "is incredibly effective."

Packets with tips for residents on how to prepare over a 12-month period for a variety of emergencies were also distributed.

"I think we have an awful lot at our disposal," said Linda Talman, a Center Street resident. She suggested connecting with La Conner Swinomish Library to encourage greater community awareness of neighborhood mapping.

"What can we do?" Talman asked rhetorically. "The big thing is we truly care for one another."

George said at least two other neighborhoods – Tillinghast Drive and Channel Cove – have embraced mapping thus far.

The group was joined by La Conner firefighter Natalie Baker near the end. She brought forms for residents to list healthcare information such as allergies to medications, use of blood thinners and any history of strokes or cardiovascular issues that can be posted on a refrigerator for emergency responders to access.

"When we come to a house," said Baker, "there are times we don't know what we're walking into."

Which is exactly the kind of scenario that neighborhood mapping is intended to solve.