More than 300 attend local disaster preparedness town hall

Keynote speaker Dr. Brian Atwater explained how the underlying geology of our area is setting us up for major earthquakes and tsunamis. "It's not a question of if," he said. "It's a question of when."
Keynote speaker Dr. Brian Atwater explained how the underlying geology of our area is setting us up for major earthquakes and tsunamis. “It’s not a question of if,” he said. “It’s a question of when.” (Photos by Natalie Covate and Larry Vogel)

Edmonds Community College’s Woodway Hall was host Tuesday evening to the inaugural “Count Me In When Disaster Strikes” event, where a capacity crowd gathered to listen and learn about how to effectively respond when Mother Nature turns the tables on us.

From level 9 earthquakes and monster tsumanis to more common events like heavy winds and ice storms, participants learned about the nature of these potentially catastrophic events, and simple, common-sense ways to prepare in advance, to help minimize the impact of natural disasters on ourselves and our community.

A capacity crowd filled Woodway Hall for the event.
A capacity crowd filled Woodway Hall for the event.

“Our mission tonight is simple,” said emcee Teresa Wippel, founder and publisher of the My Neighborhood News Network comprising My Edmonds News, Lynnwood Today and MLTnews. “We’re here to begin the process of becoming prepared as both individuals and a community to deal effectively with natural disasters, large and small.”

Wippel went on to explain how the inspiration for this event started with an inquiry from a reader, who asked where to find information about how to prepare for natural disasters. In response, Wippel contacted Dr. Bob Mitchell of the Disaster Medicine Project, and resulting meetings brought together experts, first responders and academicians who developed Tuesday evening’s community town hall.

Atwater with Edmonds CC President Jean Hernandez and Robert Mitchell, Medical Director of the Disaster Medicine Project.
Brian Atwater with Edmonds CC President Jean Hernandez and Robert Mitchell, Medical Director of the Disaster Medicine Project.

Welcoming the group was Dr. Jean Hernandez, president of Edmonds Community College, who noted that the college “has always been a strong advocate of disaster preparedness. We’ve hosted in-depth training by FEMA (the Federal Emergency Management Administration), held drills and table top exercises. I am extremely gratified tonight to see the high level of interest in this room for moving this effort into our community. Know that you can always count on the college as resource. The more prepared we are, the better off we are as a community.”

Robert Ezelle, director of the Washington State Military Department's Emergency Management Division, who stressed the importance of a ready community, but cautioned that "...building preparedness and resiliency is a long-term process. I am extremely pleased to see us making a start tonight."
Robert Ezelle, director of the Washington State Military Department’s Emergency Management Division, who stressed the importance of a ready community, but cautioned that “…building preparedness and resiliency is a long-term process.”

Hernandez was followed by Robert Ezelle, director of the Washington State Military Department’s Emergency Management Division, who stressed the importance of a ready community.

“A prepared community is in the best position to weather both small and major disasters,” he said. “These events have the real potential to knock out power, cripple our infrastructure for weeks, disrupt water supplies, roads, communication, food distribution, and all the other services and amenities we depend on every day and too often take for granted. Everything we rely on could be down. It would be like living in the 1800s. My message tonight is that community preparedness is what will make the difference in a disaster. But building preparedness and resiliency is a long-term process. I am extremely pleased to see us making a start tonight.”

Lynnwood Fire Chief Scott Cockrum spoke of his department’s efforts to build Citizen Emergency Response Teams (CERT) as a way to bring knowledge of disaster preparedness into the community.

Other speakers included Lynnwood Fire Chief Scott Cockrum, who spoke about the critical nature of citizen involvement. He and the Lynnwood Fire Department are spearheading an effort to build a Citizen Emergency Response Team (CERT) comprised of volunteers trained in emergency response who can help spread this knowledge to others and ultimately build a community prepared to effectively respond when disaster strikes.

“Perhaps the most important thing you can do is have a plan,” he explained. “Have a location where your family will meet when phones don’t work. Have a seven-day store of food and water. Know the people in your community, everything from who is a good carpenter to who is elderly and may need extra help. These are the kind of things that will get us through.”

The Lynnwood Police Citizens Patrol explains to attendees the importance of citizens becoming informed about disaster preparedness and sharing this information with others.
The Lynnwood Police Citizens Patrol explains to attendees the importance of citizens becoming informed about disaster preparedness and sharing this information with others.

Keynote speaker Dr. Brian Atwater, U.S. Geological Survey scientist based at the University of Washington and a renowned researcher on Pacific Northwest earthquake and tsunami hazards, talked about the potential for major disaster in our area. Atwater spoke of recent scientific research that has pinpointed major quakes and tsunamis that have hit our region in the past, and the lessons they provide on what the next disaster could look like and when we might expect it to hit.

Through slides, diagrams and photos, Atwater explained how the Cascadia Subduction Zone has the potential to spawn catastrophic earthquakes and tsunamis right here in the Puget Sound basin. Stretching off the coast from northern Vancouver Island to northern California, it is a place where one of the massive tectonic plates that comprise the earth’s surface builds up incredible pressure and force as it tries to slide underneath another.

Attendees could pick up an array of informational materials at tables around the perimeter of the room.
Attendees could pick up an array of informational materials at tables around the perimeter of the room.

For centuries, this force builds up, Atwater explained, but friction keeps the plates from moving. Eventually the pressure overcomes this and the plates snap past each other, releasing years of pent-up force in one massive movement. This sets off earthquakes, tsunamis and major changes in the level and shape of land masses both in the sea floor and surrounding coastal regions.

“The timing of these is very hard to predict,” he explained, “but new evidence has helped us pinpoint when these have happened in the past. The point is we know they’ve happened, we know when, and we know the level of destruction they brought. And we know it’s only a matter of time till it happens again.”

Mike Schindler, president of Operation Military Family, closed the event by reminding the audience that this evening marks a beginning of coming together as a community to prepare for natural disasters.

“This is the start of your education,” he explained. “And by preparing for major disasters, we also put ourselves in a much better position to handle smaller events like windstorms and large power outages. Everyone can take the first steps: know the risks, develop a plan, identify a family meeting place, and have a seven-day supply kit. This is the beginning. This is where preparedness starts.”

The presentation was videotaped and will be available soon for those who couldn’t attend. In addition, future town halls and smaller neighborhood meetings will be scheduled soon on specific disaster-preparedness topics, so watch for that information in the near future.

Event sponsors were Edmonds Community College, Snohomish County Fire District 1, City of Lynnwood, Disaster Medicine Project, Operation Military Family and the My Neighborhood News Network. Kelly Meldrum, State Farm agent from Edmonds, provided refreshments for the evening.

Mark Nunes of the Disaster Medicine Project speaks with Edmonds Police Chief Al Compaan.
Mark Nunes of the Disaster Medicine Project speaks with Edmonds Police Chief Al Compaan.
Disaster Medicine Project volunteers gather for a group photo.
Disaster Medicine Project volunteers gather for a group photo.

— By Larry Vogel

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