BETTER SAFE THAN sorry is my motto for emergency preparedness. I’m in my 21st year of writing Peninsula Horseplay, and I care deeply about the safety and care of horses, and their people. Which is why I find it disconcerting that both Clallam and Jefferson Counties’ Emergency Management divisions have yet to establish an emergency disaster plan for both large and small animals.
If we’re displaced from our homes, where can we flee to safety with our animals? Myself, I always envisioned camping in my truck and horse trailer alongside my animals. Others might envision a safe place to take their animals while they stay in a hotel, or friend’s house.
I live in Sequim. I’ve often worried if a wildfire was heading my way from the southwest, and Highway 101 is already closed in Blynn, where is a safe place I could I evacuate to with my horses and dogs? My first thought is Clallam County Fairgrounds — it’s got the land, water, stalls and places to park horse trailers —yet, over the years I’ve been told by the Clallam County Emergency Management division that’s not an option.
On Tuesday, I decided to try again. The phone was answered by the new Emergency Management Program Coordinator Justine Chorley. To my relief, she said she’s been “looking to put together an animal emergency plan” but readily admits she’ll need the help of local animal organizations, because, “the emergency management staff doesn’t have that level of knowledge about the different types of animals we will need shelter for,” and their needs.
She asked me to help get the word out there to horse and other animal groups, along with individuals, who are interested in becoming part of a committee who’ll work with her to “develop a comprehensive animal disaster plan for both small and large animals.”
To start with, she’d like to create an email list of those interested. Next, she’s asking them to reach out to friends, neighbors and others to find potential sites to be use as evacuations sites and/or command centers for their immediate area. Then, if the landowners agree, CCEM would make a formal agreement with the landowners so they could be listed in the official plan.
Why we need a plan
I think most are aware county officials have issued warnings we live along the Cascadia Fault Zone, and a large magnitude earthquake is expected to hit us at any moment. I think most have seen the tsunami warning signs posted in sea level communities and beach fronts.
In the past, we’ve already experience how severe rain storms have caused mud slides that have completely closed off local highways. It’s been predicted a major earthquake would likely collapse, or severely damage, many of the more than 200 bridges connecting communities throughout Clallam and Jefferson counties. That would effectively cut us off from attaining help and supplies from others areas.
If we’re hit with a big earthquake its likely those living in surrounding areas, including along the I-5 corridor, will be adversely impacted, too. Should that occur, it’s been suggested we have at least a 30-day supply of food and water, and longer, for everyone in our household.
Sites
Chorley confirmed the fairgrounds is under consideration for a possible evacuation site, but first the fair’s management team has to agree to allow it. Then, the CCME will have to implement a formal agreement with them agreeing to jointly run the site.
“We have to take into consideration a large earthquake could collapse all those buildings because they already old and in need of retrofitting,” she said.
Airport grounds can’t be used because they will serve as command centers for government disaster recovery groups — FEMA, Red Cross, search and rescue groups, etc. —as well as a landing site for helicopters and airplanes bringing supplies.
For the next few months Chorley hopes the collective minds of volunteers will actively begin emailing each other with ideas — simultaneously copying those emails to her and myself — with the goal of meeting in person at the CCME office at the county courthouse (with the option of attending virtually) to establish a first complete draft of the plan to submit to her superiors for approval. A tentative date’s been set for Friday, Jan. 24, at 7 p.m.
To participate please an email Chorley at justine.chorley@clallamcountywa.gov, with a copy to me at kbg@olympus.net. You may also phone Chorley at 360-417-2525.
Let’s get those ideas flowing!
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Karen Griffiths’ column, Peninsula Horseplay, appears the second and fourth Saturday of each month.
If you have a horse event, clinic or seminar you would like listed, please email Griffiths at kbg@olympus.net at least two weeks in advance. You can also call her at 360-460-6299.
