PORT ANGELES — The Captain Joseph House has received a $5,000 donation of survival food that would feed 24 people for four weeks.
In the event of a catastrophic earthquake on the Cascadia Subduction Zone — which scientists say isn’t a matter of if but when — the Captain Joseph House would be responsible for the families it is serving, said Kathy Charlton, president of the Captain Joseph House Foundation.
“It is very important to the Captain Joseph House board that when we open our doors, we need to be prepared,” she said. “We’re responsible for the families while they are here.”
The Captain Joseph House was founded by Betsy Reed Shultz, who is converting her former Tudor Inn at 1108 S. Oak St. into a haven for families of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
The plan is to create a retreat and provide an all-expense-paid weeklong respite for families of fallen members of the armed services.
The house is named for her son, Army Capt. Joseph Schultz, a Green Beret who was killed in action in Afghanistan on May 29, 2011.
The donation came from 4Patriots LLC, which offered the donation after learning of Captain Joseph House’s mission to support families of fallen heroes, Charlton said.
“I think it’s pretty special that not only are we doing the house, but thinking ahead about being prepared,” she said. “We had the drills this summer that everyone needs to think about this.”
Over the summer, first responders practiced responding to a massive earthquake in a drill called Cascadia Rising.
A state report called the response “grossly inadequate” and called on residents to be prepared for an earthquake.
The house isn’t yet open but is on its way, Charlton said. She estimated it’s about 70 percent and has hopes it could open next year.
“We’re focusing on next year really hard,” she said. “Everyone is working really hard.”
She said siding is going up on the house now and that the foundation has no debt.
It works on the house as it is able to raise money, she said.
To date, the foundation has raised more than $275,000 to remodel the house and bring it up to current standards.
“We’ve done a very extensive remodel,” she said. “A lot of it is done by volunteers in the community.”
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Reporter Jesse Major can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56250, or at jmajor@peninsula dailynews.com.
A one-year supply of 25-year shelf life food.
