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| 1/17/2008 9:56:00 AM | Email this article • Print this article |
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| Steve Bailey, Director of Emergency management for Pierce County. |
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Pierce County emergency
preparedness reaches new level
by Bruce Smith
With keypad locks on the doors and a thick-paned, bank-teller-like glass window at the receptionist desk, visitors to the Pierce County Department of Emergency Management in Tacoma know immediately that this agency is fast preparing for the post-9-11, global warming world.
In the event of a major disaster to Graham and the south County area, the DEM is the agency most responsible for delivering the food, clothing and shelter that many will need - or evacuation, as in the case of a Katrina-like event.
"People have huge expectations," said Steve Bailey, Director of the DEM, "in what I call a CNN disaster - an emergency that TV stations cover 'round the clock. 'When is the government going to get here and put things back to normal?' That attitude is pervasive in our culture. But it is unrealistic."
Instead, Bailey recommends that people prepare themselves to survive in-place for at least seven days. That means food, water, an alternative source of heat like a portable propane heater or wood stove, sufficient medications, pet foods and games for the kids.
In addition, Bailey said that one of the most critical things that people can do is to know their neighbors.
"Know whom you can trust, know what their capacities are - and their limitations. Know who is most vulnerable in your neighborhood - who's on oxygen life support, who is frail and most at risk for injury.
"It's my priority to be on a first name basis with everyone in this county responsible for public safety, so in case of a catastrophe, I know that when Reggie Romines from Graham Fire and Rescue calls me on the radio and says he needs three helicopters, he really needs three helicopters. You need that element of trust."
In terms of what the governmental response will be in a major disaster, what the DEM calls a Category Three Disaster, Bailey said it takes the National Guard about 24 hours to mobilize, while at least 72 hours are required for a large-scale response from outside the county, such FEMA or the military.
The DEM is also working with increasing diligence with area churches to be havens of refuge. In Graham, the Evergreen Presbyterian Church on Meridian is one of those sites beginning to create the staff, supplies and facilities to feed and protect hundreds of people.
Ken Parrish, project manager of the Pierce County Emergency Operations Center, said FEMA has created ten regional supply sites that are packed with millions of MREs - meals ready to eat - plus bedding, tents and other emergency supplies. Fortunately, the supply depot for the Pacific Northwest is in Auburn.
Bailey is also pushing for the state to establish more rigorous preparedness standards for nursing homes, assisted-living facilities and group homes.
"Each of those institutions should have back-up generators, heaters, extra medications and lots of stored water and food," Bailey declared. "Many of these organizations are owned by large corporations who have the means to build the advanced level of preparation needed. They should be required to do that, and not depend of public resources to bail them out."
When asked about the probability of a Category Three event, Bailey replied," I think it's undoubtedly going to happen. Within the last eighteen months we've had three federally-declared disasters in Pierce County. I've been in emergency management for 40 years and I've never seen that kind of thing before. We're definitely seeing an increase in the frequency and severity of wind storms, floods and the like."
For more information about emergency preparedness, contact Sheri Badger, Public Information Officer of the DEM: 253-798-2204.
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