The memories of severe saltwater flooding that deluged La Conner in December remain firmly etched in the minds of residents and business owners here, perhaps no more so than former council member and planning commissioner Bill Stokes.

But Stokes, unanimously chosen to chair the Town’s new six-member emergency management commission at its first meeting April 19, is focused more on the future than the past.

“We’ll talk about everything that can cause an emergency,” Stokes said. “That includes fires, tsunamis and earthquakes.

“Our current goal,” he added, “is flood control. We have low spots here...