With flood threats managed, Town panel focuses on emergency shelter sites

Location, location, location.

It’s not just the familiar real estate mantra. It’s also a key element as La Conner’s Emergency Management Commission crafts long-term disaster preparation strategies.

The six-member advisory panel discussed best methods to publicize the locations and primary functions of La Conner’s network of emergency shelters at its Nov. 28 hybrid meeting.

A map listing La Conner’s various shelter locations, suggested by Councilmember Rick Dole, drew the greatest support.

Dole, council liaison to the commission, offered his idea as the commission addressed bolstering communication with residents immediately following an emergency.

Commissioner Doug Asbe endorsed placement of emergency shelter location maps on public kiosks around town, which he has seen in British Columbia.

“We could make a list (of the emergency shelter locations) and identify which ones would be appropriate for specific emergencies,” Asbe said.

Commission Chair Bill Stokes and Councilmember MaryLee Chamberlain, attending as a representative of the Skagit Valley Clean Energy Cooperative, also voiced support for creation of what Stokes termed a “tutorial map” of shelter sites.

“It’s a great idea,” Stokes said.

La Conner’s churches, the Garfield Masonic Lodge (it houses the La Conner Sunrise Food Bank), Maple Hall, the La Conner Schools campus, La Conner Civic Garden Club, Skagit County Historical Museum, the La Conner fire station and La Conner Swinomish Library were mentioned as potential or existing shelter sites.

Some venues are preferable to others depending on the type of emergency to be dealt with – earthquake, tsunami, fire, flood, power outage, or extreme heat or cold, for instance – Stokes and Town Administrator Scott Thomas noted.

“With an earthquake, we might need a shelter for weeks,” said Thomas, alluding to likely disruption of digital

communications and vital utility and transportation-related services.

“The high-tech stuff,” Stokes concurred, “is what goes out first. There will be communications interruptions during a power outage. The power outage we had recently was relatively short, but it showed the vulnerability of the system.”

He advocated signing on with the Starlink satellite internet system rather than relying on ground-based internet during emergency situations.

Stokes championed Maple Hall, saying, “This building would be good for sheltering large numbers during an emergency since it’s elevated from ground level.”

Glen Johnson, among area residents attending, said the historical museum on South Fourth Street is ideally situated as a shelter location.

“An earthquake is one of our biggest potential threats,” Johnson stressed. “The museum is our strongest engineered building.”

Stokes called for an update of the emergency shelter list while Commissioner Jerry George reinforced the need to develop a coordinated emergency preparedness and communications plan.

“We need to have a disaster plan and system in place,” said

George, “and people assigned to it.”

Councilmember Mary Wohleb, also representing SVCEC, related that the recent approval of a state Department of Commerce planning grant for solarizing the fire station and providing it with a backup power source represents a major first step toward the west Chilberg Road facility eventually becoming a multi-faceted emergency shelter.

“The grant is for a feasibility study,” said Wohleb. “We’re going to be doing a public meeting in February to look at a preliminary study.”

Wohleb said SVCEC has also circulated a public survey to gather data related to community emergency preparedness.

The commission heard from Public Works Director Brian Lease that several gaps between waterfront flood barriers were filled prior to last week’s anticipated king tides and low barometric pressures that were forecasted. “We’re about as prepared as it gets,” Stokes said of the Town’s saltwater flood protection measures.