Sept. 6, 2005

Guest Editorial:

September is National Preparedness Month: Get Prepared, Get Involved

As I sit and watch the news broadcasts of the devastation Hurricane Katrina left in her wake, I like the rest of the nation am horrified and heartsick. I saw Fire Departments, Police Departments, Emergency Medical workers and relief workers being overwhelmed by the task in front of them. I now sit and wonder, could this, would this happen in Clearwater County? I don't mean a Category 5 hurricane, or an F-5 tornado. Was America prepared for the type of disaster that hit the Gulf Coast of America? No America was NOT prepared.

What would happen if a Category 5 disaster hit us in Clearwater County? What would happen if a mandatory evacuation order were issued for Clearwater County? Would we leave people behind? Is Clearwater County prepared? No, we are not prepared. Myself, I would like to believe we would never leave people behind if ordered to evacuate the county. Clearwater County is full of caring compassionate people who watch out for their neighbors and friends, Right? Did the people of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama & Florida feel the same way? Did they assume too much? Did they assume "It will never really happen here" or "someone will be here to help us straight away"? What a deadly mistake they made if that is what they assumed. Were the people of the Gulf Coast states prepared? It is evident they were not.

Could our Fire Departments, Police Departments and Emergency Medical personnel get overwhelmed like they were in the Gulf Coast states? You bet they could, and would. We have an incredible Sheriff and Police Department in Clearwater County and Orofino. They go above and beyond to serve and protect its citizens. However, they are small Departments compared to most others in Idaho. They have only so many people to cover one of the largest counties in Idaho. Our Volunteer Fire Departments are truly amazing in their abilities and response times, and the Emergency medical teams we have are as skilled as anywhere in the nation. No matter how good they are they would still be overwhelmed and it would still take time for them to reach everybody in the event of a Category 5 disaster or emergency.

We also have to look at the fact of our terrain. A lot of the Emergency Services personnel will be facing the same situations we will. Can they even get out of their own homes to aid others? As we all know wildfires and lowland flooding is what we perceive as our biggest threat. Most of us remember the floods of "96". However we are not immune to other threats. We are definitely prone to severe winter snow and ice storms. A lot of people forget we are actually in a drought and the recent winters we have had are not normal. Most outlying areas of Clearwater County can and do get lots of snow and ice in a normal Idaho winter, and power outages are not uncommon. Could we survive if our power was out for more then 24 hours in sub-freezing temperatures due to ice and snow? Would our friends and neighbors survive? Could our Emergency Services personnel who are able to respond reach us? Eventually they will but how long will it take?

Now after the events of 9-11 we too face terrorist threats, even though were probably not a major target. We do need to realize we are also not a high priority if a major disaster were to hit the whole state of Idaho. The facts are Boise, Coeur d'Alene, Lewiston and other more densely populated cities will get aid before we will. Then we have to ask if we are evacuated, could we survive in an evacuation center? What kinds of emotional effects would a major disaster have on us? If a disaster of the magnitude like what is happening in the Gulf States right now were to hit Idaho what will happen? Are we prepared? No, we are not.

Could we survive? Odds are most of us probably will. Can we do better? Yes we can and will. What happens if disaster strikes while our children are in school or we're at work? Our Emergency Services personnel and our local Government officials are constantly training to prepare for disasters and emergencies of any type that could hit Clearwater County. They do table top scenarios and drills frequently so they know what to do to help the citizens they are sworn to serve and protect. You also have to remember no matter how much they prepare things can always go wrong and they probably will; they usually do in a disaster.

As citizens of Clearwater County you also have a responsibility to prepare and drill too. People all over the nation have the responsibility to prepare. Clearwater County Emergency Management suggests every person makes and keeps a 72-hour emergency supply kit to help you through the first 72 hours of an emergency. A disaster supply kit should contain food, water (at least two quarts of drinking water per person per day), water for sanitary purposes, and first aid supplies to last at least three days. This kit should be kept in a designated place and is ready to grab and go in case you have to leave your home. You should also have a disaster supply kit in your place of work. A car 72-hour kit includes food, water, flares, jumper cables and seasonal supplies.

Clearwater County Emergency Management also offers community emergency response training (CERT). CERT instructors offer free training to teach citizens how to prepare for disasters and emergencies and how to get through that critical first 72 hours following a disaster. They will teach you how to take care of yourself, your family and neighbors until trained emergency services personnel arrive. For more information on contents for a 72-hour kit and the CERT/TEEN SERT programs offered free of charge to the citizens of Clearwater County contact Clearwater County Emergency Manager Don Gardner at 476-4064 or CERT Instructor Joyce Nobles at 476-9448.

Joyce Nobles, CERT Instructor