Disaster preparedness: Get involved!

I am excited to announce that I will be offering a community disaster preparedness class on October 20 at Johnson Park in Rosburg from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., and one on October 27 from 6:30-8:30 p.m., located at the River Street Meeting room in Cathlamet. To reserve your seat call Beau at 795-3242 or 465-2202 renfrob@co.wahkiakum.wa.us.

This is the fourth part of my disaster preparedness series and this week I am going to discuss how you can “GET INVOLVED.”

In the face of emergencies and disaster, Americans come together with courage, compassion and unity and ask, “How can I help?”

There are many ways to “Get Involved” especially before a disaster occurs. Each resident can participate in activities to make their families, homes and communities safer from risks and threats.

The formula for ensuring a safer and more resilient community consists of volunteers, a trained and informed public and increased support of emergency response agencies during disasters. Major disasters will overwhelm first responder agencies, empowering individuals to lend support.

So Get Involved before disaster strikes! Below is an example of some of the local emergency services groups you may be interested in getting involved with:

--Volunteers in Police Services (VIPS) enhance public safety through citizen involvement; promote emergency preparedness; promote crime prevention; and assist the Sheriff's Office as needed in other tasks.

--Wahkiakum County Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES “HAM”) serve the public by providing public service communications in times of need during natural or man-made disasters. HAM’s are licensed amateur radio volunteers who dedicate their time, equipment, knowledge, and training for the betterment of public safety and give aid to those in need.

--Fire and EMS agencies perform fire suppression, wildland firefighting, rescue/extrication, swift water rescue & Emergency Medical Services(EMS).

--Local Emergency Planning Committee's (LEPC) initial task is to develop an emergency plan to prepare for and respond to chemical emergencies and to fulfill the community's right to know act.

--Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations.

--Reserve Sheriff’s Deputies are a volunteer organization of individuals who provide the Sheriff’s Office with additional law enforcement resources to better serve our citizens. A Reserve Deputy has peace officer powers while on duty, in accordance with the laws of the State of Washington.

--Search & Rescue (SAR) is a group of trained volunteers that search for and provide aid to people who are lost, in distress or imminent danger. Our team is comprised of several different specialty subdivisions to include; field searchers, SAR dogs; ATV’s and 4X4's.

--American Red Cross: Every single day, the American Red Cross helps people in emergencies. Whether it’s one displaced family, thousands of disaster victims, or providing care and comfort to an ill or injured service member or veteran or support to a military family member.

These represent only a few of the many ways that you can Get Involved to help prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters.

I challenge every resident of Wahkiakum County take the opportunity to participate in the 2015 Great Washington ShakeOut, a statewide opportunity to practice how to be safer during big earthquakes: "Drop, Cover and Hold On" on October 15 at 10:15 a.m. I also encourage you to Get Involved with a local volunteer organization within this wonderful community of ours. Feel free to contact me if you are interested in volunteering and I will get you in touch with the correct person.

If you have any questions or for more information on the item I have discussed in this article, contact me at renfrob@co.wahkiakum.wa.us, 795-3242, 465-2202 or visit my website at: http://www.co.wahkiakum.wa.us/dem.html .

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