INSIDE

PREP group aims to rally community for emergency preparedness

By Meg Olson

The Point Roberts Emergency Preparedness, or PREP, committee is drawing a growing number of people who want to see the Point ready for anything.

“We’re all worried. You think about these things,” said Emily Smith, one of the founders of the group and a director for the non-profit organization. The mission statement adopted by those attending the November 7 PREP meeting dedicates the group to producing an emergency operations plan for Point Roberts that will help coordinate state, county and national resources so that in the event of an emergency or natural disaster the community has what it needs.

“We’re not trying to reinvent the wheel or be separatists,” Smith said. “ The idea is we need to fill in the gaps in infrastructure.” The Point’s unique geography will make self sufficiency a priority it might not be in other communities. “I focus on us being isolated,” said Ron Klages. “Say the border is closed if we’re quarantined because of bird flu?”

The two dozen people attending the meeting split up 10 topics from public education to the distribution of food and water. Between now and their December 5 meeting each team will research what resources are available, what the community needs might be, and how to close the gap.

“This is a good jumping off point for us,” Smith said. She added the group hopes to draw in more community members both for planning and to be part of the plan. “Get your friends and neighbors involved. This needs to be a community effort.”

PREP meets December 5 at 7 p.m. at the community center. Community suggestions are also being solicited at suggestions@prepgroup.org. Smith said the group needed an inventory of local resources, from specialized knowledge to a backhoe. “There are things we might need if we all need to get together to get someone out of a house,” she said.

They are also looking for community input into what specialized needs there might be, such as animal care. “We have a lot of horses on the Point. Who will care for them if their owners can’t?” she asked.