INSIDE

Locals team up with county Red Cross to be
ready for any emergency that shuts down the Point

By Emily Smith

Point Roberts is one step closer to being prepared in the event of a large scale disaster. Local residents gathered at the community center on August 17 for a free spaghetti dinner hosted by PREP (Point Roberts Emergency Preparedness) and the Mt. Baker Chapter of the American Red Cross. Volunteers from the Red Cross prepared and served a delicious and healthy meal to demonstrate how they feed large groups in a shelter situation. Dinner was followed by an educational presentation given by Red Cross trainers Pam Spangler and Coco Lomas.

The first part of the program was an overview of the services the American Red Cross offers local, national and worldwide communities before, during and after a natural disaster or large-scale emergency. The Red Cross also serves people and families in need after the more common occurrences of flood or fire. It is the commitment of the Red Cross to provide food and shelter for people affected by disaster until they can make other arrangements for long-term assistance in putting their lives back together. The second part of the presentation was the community services class which explained the basics of shelter operations. Participants received a Red Cross certification for attending.
PREP was very pleased with their first public event and turnout almost doubled their expectations. Forty-four local residents participated, many of whom signed up for additional training classes offered later in the week and the following week.

It is the goal of PREP that through an ongoing partnership with the American Red Cross the residents of Point Roberts can get the training necessary to prepare for an emergency or disaster. The Red Cross and other disaster services recommend that every household be prepared to sustain itself for three days in the event of such a disaster. That includes such things as an ample water supply, food, clothing, medical and first aid supplies, batteries, flashlights and a battery operated radio.
The members of PREP maintain that the three-day estimate is woefully inadequate for Point Roberts because it would most likely take much longer for help to reach the area.

PREP’s mission is to coordinate the resources of local fire and law enforcement, county disaster management services, the Red Cross and other programs to create a comprehensive plan for the protection of Point Roberts and its residents and to educate the community on how to prepare for the event of an emergency or disaster.