PREP: I wasn’t prepared, either

By Campbell McClusky

I have lived here since 2002 and don’t recall any temperatures below 22 degrees Fahrenheit, and that 22 degrees was over part of only one night. Sub-freezing temperatures have seldom lasted into the daytime hours. Thus lows approaching 18 and lasting over several days as well as at night came as a shock.

It was something I hadn’t considered. Especially when I was two states away and there was no one in my house or any neighbor alerted to adjust my thermostat. If this unexpected sub-freezing spell posed a threat to any of my pipes, then maybe I should thank my “independent” thermostat for coming to my rescue: my low away-from-home target temperature was overruled by a faulty mind-of-its-own thermostat which, thankfully, kept the temperature in the low 60s throughout my absence.

My fears from a considerable distance were less for my plumbing than they were for summer vacation cottages and owners likely prepared for some overnight extremes, but not for days and nights of exceptional low temperatures. The Point Roberts water district informed me that during this unusual cold period, seven homeowners reported broken water pipes and about eight others reported frozen pipes.

Point Roberts Emergency Preparedness (PREP) leadership had been monitoring emergency measures contemplated elsewhere in Whatcom County throughout this deep freeze and was prepared to open and staff a warm shelter for families unable to keep comfortable in cottages or unable to escape north to their Canadian homes because of the cold, snow or icy conditions. Just another preparedness lesson, it seems weathering this unusual cold and snow may have taught us just how lucky the Point was: Imagine if we’d had power outages during these extended low temperatures, how homes with functioning fireplaces or airtights (not to mention supplies of firewood) might have become life-saving refuges.

It is looking to this PREP member like the whole process of “preparedness” has depths we haven’t begun to fathom especially when egress from the Point by ordinary private vehicles may be cut off by weather factors.

We think of emergency dangers under some sort of “everyday” unexpected listing: earthquake, flood, tsunami, fire, wind damage/roads blocked by fallen trees, deep freezing, etc. A slightly more encompassing listing might now include freight train accidents/derailments, Point Roberts being not far from the rail line that services the Georgia Strait’s shipping ports near the mouth of the Fraser River.

Hence, assume the unlikely and keep essential needed items at hand and ready to move with you, your family and – as much as possible – your neighbors whom you may be able to help.