Latest estimates of potential evacuees are in the 30,000-plus range, for three weeks or more.<\/p>\n
County and City officials \u2013 with the notable exception of Enumclaw’s \u2013 are heroically working to mitigate possible disaster.<\/p>\n
One huge gap in the planning, though, is US, the public. We’re being left out of the plans.<\/p>\n
We \u201chigh country\u201d communities (Covington, rural Kent, Maple Valley, Black Diamond, Enumclaw, Buckley, Bonney Lake, Sumner Heights, Edgewood, Milton, Federal Way) are positioned to be of immense help, front line responders to our maybe \u2013 waterlogged low-lying neighbors who may need refuge. (Do we really believe that they’re going to make it from the flooded Valley to Qwest Field?)<\/p>\n
Apparently if regular citizens are going to help, we need to organize ourselves \u2013 neighborhoods, churches, grange halls, fire stations.<\/p>\n
Wouldn’t it be a great start to have a Help Registry at every courthouse and on a website where those of us who are high and dry can offer what’s available to us (i.e. – I have a chainsaw\/ EMT training\/ room in my storage shed, etc… – I can house a family of four\/ one senior person\/ two cats, three horses \u2013 whatever!)?<\/p>\n
Right now water is available, pure and virtually free. One tiny but significant step we can all take NOW is to save water in clean containers, to share with those whose polluted wells and septics may be unusable for an extended period of time. We can painlessly save millions of gallons of water!<\/p>\n
Much of what may be done for our vulnerable neighbors we must do ourselves. Planning and preparation cannot happen once events are upon us.<\/p>\n
One wonderful information source for help\/in citizen organizing area by area is Ruth Peterson who led efforts during and for months after recent catastrophic floods in Chehalis. Ruth will give her terrific presentation to groups who request her to come. She gives heads-up info on what to expect after the flood. Email rainydaze@yahoo.com<\/p>\n
Whether \u2013 and the extent to which \u2013 we prepare and respond \u2013 or not \u2013 is a choice each of us must make. And then get going.<\/p>\n
And, lest we forget, folks, we’re sitting at the foot of a live volcano. Major earthquakes overdue. It’s no stretch to consider that we may be the ones needing assistance one day.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Jeannie Bystrom<\/p>\n
Enumclaw<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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