Bainbridge Island is a disaster waiting to happen.
That’s why it’s comforting to know the city has detailed plans for when “The Big One” (as an earthquake) hits. BI Emergency Management coordinator Anne LeSage told the City Council about the updated plans Oct. 15.
After listening to her presentation, Councilmember Jon Quitslund said, it “makes us much more secure than we would otherwise feel.”
City manager Blair King said the topic is timely right now because of the devastating hurricanes that are hitting the East Coast. “We hope nothing ever happens, but the city is prepared.”
The most important thing for the public to know is there are disaster hubs all around BI so everyone would only have to go up to two miles to get help (see list below).
The biggest improvement in the process is the new Emergency Operations Center inside the Ted Spearman Justice Center, 8804 Madison Ave. N. Previously, the setup for the EOC was inside a closet at City Hall.
“It’s no longer in the closet,” King said. “With the new one we can begin Minute 1.”
Councilmember Brenda Fantroy-Johnson recalled at one training, “We all got there, but nobody had the key to get into the cabinet.”
LeSage said that situation took 90 minutes just to set everything up. “That’s a long time.”
She said with the new EOC, the system is up and running at all times in a seismic-sound building. There’s a generator in case power goes out and a satellite hookup to aid with communications, along with food and water. “We’re always ready to go. That’s a huge advantage.”
LeSage said when a disaster hits one of the first things that needs to be done is for the council to pass an emergency proclamation. That frees up resources like requesting help and funding to buy what’s needed to support the response. The council also communicates to the public and the media after being briefed by emergency staff.
King said the process to ask for help is important. “There’s a right way and a wrong way,” he said, adding if it’s not done right the community can get billed for the federal aid.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has a structure for responses. LeSage is the EOC manager, and King the disaster manager. Incident commands are set up wherever the disaster outcomes are worse. They are onsite for the “boots on the ground” response, she said. They coordinate together the challenges and needs of the response. It has to be decided, “How big, how bad and how to support folks in the field,” LeSage said.
She said the city is two or three people deep for every position, and at least one of them has to live on-island. That was somewhat challenging since 60% of BI’s workforce lives off-island.
Every city staff member is trained to help. “It’s the most boring training I’ve ever had in my life,” but it is important because there is so much paperwork for FEMA. Everything has to be documented because FEMA could come back in 10 years and want to know how the money was spent, LeSage said.
She said a big problem everyone will feel is not being able to use their cell phones because towers will go out. So, families should have a plan, such as where to meet if there is a disaster.
The Bainbridge Amateur Radio Club will be relied on for the bigger picture regarding communications. Councilmember Clarence Moriwaki said the ham radio operators are capable experts who would be key in a disaster.
King said if there is a 5.0 quake or greater, cell phones will be unavailable. “Everybody’s calling someone, and nobody’s getting through.”
LeSage said disaster drills take place every year; the last full one was in 2022, but there was a tabletop one last year and a drill this year when a trailer was taken out to the Rolling Bay hub.
“Sounds like you’ve got it all covered,” Fantroy-Johnson said, adding everyone on the island, including employers, should be prepared.
Councilmember Leslie Schneider added, “It was amazing during the pandemic watching everyone spring into action.”
King said the council will be asked later to adopt the plan, which will then be sent to the state for approval.
Background: BI police, fire, parks, schools, city staff, Bainbridge Prepares and other stakeholders recently reviewed the BI Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan. The four components of the plan are: the foundation for coordination and communication and three functional annexes (population protection, resource management and critical infrastructure). The state has added three more annexes: wildfire response and evacuation, volunteer and donations management; and post-earthquake damage assessment.
The plan’s mission states that it is the responsibility of BI, with assistance from the community, to protect the lives, property and economy and to take action to mitigate emergencies. The plan defines cooperation of different elements to carry out preparedness and mitigation, respond to natural and man-made emergencies and disasters, and coordinate recovery efforts. It establishes command, designates responsibilities, identifies resources and funding, and organizes volunteers.
BI is especially vulnerable as it is an island surrounded by water with just one bridge for evacuation. The plan also says: BI is vulnerable to numerous natural, technological and human-caused hazards. The hazards include wind, rain, snowstorms, earthquakes, floods, volcanic ash, landslides, common and private carrier accidents, urban search and rescue emergencies, civil disturbances, terrorist activities, explosions, structural collapses, hazardous material incidents, public health emergencies, major fires, and major energy and/or utility system failures. It is assumed that any of those could create significant property damage, injury, loss of life and disruption of essential services. Those situations may also create significant financial, psychological and sociological impacts on residents.
Disaster hub locations are: Bloedel Reserve, Fay Bainbridge Park, Seabold Methodist Church, Island School, BI Recreation Center, Rolling Bay Presbyterian Church, Battle Point Park, Island Center Hall, Strawberry Hill Park, Bethany Lutheran Church, Bainbridge High School, BI Senior Center, Hyla Middle School, Islandwood and Fort Ward Community Hall.
