City to assess emergency response protocols this week

King tides in the forecast for late January

By Stefanie Donahue

With some areas in Blaine and Birch Bay still vulnerable as a result of the December 20 wind storm, personnel from the city and other agencies are gathering this week to assess existing emergency response protocols.

“Communication with all our city members and properly utilizing our limited resources will be the key to ensuring no harm comes to our citizens,” said police chief Allen Schubert in a memo to city staff. “Blaine public works and the Blaine Police Department want to coordinate a unified response for the next event.”

According to the National Weather Service, king tides are in the forecast for Whatcom County on January 21 through 25. A king tide is defined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as the highest predicted high tide at a coastal location for the year.

“None of these tides are by themselves concerning; however,  should we also have a low pressure system, additional surge, and if the wind direction and wave heights are right, we could have problems, particularly in Birch Bay, Sandy Point, Blaine and Point Roberts,” said Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) Division of Emergency Management deputy director John Gargett.

The National Weather Service in Seattle is currently assisting the city and county in providing forecasts for Birch Bay, Blaine, Point Roberts and Sandy Point, he said. Those are the areas that sustained the most damage from the December wind storm.

“The Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office wishes to express its appreciation to Blaine public works for leading the drive on this effort, as well as to the National Weather Service for being willing to focus on our helping better safe guard our communities,” Gargett said.

Following the December storm, public agencies in Whatcom County submitted preliminary damage assessments to the state totaling $3,899,252, Gargett said. The number doesn’t include individual or business damage assessments, which he predicted will exceed $500,000.

To assess existing emergency response protocols, city staff as well as representatives from North Whatcom Fire and Rescue, the Auxiliary Communications Service, Community Emergency Response Team, WCSO Division of Emergency Management and Semiahmoo Resort will meet this week.

“It’s just a way for us to identify the resources we have and how to best use them,” Schubert said.

Schubert, along with Gargett, public works director Ravyn Whitewolf and assistant public works director Sam Castro, will present at the meeting.

Gargett said he plans to discuss the history of coastal storms in Whatcom County, how the WCSO Division of Emergency Management responds to disasters and incident command system protocols, which are established by the federal government.

While the meeting is intended for city staff and emergency response personnel, the public is invited to attend. It will take place at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 17 at Blaine City Hall.

“The city is ready,” Whitewolf said about the city’s emergency preparedness. “We’re going to be ready for the next one, whenever that comes.”