It is an understatement that the recent snowstorm impacted all of us. Many survived the storm relatively unscathed, while others seriously struggled.
At times like this the resilience of our community comes to the forefront. How well were you prepared for this weather event? Were you able to cope during three days without electricity? What were your contingencies for power, heat, water and food?
Personal preparedness for this event, which certainly was an uncomfortable inconvenience, should be a “flag” or learning moment, for all of us in anticipation of a real disaster. For those who found themselves less than prepared, this is your opportunity to plan and be prepared for future events. There will be future events and some could develop into significant emergencies. We will have power outages. There will be storms. And in the extreme case, larger scale emergencies such as forest fires or earthquakes may put all of us at risk.
As we collectively gather ourselves, now is the time to look to the opportunity to “prepare”. As a reminder, Shaun Koopman, Protective Services Coordinator - Strathcona Regional District, will be sponsoring a workshop on Cortes, February 26 at The Klahoose Multipurpose building from 1pm to 5pm to learn more on how to be personally prepared. I am attaching a link to this recent article:
http://www.cortesisland.com/tideline/show9173a0x50y1z/Home_SafetyFinally, during times of emergency, volunteers are the backbone of a community response. Would you like to help your community in an emergency? Consider volunteering with Cortes Island's Emergency Support Services (ESS). You will receive training in personal preparedness and how to provide support to others. Volunteerism helps to build our Island's resilience in time of need. Attached is the link to an earlier article on the ESS Program:
http://www.cortesisland.com/tideline/show9106a31s/Cortes_Island_ESS_Team_Looking_for_VolunteersIn closing, feel free to contact me directly for further information.
Chris Dragseth
Emergency Support Services Director
Cortes Island
250-935-6801