09/21/2007

A cataclysmic event strikes the Seattle region. Perhaps it is a magnitude 8.2 earthquake. Ferry docks are shattered. Vashon is now truly an island. Power and communication infrastructure is destroyed and it will be weeks before services are restored.

At the time of the event you and many other residents of Vashon are on the mainland. Your dogs are locked in the house. There is no power to your aquarium. Did the fences in the pasture and the horses survive? Efforts to contact your neighbors are unproductive and you and they have never discussed what should be done in such an unlikely circumstance.

Of course during such a disaster you can be sitting 'safely' at home, survive the initial incident and still have things get pretty sticky. As I sit here writing, I have a box full of literature on generators - but no generator - even though I was without power for 8 days last December. The one flashlight in the house has no batteries since the kids harvested them for something. I donýt own a radio.

However since becoming involved with VashonBePrepared (VBP) I have taken steps to improve my ability to weather a disaster. I keep at least one 50# bag of dog food in reserve (wonder how long it would take the island stores to run out - if you can get to them in the first place) as well as a supply of bottled water. I have some MRE's and I will be taking more steps in the immedi-ate future. You may be intending to do the same. I'll get the batteries and radio tomorrow.

However if you are like me, you may want to look to those who have done your homework for you, and who have survived and learned from such devastating entities as Katrina and the torna-does in the Midwest. Island veterinary professionals have been gathering suchinformation to assist you in your personal preparedness, as well as working with Island and King County officials to create plans for dealing with injured, stray, displaced, or stranded animals.

Their information will be presented to the public at a free forum at Chautauqua Elementary School on Sunday, October 7, 2008 from 2 to 5PM. Presenters will include Gen. Joe Ulatoski - Head of the Vashon NERO groups and Mr. Michael Cochrane - head of CERT for King County. Veterinarians and topics species they will address are: Dr. Mark Thorne - Horses, Dr Dana Ness - poultry and other farm animals, Drs. Keith Vogel and Tim Tim Kraabel - exotics and pocket pets, Drs. Don Canfield and Don Wolczko - Dogs, Dr. Kirk Haupt - cats, Dr. Beth Fritzler - large animals, and Dr. Tag Gornall - fish and other aquatic species. There will also be discussions of first aid procedures and how to prepare "go kits" for both your animals and yourselves.

All residents of Vashon/Maury islands are encouraged to attend.