Thursday, March 28, 2024

Fire Strong workshops launch ambitious public education campaign

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CHELAN – Last week the Okanogan County Long Term Recovery Group in partnership with the American Red Cross, launched an ambitious and comprehensive series of six day-long free Fire Strong Workshops aimed at educating and preparing citizens for the increasing incidence of wildfire.
Beginning at Pateros High School on Tuesday, March 19, and Campbell’s Resort in Chelan on Tuesday, March 20, representatives from more than a dozen agencies and organizations that deal with natural disasters convened for a day-long schedule that included moderated slide presentations, displays, information and volunteers. Among the participants were:
• Okanogan County Long Term Recovery Group (www.okanogancountyrecovery.com) – OCLTRG brings a detailed display of facts and photos of its efforts over the years since the wildfires help fire victims recover and rebuild. The display recognizes the more than 126 teams and 2,000 volunteers over the past four years, along with dozens of photos of home sites in various stages of construction. OCLTRG projects also include:

1. Map Your Neighborhood – As the name implies a neighborhood preparedness program that focuses on one street and 15-20 homes at a time and tap the most immediate source of help in times of disaster. Online MYN support materials available at www.mil.wa.gov/myn.

2. Share Your Story – Stories from those affected by the 2014-15 wildfires. The stories are for a series of books that will be available to the public. The story coordinator is Jessica Rounds at jessicaocdcm@gmail.com or phone 509-846-5101.

3. Insurance Survey – Responses from insured, underinsured, and uninsured residents to comprise a true picture of the factors and gaps in process of disaster recovery. Online at www.surveymonkey.com/r/OCLTRG.

4. Reflective Address Marker – OCLTRG received a grant to fund 200 reflective address markers issued on a first come, first serve basis. Applications are available at the Fire Strong workshops.

5. The Fire Shaped Landscape Project – A map and Points of Interest guide to major fire activity from 2008 through 2015 together with recommended visitor sites connected to local fire history.

6. Green Again Program - Provides plants and volunteer help to restore color back to yards burned by wildfire. Volunteers spend four hours at each applicant site removing debris and ladder fuels, and planting. Those interested in applying for the Green Again Program can contact Aimee at (605) 941-2229 or email ocltrvc@gmail.com.
•  The American Red Cross (www.redcross.org) – One of the first agencies on the scene following a disaster, the Red Cross is always soliciting blood donations and actively recruits Disaster Action Team (DAT) volunteers. The ARC’s Family Disaster Plan reminds citizens that disasters can strike quickly and without warning. It’s 4 Steps to Safety guide is one every family should visit regularly to be prepared for the unexpected.
• Cascadia Conservation District (www.cascadiacd.org) – The non-regulatory, grant-funded group is dedicated to wise land and resource stewardship in Chelan County.  CCD offers a Landowner Assistance Program, free Roving Chipper Program, post-fire assessments, and more. Contact CCD at 509-436-1601.
• Firewise USA (www.firewise.org) – Provides an abundance of information on how to Prepare Your Home for Wildfires, one of its pamphlet titles. It also offers the Firewise Guide to Landscape and Construction along with detailed fact sheets on home components including roofing materials, exterior coatings, decks, fencing, attic and crawl space vents, under-eve construction and more.

Firewise also offers free chipping services to Chelan County residents who can register for the fire reduction program by April 15 by visiting www.surveymonkey.com/r/G9V2VYF or through a link at www.cascadiacd.org. Questions can be directed to Amanda Newell with Cascadia Conservation District at 509-436-1601 or email amandal@cascadiacd.org
• Disaster Ready Washington (www.mil.wa.gov/emergency-management-division) – A program of the Washington State Emergency Management advises steps to take before, during and after a flood. Flood Preparedness videos at www.youtube.com/user/EMDPrepare/videos plus additional websites to visit related to proactive flood issues.
• North Central Washington Forest Health Collaborative (ncwthc.org) - Promotes restoring our forests to a more natural wildfire-resistant balance through thinning, logging and prescribed burning practices.
•  Federal Emergency Management Agency (www.fema.gov) – FEMA representatives presented a slide and narration program explaining the history of the national agency, its organizational structure, and what it does. Brochures describing FEMA’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), emergency preparedness for the elderly and disabled, wildfire, and post-wildfire flooding were available.

FEMA also provides a fact sheet explaining its Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) and has a Hazard Mitigation Assistance Guide available online at www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/103279.
• Washington Military Department Emergency Management Division (www.emd.wa.gov)/Washington State Department of Health (www.doh.wa.gov) – Jointly publish a 45-page Emergency Resource Guide that covers a wide range of disaster topics from volcanoes and earthquakes, windstorms and wildfires to radiation exposure and chemical agents, plagues and terrorism.  
Among other state, county, and community agencies and organizations participating in the Fire Strong workshops are:
• U.S. Forest Service
• Okanogan County Emergency Management
• Washington State Parks
• Colville Confederated Tribes
• Pateros-Brewster Resource Center
• North Cascade Smokejumpers
• Local EMS Fire & Rescue
• Chelan and Wenatchee Valley Rappellers
• Department of Natural Resources
• Washington Air Quality Advisory

The remaining four Fire Strong Workshops will be held from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the following days and locations:
Tuesday, April 16, Cultural Center, 411 S. Western Avenue, Tonasket, WA 98855

Wednesday, April 17, Okanogan County Fairground, 175 Rodeo Drive, Okanogan, WA 98840

Tuesday, April 29, Community Center, 4000 Columbia River Road, Nespelem, WA 99155

Wednesday, May 1, Methow Valley Community Center, 201 Highway 20, Twisp, WA 98856

If any conclusion can be drawn from the state’s two largest back-to-back wildfires, the 2014 Carlton Complex and 2015 Okanogan Complex, it is that a climatic phenomenon worthy of attention warrants serious preparation on the part of every citizen for the sake of himself, his neighbor, and his community. Last year set a record for state wildfires with the DNR recording 1,850 wildfire responses.

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