Marina at Jerisich Park in Gig Harbor
[photo courtesy of Sue Gillmore]
Peninsula Emergency Preparedness Committee Meeting Minutes
Monday, 17 January 2005
Board of Directors:
Gretchen Wilbert, Mayor of Gig Harbor (June 2007)
Marv Nauman (June 2007)
Hugh McMillan (June 2004)
Bob Jardin (June 2007)
Joseph Jones (June 2004)
Tonya Lee (June 2007)
Officers
General Chair: Dave Watson (June 2006)
Vice-Chair: JoAnne Gray (June 2006)
Secretary: Sue Gillmore (June 2007)
Treasurer: Don Lee (June 2007)
Presiding / Conducting: Dave Watson, General Chair
MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE:
Board of Directors: Hugh McMillan, Bob Jardin, Gretchen Wilbert, Tonya Lee, Marv Nauman
Committee Members: Dave Watson, Sue Watson, Sue Gillmore, Don Lee,
Called to order: 6:30 p.m.
REPORTS
Minutes from September 13, 2004- approved
Treasurer's Report: approved
Committees
1. PARET: Mark Yordy. (not in attendance)
Dave Watson announced that Mark has been promoted to a regional level position. Congratulations! Mark.
2. Webmaster: Sue Gillmore
While our website does not have a counter that tracks actual visitors to our site, it does have a counter that tracks the number of pages visited. On September 13, 2004, the website counter had tracked 575,431 pages visited. On January 17, 2005, the website counter indicated 641,830 pages visited. Over the last four months, visitors have browsed an average of 16,600 pages per month or a four month total of 66,399 pages visited.
Typically, the occurrence of natural disasters increases interest in emergency preparedness. Though we have a great presence on the internet, local and national interest in preparedness following the earthquake and tsunami in Thailand has been lower than expected. Both email inquiries and requests for water barrels have been few and far between over the past four months.
3. Training: Don Lee
Work continues slowly with Pierce County. We have requested a surplus laptop computer from PSD to facilitate training presentations. We may wish to re-evaluate this acquisition if PEP-C discontinues its involvement in training presentations. Dave Watson indicated he would check with PSD and find out what the wait time is before the next surplusing of computer equipment takes place.
In the meantime, the committee engaged in a discussion of the role of PEP-C in the community. If community preparedness (neighborhood preparedness) is being handled by PC-NET, what role should PEP-C play? It was proposed that PEP-C focus on individual/family preparedness and encourage families to participate in neighborhood preparedhess. It was also suggested that PEP-C organize some type of "program" to assist individuals in preparedness, such as securing furnishings in the home. Penny, from the Fire Department, mentioned that such a program already exists and that they would be happy to partner with PEP-C but they have not been successful in getting into people's homes. Several reasons for this reluctance were discussed, but not conclusive.
Further discussion was tabled for our next meeting.
4. Future Events
a. Health & Safety Expo in April (9 am to 2:30 pm) - Marv Nauman, Don Lee and Dave Watson said they would be available to participate. Dave Watson proposed that PEP-C partner with PC-NET for this event. Don will contact Gretchen O'Connor and propose this idea to her.
b. Gig Harbor Maritime Parade - If groups participated last year without the required 1-day $1 million insurance policy, should PEP-C plan on participating this year? Further discussion was tabled for our next meeting.
5. Water: Don Lee, Dave Watson
As mentioned earlier, barrel sales have been down. We have plenty of barrels in stock.
6. PIO: Hugh McMillan
As we gathered around a ground shaking map provided by Don Lee, Hugh took pictures of our committee. He will collect captions, quotes and a "story" (perhaps from the Health and Safety Fair) for publication in The Gateway newspaper.
7. KGHP: Keith Stiles (not in attendance)
Dave and Sue Watson personally delivered our $1500 donation to Keith Stiles at KGHP. The gift was very much appreciated. Hugh McMillan shared a report on behalf of Keith Stiles who was unable to attend our meeting:
There was essentially no emergency activity at KGHP during the 4th Quarter of 2004. The low activity level was influenced by the very mild Fall Weather, and, in the case of Power Failure, the progress made in undergrounding electrical delivery systems by Peninsula Light.
The station ran 24/7 during the period with the exception of a very recent outage on December 29, when all local Century Telephone Company lines went down due to a Century Tel equipment failure, reportedly on Vashon Island. The outage started at approximately 1123 hours, and communications with the transmitter were restored at 1225 hours.
KGHP is now running full automation with the exception of the school broadcast teaching hours on weekdays from 7:45 a.m. until 2:00 p.m., and during the "live" announcer periods, in the weekday evenings and during the daytime hours on Saturday.
Two major actions involving KGHP remain awaiting action by the Federal Communications Commission.
The first of these is our application to raise our antenna at the main transmitter at Evergreen Elementary School. This application wa "Accepted for Filing" on August 20, 2004, but still awaits FCC action. No reason has been given for the delay.
The second action still awaiting final decision is the attempt by an Oregon station to take away and use the FM frequency 104.5 MHz now (and historically) used by KGHP and KMIH, the Mercer Island School District radio station. The outlook on this one is uncertain for both of the School District stations, but the legal fight is now approaching its' third year, and we have not lost yet.
During the 4th Quarter KGHP brought in several new programs including "Jazz Live from Lincoln Center" (underwritten by Peninsula Light Company), presented a full slate of football by the local teams, and the Basketball Season is now fully underway.
8. PSD: Dave Watson
The new state system is not yet online, but should be up and running in the very near future. These plans have been recently updated.
9. Fire Districts (not in attendance)
Penny gave us a brief update on behalf of the Fire Chiefs. Emergency Preparedness and Mitigation Plans are scheduled to be reviewed in the near future by the key agencies that created them several years ago. Penny also invited us to go online and check out the newly released National Response Plan (NRP).
10. Update on JoAnne's status
Though JoAnne Gray continues her leave of absense from activity on the committee, she continues to respond to email requests and has issued a couple of PEP-C Pointer newsletters. Her efforts over the years are very much appreciated by the committee.
New Business
1. Triangle of Life Update
FEMA and other official agencies are publicly refuting the effectiveness of using the Triangle of Life philosophy. Therefore, PEP-C's official position is to promote the traditional Drop-Cover-Hold (and Scoot) earthquake response. PC-NET published an excellent article on this issue in their recent "Net Soundings" publication.
2. EOC Volunteer Opportunity
Dave Watson asked Fire Chief Black if PEP-C could assist the EOC during an emergency. Penny was in attendance on behalf of the Fire Department to welcome volunteer help. Interest and expertise surveys were distributed and returned to Penny. Committee members will be contacted individually regarding assignments and responsibilities.
ADJOURNED 7:55 PM
