Posted: August 20, 2008 11:44:52 PST
NOTE: Photos of the training in progress available on the City of Bellingham News Photo page at http://www.piersystem.com/go/doctype/1264/20411/
Officials from a broad array of Bellingham and Whatcom County government agencies, non-profit organizations and businesses are practicing disaster response this week at the Federal Emergency Managment Agency's (FEMA) prestigious Emergency Management Institute in Maryland, hosted by the City of Bellingham, Washington State, and FEMA.
Bellingham Mayor Dan Pike is one of 70 people from Bellingham and Whatcom County participating in the training.
"I am impressed with the professionalism, enthusiasm and level of engagement of everyone involved," Pike said. "Our work here highlights our commitment to protecting lives and property by working closely together preparing, responding and recovering from disasters. It also reminds us of the importance of preparing ourselves and our communities for 'the big one'."
Pike, Whatcom County Executive Pete Kremen, Bellingham City Council member Barry Buchanan, and various city and county department representatives are joined this week by almost 70 people representing various key community organizations, including: St. Joseph Hospital, Western Washington University, Whatcom Community College, Bellingham Technical College, Port of Bellingham, Conoco Phillips Refinery, Whatcom Transit Authority, Ferndale Police Department, Washington State Emergency Management, FEMA Region 10, Cascade Natural Gas, the Mount Baker Chapter of the American Red Cross, Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD), Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Medical Reserve Corps, Whatcom Volunteer Center, Bellingham/Whatcom County Humane Society, Bellingham/Whatcom County Tourism Bureau.
Bellingham officials announced last year that they were selected to participate in emergency management training at the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) prestigious Emergency Management Institute, an opportunity only offered to a few municipalities each year.
The "Integrated Emergency Management Course" is an intense comprehensive training curriculum that places public officials, key community agency representatives, and emergency response personnel in a realistic disaster response environment, exposing them to a Emergency Operations Center setting under high stress, and learning how to work together to resolve crisis situations. The course stresses the integration of key community resources and individuals in dealing with all phases of disaster response.
Bellingham Fire Chief Bill Boyd, who serves as the city's Emergency Management Director, said participating in this program meets a long-term goal of city officials.
"We have been working toward receiving this invitation ever since the tragic Olympic Pipeline explosion in 1999," he said. "It is a very competitive process among communities, made even more so by the increased awareness to better prepare our communities."
"This week we are building key relationships and practicing together serving our community," Boyd said. "The relationships forming this week build trust, cooperation and understanding among agencies in an intense practice environment. This environment realistically tests our command, collaboration and response capabilities during disasters."
Boyd said participants are enthusiastic and engaged in a way rarely experienced while juggling training along with day-to-day work responsibilities.
He said approximately 70 people were invited to participate in the training. All travel and most housing costs are reimbursed by FEMA, he said. FEMA officials visited Bellingham earlier this spring to gather specific information about the city to develop a realistic exercise scenario for the training.
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Media Contact:
Bill Boyd, Bellingham Fire Chief/Emergency Management Director
360-815-1002 (cell phone)
Janice Keller, Communications Manager
City of Bellingham
360-201-9500 (cell phone)
