Residents will see emergency vehicles and first responders in several locations around Camano Island on Saturday, Nov. 7, participating in a full-day earthquake response drill. The drill is expected to begin at 9 a.m. and end at approximately 5 p.m.
This is a planned training exercise, not a real emergency. If you see emergency vehicles or responders in your neighborhood on Nov. 7, they are likely participating in the drill. Several Camano-based community groups are also part of the drill and you may see them responding alongside fire department personnel. Camano Fire will continue to respond to 911 calls like normal.
The daylong drill will test how well Camano Fire and its community partners can adapt if normal resources, important travel routes, and outside help aren’t available. The earthquake scenario assumes that the State Route 532 bridge is damaged, buildings have collapsed or are on fire, and that multiple injuries have been reported.
“Real disasters rarely happen the way anyone expects,” Assistant Chief Aaron Fields said. “When the big one hits, we have to plan on being on our own. That’s the reality of living on an island. So this drill isn’t about getting it right, it’s about finding the gaps and figuring out how we fix them.”
Where you’ll see activity on Nov. 7
- Camano Fire Administrative Office
- Camano Fire Stations
- Brentwood, Camano Hills, and Lost Lake neighborhoods
- Camano Center
- South Camano Grange
- American Legion
- IGA
What you can expect to see
- Emergency vehicles and responders moving between drill locations throughout the day, without lights or sirens.
- Emergency responders entering and leaving facilities, and treating and transporting volunteer role-players who will act as ‘patients’ during the drill
- There will be no interruptions to traffic or public transportation.
If you have a real emergency on Nov. 7, call 911. Camano Fire will be fully staffed with personnel who are not taking part in the drill, so real emergencies will get the same response as any other day.
Why this drill is so important
On a normal day, Camano Fire relies on State Route 532 to access mainland hospitals and get mutual aid assistance from other agencies. A major earthquake could damage the SR 532 bridges, keeping help from reaching the island. This drill will show Camano Fire how effectively its crews and equipment can respond to multiple incidents and where community partners can help fill the gaps.
Island County Emergency Management advises that all Camano residents should prepare to be self-sufficient for at least two weeks following a major disaster. That includes having a two-week supply of food, water, sanitation supplies, medication, and other health and safety items. Find more preparedness tips here: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/478/Personal-Family-Preparedness