Archive for the ‘Emergency Preparedness’ Category

Event Summary: ESP at 2012 Preparedness Fair

Saturday, May 12th, 2012

by Catherine Haug, May 12, 2012

Bigfork Emergency Response Team (BERT) hosted the first Bigfork Preparedness Fair on May 5, 2012. Although the weather was wet, windy and cold, the fair had an excellent turnout: over 300 people signed in and there were many booths both indoors and out, as well as several lecturers.

ESP had a booth in one corner of the main room, featuring a backboard of photos from past gatherings, books on sustainability topics to browse through, and Jeffrey Fund’s pedal-powered grain grinder for people to try out. We had several different grains to grind: spelt, Jeffrey’s wheat and Wheat Montana’s Prairie Gold wheat. (more…)

Gathering Summary: Bigfork Emergency Readiness Discussion, July 20, 2011

Monday, July 25th, 2011

by Catherine Haug, July 23, 2011

There was very poor turnout: MonaRae and I were the only ESPers in attendance. Nevertheless, we had a good short discussion with our emergency experts. I took a few notes from that discussion, included below.

Some good points for further discussion were touched upon:

  • Meet and work with groups like Elks, Rotary, etc. to mobilize the community;
  • Work with churches and schools to procure generators, so they can be good emergency shelters;
  • Get to know the seniors in your neighborhood; help them fill out a ‘My Medications List’ and a 4-day grab and go pack, and in general to prepare for disaster.

(more…)

All Natural First Aid Kit

Monday, June 27th, 2011

by Catherine Haug, May 4, 2011

As we all prepare for pending flood (or other) emergency, it behooves us to have a simple first aid kit in our Grab & Go pack. Things like bandaids, etc. that are in run-of-the-mill first aid kits are certainly important. But there are also all-natural, herbal items that might come in handy, both for the Emergency pack and for use at home.

It’s always best, of course, to use what is native to our area, that we can glean when in season, then dry or use to make a tincture for later use. But there are some other items that are not native that we may already be using, that are handy healers, too. (more…)

Flood Information Hotline – Flathead Co. OES

Thursday, May 19th, 2011

By Catherine Haug, from the Daily InterLake, May 18 edition:

Hotline Number: 758-2111

Due to overwhelming number of calls, the Flathead County Office of Emergency Services (OES) has opened a telphone hotline of recorded information on:

Please call the hotline number (758-2111) for information regarding the above topics, to allow the main OES number (758-5562) to be open for emergency calls (life or death situations).

see also:

 

 

Preparedness for Any Emergency

Wednesday, May 11th, 2011

by Catherine Haug

Part of ESP’s mission is to build a stronger Bigfork community, and an integral part of that community is helping our neighbors and our families to be prepared for any emergency or disaster that might befall us.

I have volunteered to help get the Bigfork Emergency Response Team (BERT) website up and running, with links to important informational about preparedness for everyone to access. I am also providing these links on our ESP website for your convenience. These include things like:

  • Supplies kits and checklists including ESP Document: Emergency Supplies List;
  • Suggestions on how to be ready for whatever may come;
  • National Weather Service and their Missoula Hydrograph site that tracks river levels;
  • Guide to evacuation levels;
  • Sheltering in place;
  • FEMA and Red Cross info sites and brochures.

To see all articles concerning preparedness on this site, go to Emergency Preparedness Articles..

About impending flooding

Be aware that even though your home may be on high ground, you could still be negatively impacted by the flood. For example: (more…)

Emergency Response Handouts for BERT

Monday, May 9th, 2011

by Catherine Haug, May 9, 2011

Please see Emergency Response Handouts which provides

  • Links to important information sites (National Weather Service Missoula Office and Missoula Hydrograph pages, Red Cross, FEMA, etc.);
  • Printable pdf files about Community and Emergency Preparedness, that have been made available at the BERT (Bigfork Emergency Response Team) events.

The link to the Emergency Response Handouts site is also available in the Preparedness Menu on our home page (right-hand column)