Submitted by OPALCO

Representatives from OPALCO, Orcas Fire & Rescue, San Juan County Emergency Management and San Juan County Sheriff Department will share best practices about individual and neighborhood planning to enhance islanders’ ability to ride out emergencies.

This forum will be held from 4 to 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 21, at the Orcas Island Senior Center.

After short presentations from local emergency responders, there will be an open discussion and invitation for attendees to share ideas for emergency preparedness and organization. When individual home readiness and neighborhood emergency systems dovetail with first responder services, we all become more effective and, as a community, we become a bigger us.

These presentations and discussions will enhance understanding of how individual preparations, skills, resources, quick access to equipment and awareness of community communication can increase the success of emergency response.

Participants will take away a sense of the significant part they play, as well as a list of actions to enhance their emergency readiness.