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Keeping Updated on Critical Incidents
Idaho Bureau of Disaster Services
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Boundary County Disaster Services helps respond, mitigate and coordinate emergency incidents in Boundary County, working closely with local volunteer organizations, law enforcement, and state and federal emergency response agencies, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Idaho Bureau of Disaster Services.
In recent years, Boundary County Disaster Services has been called into
action
Boundary County Disaster Services came about of the old Civil Defense
Program, resulting in an established Boundary County As in any emergency, the first point of contact is through the Sheriffs Office, and the Sheriffs dispatch center is the focal point for communications with all emergency service providers, including law enforcement, Boundary Volunteer Ambulance, the Curley Creek, Three Mile, Hall Mountain, Bonners Ferry, Naples and Paradise Valley Volunteer Fire Departments and with the Disaster Services team. The success of Disaster Services has been achieved through the close cooperation of all agencies involved. Local amateur radio operators provide valuable services during emergency situations, and the Red Cross has come through on countless occasions to provide relief to those affected by critical incidents. Another important factor in the success of Boundary County Disaster Services is the neighbor-helping-neighbor attitude prevalent in Boundary County. In the wake of the most devastating disasters, the people of the community play an invaluable role in easing the burden of those affected, providing assistance and shelter to those in need, bringing food and coffee to those involved in responding to the crisis, and heeding emergency measures imposed by those directing the response. Interested citizens can take a more active role in disaster preparedness by attending meetings of the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC), usually held on the last Thursday of each month at the Bonners Ferry Fire Hall. Stan Rodwick chairs the group, and brings in guest speakers who discuss important and interesting topics relating to the community and its response to disasters. |
on many
occasions, responding to floods, train derailments and spills, fires,
hazardous materials incidents, mudslides and extreme snowfalls, and in
all cases their work in assessing the situation, organizing the response
and coordinating the efforts of multiple agencies has proven
exceptional, minimizing damage and danger to life and property and
quickly bringing a return to normalcy following the most critical disasters.
The Disaster Services program is designed to be pro-active; while many
critical incidents cannot be foreseen, members stay vigilant to
situations which may result in emergencies, and take steps to prevent or
minimize the impact before the emergency arises.
Emergency
Operations Plan
that is used as a guide in managing major incidents. Each year, the plan
is reviewed and exercises are held to ensure the plan remains up to date
and effective. The Board of County Commissioners administer the disaster
services program, appointing the director and incident commander and
those who serve in the executive group, including the public information
director whose task is to keep the public informed of the extent of the
disaster, of steps being taken in the response and to keep people informed of
emergency measures implemented to protect the public safety.