JOYCE — The Joyce Emergency Planning and Prep (JEPP) Committee will host a community meeting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Crescent Grange to discuss preparations for a Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake.
JEPP is an advisory committee formed to advise the Joyce Fire Department Auxiliary and Clallam County Fire District No. 4 on how to create and maintain a cache of food and materials that will be used to provide shelter for people after a disaster, according to a news release.
The committee formed in September after a series of public meetings identified the need to prepare for a major disaster that could overwhelm Joyce and Clallam County resources. Such a disaster might include earthquakes, wildfires or cruise ship emergencies.
Part of the plan
The purpose of Thursday’s meeting is to update residents on community activities that have occurred since the last meeting and provide detailed information on how the county plans to respond to a major disaster. Presentations will explain how Joyce fits into that plan.
Clallam County Emergency Management’s All Hazards Plan calls for Fire District No. 4 and JEPP to establish a “rally point” for the Joyce “micro-island” on state Highway 112 between Crescent School and the Fire District No. 4 station.
The rally point will become the emergency center for the community. It will include a disaster service center; an area command center that includes fire, emergency and law enforcement offices; an emergency shelter; a community point of distribution; and a helicopter landing zone.
The meeting also will provide residents with a progress report on preparations to establish and manage an emergency shelter capable of housing 300 people for three weeks at Joyce Bible Church or Crescent School.
Actions since September include placement of a 40-foot shipping container at Fire District No. 4, and JEPP is in the process of stockpiling food, water, cots, sleeping bags and other equipment to support the shelter.
