County moves to establish emergency response group

Emergency planners are forming a group to help victims of disasters. Robin Cocking, Whitman County Emergency Management Program Analyst, said the first meeting to form the group was June 20.

“Should we have an incident in Whitman County, it’s best to be organized,” she said.

Cocking said she is familiar with these types of groups and believes the county would benefit if a disaster struck.

At the meeting, Rev. L. George Abrams of Spokane told a gathering representing several emergency agencies in Whitman and Latah counties that non-emergency agencies can help in instances when the President doesn’t declare emergency disasters that open a doorway for the Federal Emergency Management Agency to respond.

As an example, he cited a July 2012 wind storm in Ferry County when hurricane-force winds toppled trees, destroyed 11 homes and damage 30 more. One person was killed and 14 were injured. Ninety percent of the county was without power.

It didn’t qualify for federal disaster relief, and Ferry County officials quickly formed a Long Term Recovery Group which included churches and emergency management personnel. They helped people recover on a case-by-case basis.

“The point is you will be comfortable setting up a Long Term Recovery Group,” Abrams said. “This is a group that helps people who fall through the cracks.”

“You don’t wait for FEMA, especially if the disaster is not declared. FEMA won’t come,” he said.

Abrams said he traveled to Joplin, Mo., after the force five tornado destroyed much of the town.

“The group there helped people get to a new normal,” he said.

Abrams said that church groups, volunteer agencies and individuals can belong to the group to help in a disaster.

“Large counties like Whitman, Spokane, Kootenai and Latah have enough resources to organize a Long Term Resource Group,” Abrams said. “The key is bringing together groups that can offer money, volunteers and materials.”

In Ferry County, the group reviewed and helped 16 cases and received $16,000 in donations.

When Spokane got a record-breaking snowfall in December 2008, a Long Term Recovery Group was formed in two hours. They met at the Red Cross office and partnered with churches, the Salivation Army and Catholic Charities. The group reviewed 88 cases, opened 10 cases and spent money on three hardship cases that included repairing a snow-damaged roof and air conditioner, partially paying for a foundation for a new manufactured home and assisting people with appeals in insurance claims. The group invested about 75 hours in case work.

“The group brings hope to the hopeless,” Abrams said.

Cocking said anyone interested in joining the group can contact the Emergency Management office.