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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (June 15, 2016)
Polk County News Polk County Itemizer-Observer • June 15, 2016 5A JOLENE GUZMAN/ Itemizer-Observer Dr. Marion Hull checks a volunteer victim’s status tag on Thursday in Grand Ronde. The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde set up a mock medical center to test plans. Quake: Drill found ‘gaps’ Continued from Page 1A “That gives us that per- spective,” Baxter said. “What are we missing?” Grand Ronde’s Cascadia Rising exercise took place on the third day of the after- math of a simulated 9.0 earthquake off the West Coast. An influx of people escaping the coast are arriv- ing and the walking wound- ed are finding their way to newly established emer- gency operations centers, or EOCs, offering triage and medical services. For the drill, casualties are 33 dead, numerous injured and a reported $14 million in damages, including the complete destruction of the tribal governance building. In a likely scenario given what happened after the 9.0 earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan five years ago, Spirit Mountain Casino was designated as a shelter. “ W h e n t h e Ja p a n e s e tsunami occurred and there was a fear that it was also going to hit the Oregon Coast, we had a couple hun- dred people show up at the casino to wait it out,” said Dean Rhodes, the exercise’s public information officer. The casino has a supply of cots on hand, but Thursday’s exercise was designed for contingencies, too. “What’s our plan B for that? What if that building or com- plex is harmed, structurally harmed, beyond what we would anticipate?” said Rick George, the tribe’s planning director who also was coordi- nating the EOC Thursday. Professional and volun- teer emergency responders said the exercise allowed them to get to know each other and work together. “There is not a whole lot of opportunities for this,” said Lifeguard flight para- medic Amy Lenz. “This is great for us.” Members of the air ambu- lance crew, consisting of a pilot, paramedic and flight nurse, explained proper pa- tient loading technique to volunteer emergency respon- ders and landing procedures to West Valley firefighters who participated Thursday. Grand Ronde Police Chief Jake McKnight said the sce- nario made the plans on paper more realistic. “I think it helps to prac- tice, to see what you will ac- tually be doing,” he said. Thursday’s exercise and those conducted in the past pointed out another need: trained volunteers such as CERT teams. “That’s going to be really important that people are trained so you don’t have to train them onsite,” he said. “When they get here to vol- unteer, they already have an idea what they are going to be doing.” Patrick Dempsey, Grand Ronde CERT team coordina- tor, said scenarios like Thursday’s makes for the best training. For more on this story, in- cluding a photo gallery: polkio.com. Dallas Fire & EMS Annual FATHER’S DAY Breakfast Sunday, June 19 • 7 - 11 AM $5 Adults • Children 6 years & younger Free — Proceeds Support — • Frank "Harpy" Bovard Scholarship Fund — which provides a graduating high school senior financial assistance for college. The scholarship is awarded through a competitive process that includes academics, community service and an interview panel. The members of Dallas Fire and EMS appreciate the continued support from our community. Come enjoy breakfast and consider becoming a volunteer.
