Click here to read the candidates’ answers to the previous forum question…
Ferndale mayoral and city council candidates, including those running unopposed, answered questions posed during a public forum Tuesday, October 13th, at the Pioneer Pavilion Community Center hosted by the Ferndale Chamber of Commerce.
Each candidate was offered 2 minutes to respond to questions asked. Ferndale High School social studies teachers, Scott Browne and Jennifer Kubic, served as moderators. Many students could be seen in the crowd of nearly 70 attendees.
The following is a depiction of the questions and answers but in some cases responses have been paraphrased. This is not to alter the intended meaning or emphasis but due to limitations in hearing and recording verbatim.
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Question: With the train derailments and port disasters we have read about lately, how are we, Ferndale, prepared for disasters?
Keith Olson – We have worked with FEMA through several emergency scenarios. We have prepared a Conex container on the other side the bridge in the event we cannot get across the bridge to our regular offices on this side of the river.
Greg Hanson – As a regular citizen, I don’t know how the city is prepared. I know that things are happening to prepare us for being prepared.
Cathy Watson – I am a red cross volunteer and worked on-site during the Oso landslide disaster response. We [Ferndale] have a plan and an EOC in the police station. We have an auxiliary radio services in place. People have been trained to take care of their neighborhoods. We do on-going training for disasters.
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Click for more informationGlenn Stewart – I don’t know a lot about disaster preparedness. I know what not to do to prevent disasters. Paving over our streets and land with retail will cause worse flooding.
Teresa Taylor – Best way to prepare is with education. I really like the city website but wish it included more stuff about that. The schools do a good job preparing the kids.
Jon Mutchler – Planning for Y2K made us prepared for all sorts of disasters. We became thoughtful about such things. An active shooter drill at the high school is an example. Public works, police and fire should train us to be more diligent and prepared.
Rebecca Xczar – Flooding is something I hear of a lot. Police do a great job in times like that.
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Click for more informationPaul Ingram – I am on the board of directors of Whatcom County Unified Emergency Management. We have nightmares about oil train derailments. An oil train derailment by the granary is a nightmare scenario with a fireball that could reach the high school. These things get discussed and responses planned.