Volunteer spill group IOSA details 40 years of local response, seeks sustained funding and training support

Elena Thompson, executive director of the Islands Oil Spill Association (IOSA), and operations manager Rick Winnings briefed the County Council on April 14 about IOSA’s volunteer‑based spill response activities, equipment, partnerships and funding.

Thompson said IOSA grew out of a local response effort after a 1985 spill and now operates with volunteers and a small paid staff supporting initial assessments and small‑to‑medium responses in San Juan County. She described the organization as a unique, community‑based responder that fills gaps when incidents are too small to trigger larger contracted responses but large enough to cause environmental harm if left unaddressed.

Volunteer capacity and training: Thompson said IOSA maintains a tier‑1 volunteer roster of more than 40 trained responders who receive regular training and hazard certifications. “These volunteers … are expected … to train with IOSA 4 times a year, they’re expected to get a 24 hour HAZWOPER certification, and they get equipment, go bags,” Thompson said. The organization has run monthly trainings (12 in 2023, 14 in 2024) and is organizing a two‑day joint drill in June that will include an indoor tabletop exercise and hands‑on deployments.

Equipment and readiness: IOSA’s operations manager described recent investments in equipment caches and trailers positioned around the islands and a recently donated work truck funded through a Department of Ecology grant administered by Emergency Management. Thompson said IOSA is storing two wildlife deterrent buoys (acquired with Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife partnership) ready for deployment when wildlife protection is required.

Funding model and asks: Thompson presented IOSA’s mixed funding model—county support, state grants, industry funding and foundations—and said the organization recently converted from a 501(c)(4) to a 501(c)(3) to enable broader fundraising. She outlined operating‑cost categories (personnel, training, equipment maintenance) and said consistent local support makes planning easier. Thompson asked the council to continue support for IOSA’s operations and training program and to help foster cross‑border coordination with Canadian organizations and the Gulf Islands, a point council members encouraged.

Council discussion and next steps: Council members praised IOSA’s volunteer program and urged outreach to local schools and the Gulf Islands network. Members noted the value of IOSA’s local knowledge and readiness during both small incidents and in a larger incident where IOSA would play a logistics and local‑knowledge role. Thompson said she will follow up on cross‑border contacts and invited council members to visit IOSA’s Friday Harbor headquarters and training facilities.

Ending: The council thanked IOSA staff and volunteers for their service and encouraged continued coordination with the County’s Department of Emergency Management, ports and other local partners.