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Depoe Bay emergency committee rolls out yellow-barrel program, plans ShakeOut exercise and CERT training
Summary
The city’s emergency preparedness committee reported on a March event, unveiled a yellow-barrel emergency-supply program with 11 barrels, plans for a ShakeOut exercise on Oct. 17 and upcoming SART and CERT training; committee also discussed potential community cash (cache) sites and reported exploring a Bowen property priced at about $103,000.
Depoe Bay — The city’s emergency preparedness committee reported to the council April 1 that it launched a yellow-barrel emergency-supply program and is planning a series of community preparedness activities, including a statewide ShakeOut exercise on Oct. 17 and local SART and CERT training in April.
Committee members said 11 yellow barrels are currently available; the committee hopes to place two barrels in each of the city’s neighborhood “islands” so supplies are distributed across Depoe Bay. Each barrel will be numbered, carry a City of Depoe Bay decal and be inventoried by the committee twice a year under a contract-like host agreement for volunteers who manage the barrels.
Committee members described the barrels as containing immediate emergency supplies — food, water, sleeping bags, tents, ponchos, blankets, flashlights and batteries — and said the program aims to provide short-term assistance to residents after an incident until broader response resources arrive. The committee plans a public workshop to show residents what belongs in a home emergency “cache” and where to buy recommended supplies.
Committee leaders also said they are planning a local exercise tied to the statewide ShakeOut on Oct. 17 that would simulate post-tsunami evacuation and test how long it would take residents to reach safety. They said the committee is in early planning stages and working with Oregon Department of Human Services contacts and local CERT groups.
The committee raised the prospect of designating a city-owned property as a community cache or staging site; in discussion they referenced a privately owned “Bowen property” the committee previously inquired about and said it was listed at roughly $103,000. Committee members agreed any use of city-owned property for an organized cache or shelter would come to the council for approval.
The committee reminded the council that a SART training event is scheduled for April and encouraged council members and residents to register. Committee members said a small registration fee (about $10) applies to cover materials.
Officials said the committee will continue meeting and will refine hosting agreements, signage and inventory procedures; the committee asked council to consider providing limited staff or city assistance only when necessary and said it intends to keep most tasks volunteer-driven.
