Disaster drills, vaccine clinics and fire station open house
Published 12:30 pm Thursday, October 2, 2025
Disaster Response Exercise
Last Saturday, Vashon’s Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) exercised setting up a Field Treatment Site at Sunrise Ridge.
The disaster response scenario was a major earthquake resulting in injured patients who required on-island medical treatment, or medical stabilization before being transported for hospital care. After setting up gurneys and medical equipment in one of the Sunrise Ridge buildings, thirty-five MRC volunteers practiced patient triage, stabilization, and treatment.
MRC’s long-planned field exercise created a rare opportunity for the other disaster response teams (which volunteers half-jokingly call “disaster clubs”) to participate and practice supporting each other and our island community.
Teams had spent the past several months planning and preparing. Groups that participated included the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), the Marine Emergency Response Team (MERT) out of Quartermaster Yacht Club, the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), MRC’s Community Care Team, and the newest group, the EOC’s Mass Care sheltering team.
CERT established two command posts and drove critical-infrastructure assessment routes, then coordinated with MERT and Vashon Pharmacy to deliver important (simulated) medicines to waterfront locations. CERT also tackled a big logistical challenge — delivering lunches to volunteers at multiple locations!
The EOC’s Mass Care sheltering team simulated setting up a shelter for emergency housing alongside the MRC’s Community Care Team’s Family Assistance Center, which helps provide mental and/or spiritual health support, social services resources, and assistance with family reunification following a disaster.
Vashon Island Fire & Rescue Chief McLaughlin and Deputy Chief Davidson joined the EOC team to observe and contribute Incident Command leadership. Team members practiced using CodeRED software to send alert notifications by text messages and email to share situational information and muster all teams to their dispersed response locations.
At every location, the Auxiliary Communications Service, staffed by ham radio experts, relayed key messages between the geographically separate locations. Over 95 volunteers participated in this fun and very educational exercise.
In the coming months, participants will analyze what went right, and what could have gone better, with the goal of optimizing future disaster responses. Representatives from the newly formed Vashon Island Disaster Air Response Team visited several locations to see how it all hangs together.
Islanders interested in joining a disaster-response volunteer group can write to volunteer@vashonbeprepared.org or complete a volunteer interest form at vashonbeprepared.org.
Fall Vaccination Clinics: Latest Updates
High-volume, volunteer-assisted vaccination clinics for COVID and flu started at Vashon Pharmacy on Tuesday, September 30. Clinics are scheduled at Vashon Island School District on Oct. 14 and 16, and are open to all Vashon students ages 5 years and up. Parents will receive a notice from their child’s school with clinic details. Vashon Pharmacy’s registration link is at tinyurl.com/vashonschoolvax.
Anyone 6 months and older can obtain the updated (2025-2026) COVID and flu vaccines from qualified healthcare providers and pharmacies in Washington State. The vaccines are fully covered by almost all health insurance plans. In collaboration with Vashon Pharmacy and thanks to generous donations, VashonBePrepared will provide financial assistance for people on Vashon without health insurance coverage who cannot afford the vaccines.
Vaccination Locations
• Vashon Pharmacy (appointments at vashonpharmacy.com)
• Sea Mar (call ahead at 206-463-3671)
• Vashon Natural Medicine for existing pediatric patients (appointments at 206-463-4778)
• NeighborCare at Vashon High School for school-aged island youth (appointments at 206-548-7550, registration at tinyurl.com/NCVashon-Eng (English) or tinyurl.com/NCVashon-Spa (Spanish)
Fire Station Open House
Don’t miss Vashon Island Fire & Rescue’s annual open house on Saturday, Oct. 4, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., at VIFR’s Bank Road Station 55.
Meet Vashon’s new fire chief, Bill Laughlin, bring the kids for the bouncy house and face-painting, enjoy hot dogs and snacks on the stations new patio, check out the new Mobile Integrated Health exam room, watch a Tesla extrication demo, see the Airlift Northwest helicopter land and more. Representatives of VashonBePrepared organizations will be on hand with information, their preparedness game and prizes for winners.
Islanders are also encouraged to bring in the following types of spent batteries for recycling: rechargeable batteries (up to 11 lbs & under 300 watt-hours): lithium ion (Li-ion), small sealed lead acid, nickel cadmium (NiCad), nickel metal hydride (NiMH), and nickel zinc;single-use batteries including lithium primary, carbon zinc, alkaline, button and coin cells (taped) and cellphones of all types and ages.
Find the full VashonBePrepared report at vashonbeprepared.org.
