Finding the right fit for emergency management

Grant County Emergency Management's Office moved locations three times in the past four years. Its fourth move is planned for Oct. 29 from its Wheeler Road office to the former Grant County Fairgrounds Office. Space is needed to accommodate a new district court judge.

In the past, emergency management has occupied the Multi-Agency Communications Center in Moses Lake and is now headed for its second stint at the fairgrounds.

Emergency management is an important office. It serves as a liaison to the state Emergency Management Office if a wildfire, flood or other type of disaster cannot be handled without extra help from state or federal agencies.

On the county level, emergency management makes it so the flow of information, materials and support move smoothly up and down the chain. Staff members ensure the right connections are made quickly with the appropriate agencies to bring help to Grant County during a wide scale emergency.

Grant County Emergency Management serves other functions. They include registering emergency workers, teaching residents and civic groups how to prepare for and react during an emergency or disaster, assigning addresses to unincorporated areas of the county and registering residents for a telephone notification system in case of emergencies. The telephone notification system is activated for emergency warnings and evacuations.

Preparing for the worst and hoping for the best is a good rule to live by.

We encourage the Grant County commissioners to continue serious exploration and thought into finding a more permanent home for emergency management.

Some ideas discussed recently by commissioners and county employees involve remodeling the Huck Fuller Building at the fairgrounds, constructing a new building and remodeling the former fair office and conference room.

We hope the selected option fits the needs of emergency management and provides the most efficient use of taxpayer dollars.

- Editorial Board