The normal Guemes Island ferry was out of service Wednesday, meaning only foot passengers could get to and from the mainland.
A smaller replacement ferry was brought in because the normal ferry is in drydock undergoing repairs. It’s one of a growing number of issues that have people on the island losing faith in their ferry.
“It’s very frustrating,” said Guemes Island Fire Commissioner David Wertheimer.
Frustrating and, at times, frightening.
Read more: https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/public-safety/medical-emergency-ferry-concerns-guemes-island/281-aa56ba74-6bf6-4cef-9989-574c5e80a9b7
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Maybe a water ambulance for the Fire Dept… since your fire rescue boat will not be ready for 2 years try leasing a boat. I mean this is a SUPER easy solution, get a boat, get someone qualified to operate it in the dept that works nights. Sea Tow might do it.. As someone who spent 10 years commercial fishing in Alaska seeing how there communities improvise this kinda stuff just makes it sad that people with WAY MORE resources can not.
maybe dont live on an island
If you live on an island you best invest in helo insurance.
Forcing people to take the vaccine has consequences.
It may seem harsh, but residents on the island choose to live there. Regardless of whether or not the City of Anacortes gets a fire boat, the island residents of whom which it benefits most, should setup a way in which they pay into the services that are specific to their needs. If I was setting it up, I would look at two things. First, how much the car ferry costs to run, crewing requirements/costs, maintenance of both the boat and the dock infrastructure, and the eventual replacement of the vessel. Second, the addition of fire/ambulance boat owned by and operated by the Guemes fire department for cases like this. My guess is that the residents on Guemes don't generate enough revenue to pay for the car ferry. I think it would be reasonable to assume that 600ish residents could afford a modest fire/ambulance boat. This leads into a more nation wide discussion of overspending on infrastructure with no plan/revenue streams to maintain and eventually replace it. This might lead to in Guemes case, downsizing to a more affordable passenger only ferry.
When you choose to live on an island with "limited" Emergency Resources, you should understand that it is Your responsibility to compensate for what you don't have & Not expect everything to change to accommodate your Lifestyle !!!