Submitted by San Juan Islands PREPARE

San Juan Islands PREPARE announces the establishment of the Disaster Hubs Fund at the San Juan Island Community Foundation, providing a trusted avenue for community members, donors, and partner organizations to support the development of island-based Disaster Hubs.

What Are Disaster Hubs?

Disaster Hubs are community-powered resilience centers stocked with life-sustaining food, portable feeding stations, power-charging equipment, first aid supplies, hygiene kits, cots, blankets, baby essentials, pet food, and emergency communications gear. Food will be rotated into local food banks before expiration, and bulk foods will be prepared and served at community events to fund ongoing replenishment—keeping the system zero-waste, renewable, and an active source of preparedness education.

Each Hub will be provisioned to sustain several hundred people for up to two weeks, filling the critical gap until outside assistance arrives. Initial Hubs will be placed within walking distance of low-income neighborhoods and designated emergency shelters, ensuring support for residents without the means or space to stockpile, as well as visitors who may become stranded during ferry disruptions.

“Our geographic isolation demands that we store provisions locally, as it will take time for external support to arrive after a major disruption. Disaster Hubs will lessen human suffering and may even save lives while waiting for external assistance after a regional disaster,” said Elizabeth Gadbois, founder of SJIP.

How to Support the Fund

Donations can be made through the San Juan Island Community Foundation.

Donations to support the Disaster Hub pilot can be made online at: https://sjicf.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=3574