COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho – Coeur d’Alene City Council members are set to vote on the adoption of the Kootenai County Emergency Management plan for the upcoming year. A particular section of the 200-page plan has sparked concerns among council members.
Council Member Dan Gookin expressed his apprehension about a provision that could potentially violate Idaho residents’ rights. The plan outlines how the county, and potentially the city, would handle evacuations during emergencies.
It states, “persons who refuse to comply with the governor ordered evacuation may be arrested,” citing state law.
However, the provision only mentions the governor’s power to direct and compel an evacuation without detailing how arrests would be enforced.
Gookin voiced his disagreement with forced evacuations, emphasizing the American right to choose. He referenced Harry Truman, an elderly man who famously refused to evacuate Mount St. Helens before its eruption.
“I always thought, you know, that’s the way you do it,” Gookin said.
Additionally, Gookin wants to ensure that radio and television broadcasts are prioritized for disseminating information, as not everyone has access to a smartphone.
He plans to raise these concerns during the Coeur d’Alene City Council meeting, which begins at 6:00 p.m. tonight.
