'Help your neighbor'

COEUR d’ALENE — Mike Bullard has seen the devastation left behind by Wednesday’s windstorm. He knows there are many in trouble.

He also knows there are many who want to be part of the cleanup after gusts of more than 60 mph took out trees, which fell on houses, vehicles, power lines, fences and more.

That’s why he wants to connect them through Inland Northwest Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster.

“We provide communication among those who want to help and those who need the help,” said Bullard, chair of the group.

The local chapter belongs to national VOAD, an association of organizations that “mitigate and alleviate the impact of disasters,” and create “more effective delivery of services to communities affected by disaster.”

Bullard, a retired Presbyterian minister, stays in touch with Kootenai County Emergency Management, Red Cross and churches to connect organized volunteer groups “that know what they’re doing” with those who could use a hand. Following the windstorm, jobs include removing trees, repairing roofs, patching walls and resurrecting fences.

For individuals who want to be part of the rebuilding effort, he suggests they contact Red Cross or their church.

Or, he adds, they could look at the homes next door, down the block or around the neighborhood.

“The most important thing of all is to help your neighbor,” he said.

Bullard spoke of a severe storm last year that damaged homes in a trailer park in Post Falls. It was bad, he said, but somebody described Wednesday’s storm as “100 times” worse.

“It’s amazing what happened to neighborhoods,” he said.

To volunteer or request help, contact Bullard: mabullard@gmail.com

He encouraged people to respond quickly as it takes time to coordinate everything.

He said cranes and trucks are in demand and anyone with access to either is in demand, too.

“That’s gold,” Bullard said.