Conversation with Washington State Rep on FEMA job postings for quarantine camps in WA State:

A: I had a few questions about a recent Washington Department of Health job posting. You guys are in the 2nd legislative district correct?

B: Yes.

A: Does that include Eatonville?

B. Yes.

A: Okay. I am calling in reference to a potential quarantine camp in Eatonville and was curious if you had any insight to what that is?

B: Yep. From what they are telling us, it is going to be there for multiple reasons. The first reason is for people traveling in and out of the region. It gives them somewhere where to quarantine if they come down with COVID so they don’t have to stay in a hospital because that is the reality right now if you fly into Puget Sound you have nowhere to go. Let’s say you catch COVID and the family that you’re visiting or you’re doing business, um, you know they don’t want you to quarantine in a hotel you know because the central air pushes COVID around. And also, if you have um, you know a family member living with you, so you don’t infect everywhere it gives them somewhere to go, again not a hotel. Um, so, that’s the reason they are giving us so far.

A: When did you guys first hear about this?

B: Um, I heard it about a week ago.

A: Okay.

B: Yeah, they have, I have seen job postings in other places but not here in the 2nd. I have heard of one in Chehalis also and they are supposedly giving us the same reason. And that one I heard about close to a month ago.

A: Okay. And who is “they”?

B: Ummm. (pause). Just.. just, state. We get emails about a lot of this so the one in Chehalis we were um notified I think actually buy the chair of our caucus, Senator Braun. Um, basically just giving us an update, they are doing this because we had a lot of constituent email about a FEMA job posted in Centralia. So then the Department of Health – he talked to the Department of Health and then we were updated on it.

A: Okay. Are you aware of any other states doing this?

B: Umm, FEMA camp-type quarantine zones, no. I haven’t heard of anything. Um, obviously there is a little more in the media about what is going on in NY and them bringing in the National Guard.

A: Right. When they sent the email did they give you reason for the camp? Or cause?

B: So, its uh, the reason that were given to us were for traveling people. If someone can to the region and nowhere to go. That is the only reason they gave us originally.

A: Okay. Did they give any indication that they were going to make that mandatory in the future (for travelers to quarantine)?

B: No.

Continued:

A: Okay.

B: Yeah, basically what they explained to us was that if you were stuck here and you – they won’t let you check into a hotel or stay in a hotel if you are COVID positive and all this stuff we saw last year with people quarantining in their apartments and getting COVID basically through central air.

A: Right. It just seems like it would’ve been more practical for them to do this when COVID first started as compared to now when more people are vaccinated.

B: Exactly. Yep, yep. Same thing with you know nursing homes with them moving people into nursing homes and central air getting everyone sick. Um, so it is kind of along that so far and hopefully that is where it stays. Of course I have my reservations about them setting up these quarantine areas, ya know?

A: Right. So, can Senator _____ do anything to contest it?

B: Umm. From what we’ve seen in the past it is really up to the county officials. Umm, because you know certain things have happened or cities, if it is within city limits, um, we can’t really do anything legislatively that kind of falls under the County Health Department so the County Council folks would have to weigh in on that. They have done the same thing for drug needle exchanges and all sorts of things like that. Anything to do with basically Public Health. The Governor has placed squarely on the county Health Departments so we can send letters requesting that the council folks look into it more but I know, Amy Cruver is already on top of that stuff. So I think they are actually drafting a letter to talk about that.

A: They are sending that to the Governor?

B: They are sending it to the legislative delegation in Pierce County but that also includes council members and of course it will probably go to the Health Department too. To have a concerted effort to basically to watchdog this because we don’t want this to turn into something different.

A: Right that is my concern that is why I am curious to see what you guys had to say about it and if you guys are doing about it.

B: Yeah, there is a lot of talk about it but like I said, most of it has to be done at the county level. So I know Amy was wanting to get this information to all of the Pierce County delegations so they could all put pressure on the county council people because the same things we see nationwide with the polarity in politics is happening here in Pierce County as well. So we need democrats to talk to their council people too. But I know Senator _____ and Amy are on the same page. We definitely are watching a lot of this to unfold.

A: That is good to know. Where do they get the funding for these buildings you know?

B: That is something that is likely funded through the federal stimulus, COVID stimulus package that states were given. We were given 80 billion for the COVID response which includes a plethora of things.

A: 80 billion as a state?

B: Yes, more than likely that is where most of it is being funded. But with FEMA being involved there is likely funding through federal emergency funds.

A: And then, as far – do you have any input into the hospital situation? Are they full? Is that possibly a reason why they needed this?

B: No, no. The hospitals are not full. What I’m hearing from nurses is that it is more of a staffing issue than it is beds being full. Because a lot of people got fed up with working so many hours last year and compensation, all sorts of issues so they’ve moved on to different careers.

B: I know in Thurston county, I heard form nurses that they are nowhere near capacity.

Continued:

A: Anything that citizens can do to help you guys in this?

B: you know the biggest thing is folks reaching out to their delegations. So folks that are in the 25th, 30th, 31st all reaching out to representation. Pierce county really needs people to focus on that because we have to have a strong effort to get the democratic legislators to push ball forward because they really are not – they are really on board with what the governor is doing which on many respects is unconstitutional.

A: Yep. What district is Centralia in?

B: 20th. So that is Senator Braun, Rep Orcut, Rep Abarno – might have two R’s. It is Peter Abarno. They are all Republicans and they are kind of on board with what we are doing.

A: And then did you happen to see the job post for the Department of Health?

B: Umm, yeah. I did. It was basically a coordinator position, basically running the facility logistically.

A: Okay. I happened to see one that was more of a reinforcement role with very interesting language. I do have a picture of it on my phone, let’s see. It just talked about being comfortable with being uncomfortable in enforcing rules. Let’s see if I can find it before I say something and give you wrong information.

B: Is it for the one in Centralia?

A: I think it was yes.

B: I think there is a hotel uhh..

A: I am trying to find it…

B: Yeah, I would like to remain optimistic about some of these things that they are doing, but it seems like they are spending a whole lot of money on similar things last year that nobody used. So I’m not real sure what their end goal is on this. So, hopefully that is not the case or worst case scenario that they would force people into these camps.

A: So the position I have it. It is isolation and quarantine strike team consultants and it is in Centralia. It says what we are looking for, our ideal candidate has a driving passion for the work, brings humility to the job and interactions and understands how their actions affect others, they see the needs and objectives .. blah blah blah .. and they adapt their approach and expectations accordingly. Our ideal candidate is outward even when confronted with others that are not open or collaborative and they demonstrate resilience to model outward behaviors even when stressed or tired.

B: Yeah.

A: So the language was a little concerning.

B: Some of the wording in that, and the posting – I actually brought one up here. Isolation quarantine consultant.

A: And the strike team? I mean..

B: It is a little concerning because it says people who test positive for COVID or are exposed to someone who tests positive are asked to isolate or quarantine away from other people for 10-14 days in order to reduce risk of transmitting the virus. So I mean that, that is a little concerning.

A: Yeah, I mean, I don’t know if you know this but federal outweighs state so as a state though, can they force people into these camps?

B: No. Anything they would do would be unconstitutional?

A: Unless it's ordered under FEMA?

B: Unless a judge actually weighed in because it has to be adjudicated to keep someone in captivity because otherwise it would be illegal.

A: So as far as, my other thought was the Afghan refugees that are coming in as well. You know, are they going to post them there or are they non-exempt to these..

B: A lot of them are being housed on military facilities as well. They are going through the vetting process. They are staying in military barracks essentially.

A: So they are being vetted?

B: Supposedly. (laughs). That is what we are being told. The federal government I have a hard time believing these days.

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I recorded the phone call. I don't know how to share anonymously? I could take a screen shot of the phone number and length of call and match it to the length of recorded call?

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