Tracing the Legacy of Scott James and the Evolution of Bainbridge Prepares, which will be Hosting a Slew of Events in the Days and Months Ahead

Bainbridge Prepares – the emergency preparedness nonprofit – just celebrated its 15th year. The organization, which has mushroomed from five volunteers to more than 575, making it the largest volunteer-based organization in Kitsap County, is hosting or co-hosting a slew of major events in the next few months and in 2027.

BP, as it is known to its followers, was started in 2011 by Islander Scott James, a self-described social entrepreneur and author of Prepared Neighborhoods: Building Resilience One Street at a Time. His goal was to increase the readiness of islanders in the face of potential threats, such as earthquakes and wildfires. This early initiative was supported by the Bainbridge Island Fire Department. What made Bainbridge Prepares different from most other emergency organizations was James’s commitment to viewing the resilience work through a lens of love, not fear.

As James explained: “Fear tells you to put bigger locks on your door and stockpile in isolation. It’s selfish, and it doesn’t work. Solo-survivalism is a myth; group resilience is a worthwhile pursuit, leading to a stronger community and brighter future.”

In 2012, the fledgling organization established the county’s first Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), part of a national program, on the island with a cadre of volunteers eager to help the Fire Department with search and rescue, traffic control, and first aid skills.

Four years later in 2016, the City of Bainbridge Island hired a part-time Emergency Manager (EM). BP immediately partnered with the EM. Two years later, the City expanded the EM position to full-time and decided to split away from the CERT to focus on local emergency preparedness and response efforts. The EM led the effort to create the City’s first Emergency Management Plan in 2019 and began to credential BP volunteers.

In 2021, BP hired its first two employees, an executive director and a program manager. The City made a $300,000 commitment over two years to fund the organization’s buildout of Disaster Hubs, gathering places that, post-disaster, will serve the community by providing first aid to residents and communications with the EOC as well as limited food, water, and shelter for displaced people.

The COVID Years
In 2020, when COVID reached the island, BP expanded its Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) to respond to the crisis, nearly doubling the cadre of the organization’s volunteers. BP and its partners, the City and the BIFD, ran more than 100 clinics that administered more than 40,000 COVID-19 and influenza vaccines, garnering national attention.

Two years later, in recognition of this massive effort, the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) recognized BP as the National Emergency Voluntary Organization of the Year. The year before, the Bainbridge Community Foundation gave BP its Humanitarian Award. At the beginning of 2023, then-Governor Jay Inslee issued BP a letter of commendation in recognition of its COVID-19 response.

2026 and Beyond
BP is now under the leadership of Executive Director Stephen Richardson. About the future of the organization, Richardson said: “What’s special about Bainbridge Prepares is that we provide a small army of specifically trained volunteers who can handle anything from traffic control to first aid to radio communications to animal care and can integrate seamlessly with the Incident Command System used by the emergency professionals. On any given day, volunteers are connecting neighbors and educating the community on ways to be more prepared.

“In the event that we are called to respond to an emergency, we are organized and ready to respond to anything that our community faces. This is not just a concept. We’ve shown our ability to respond to ice storms, wildfire investigations, capsized boats, federal funding cuts to SNAP benefits, and a global pandemic. We will build on our success and lessons of the past to ensure we’re ready now and into the future, no matter what comes.”

A 10-person working board is helping to guide the organization into the future, as the island continues to prepare for emergencies such as an earthquake along the Seattle fault or the Cascadia Subduction Zone and an ever more likely wildfire scenario. Board President Erik Hovey looked back on 2025–2026: “This past year has been an opportunity for the Board to not only reflect on where we’ve come from but also to critically think about how BP might continue to increase the individual and community resilience and preparedness of our friends and neighbors. The through-line of love and compassion to a potential disaster and its response, instead of a fear-based perspective, is anchored in our founding and extends today through our organizational mission, vision, and values.”

In anticipation of such emergencies, BP continues to develop Disaster Hubs across the island through agreements with property owners, like churches and schools, gathering and storing supplies, and training volunteers across its 19 teams of volunteers.

In June 2026, BP hosted an open house at one of its Hubs, Bethany Lutheran Church. More than 120 people attended to learn about personal emergency preparedness and about the services a Disaster Hub is likely to provide. In August, the organization hosted another Open House, this time at Hyla Middle School. Throughout 2026 and into 2027, BP has planned functional team exercises to prepare teams for responding to emergencies.

One such exercise happened at the end of April. Some-30 volunteers showed up at a private home on the South End that had been offered for the event to act as evacuees during a wildfire. Six BP Flotilla Team vessels and crew practiced “rescuing” the volunteers, carrying them to Eagle Harbor and back again, while practicing safety regulations and boarding and disembarking procedures.

The biggest exercise on the horizon is 2027’s islandwide Ready Together exercise that will extend over three days in August. BP teams, the Emergency Operations Center, and the BIFD will practice response to a major earthquake, treating volunteers at a few Disaster Hubs, launching the Flotilla Team, and
activating the Child Reunification Center and the Emergency Operations Center.

Day of Preparedness
In collaboration with the City and BIFD, BP will host its annual Day of Preparedness on Saturday,September 19, 2026, from 10 AM to 1 PM at Fire Station 21 (8895 Madison Ave North). The event—which provides information on how to be prepared, demonstrations, and CPR training for residents—is free and open to the public.

Quake ‘n Bake: Eating After the Big One, In collaboration with Heyday Farm, BP will co-host an emergency food tasting and educational event on Sunday, September 20, 2026, from 12 to 4PM at Heyday Farm (4370 Old Mill Rd. NE). The event will give participants the opportunity to sample different emergency foods (e.g., freeze-dried foods) and learn practices for long-term food storage.

Said Founder Scott James about his organization reaching its 15th year milestone and anniversary: “You’ve likely heard the Margaret Mead quote, ‘Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.’ Fifteen years ago, that’s exactly what we were: a small group of folks deciding to be the ones who showed up. We didn’t wait for permission or funding or a disaster to prove us right. We just started, one street at a time, and now we’re one of the largest service organizations in the county.”

For more information, visit https://bainbridgeprepares.org.

Read other stories about Bainbridge Prepares previously published in The Island Wanderer: Bainbridge Prepares Snares Top National Honors for its Work Organizing COVID-19 Clinics | THE ISLAND WANDERER

Building a Resilient Community Through People Power – Bainbridge Prepares | THE ISLAND WANDERER

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