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Greenleaf residents prepared for almost any disaster

Posted on: March 19, 2008

The hilltop town of Greenleaf is peaceful, friendly and on its way to being the Idaho town best-prepared for a disaster.

Not that the community is crisis-prone: The town of about 900 people west of Caldwell has little crime and no history of major emergencies. But city leaders are quietly fixated on making sure they and their residents are ready for anything, from severe wind damage to a toxic spill from one of the trucks that cruise past on Idaho 19.

A year and a half ago, Greenleaf drew nationwide attention for officially suggesting that its residents own guns. From a Jay Leno monologue to the New York Times, the town was suddenly famous for its “gun ordinance,” which actually was a one-sentence clause in a five-page emergency preparedness ordinance.

But Greenleaf doesn’t want to be known for that. What didn’t draw attention is the overall push behind that ordinance – something that has picked up considerable momentum in the past few months.

“What we’re working on here is a long-term attitude, and we might be in a position to help other people in the area,” Greenleaf Friends Church Pastor Alan Weinacht said. “I laud that. It strikes me as smart city planning.”

Greenleaf residents prepared for almost any disaster

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