About 11am on Wednesday, February 28th, 2001 a magnitude 6.8 earthquake centered between Tacoma and Olympia shook the Puget Sound region like none other in recent history. Even hundreds of miles north in Ferndale, neighbors reported feeling and hearing significant ground movement.
Anniversaries of events like the Nisqually Earthquake are great reminders of the importance of being ready when the next big earthquake hits whether it happens in a century or tomorrow. So what should you be prepared for? What steps should you take? Where to turn for information? The following should help to answer all those questions.
Experts tell us to, in short, be prepared for a shutdown of the infrastructure. That means no power and broken roads including the one you live on and I-5. Just those two elements remove a lot of what we take for granted in terms of creature comforts and safety. Consider if a disaster struck in the winter, during bad weather or simply at night. Being prepared for all these scenarios is advised.
Immediate needs are usually medical, shelter, food and communications. Your shelter may or may not be where you are currently living. In Whatcom County, the Mt. Baker Chapter of the American Red Cross is responsible for ensuring that “mass care needs,” such as sheltering, feeding, providing first aid and reuniting families, are addressed in times of a regional emergency. It will take hours, if not days, for the aid to be rolled out to all impacted areas. In order to help the American Red Cross help you, they recommend being prepared.
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Click for more informationWhatcom Community Emergency Response Team’s August ’15 newsletter (PDF) also provides guidance for creating readiness “kits.”
- A home kit should contain items like non-perishable food items and water to last for at least three days. Keep it in a designated area, so that everyone has access to it. You may want to consider having supplies for sheltering for up to two weeks or more depending on where you live;
- A work/office kit should have enough food, water, and any necessary medications to last for at least 24 hours. You should also have comfortable shoes in case you have to walk a long distance in the event of an evacuation. You might want to talk with your employer about having kits established for all workers.
- A car kit should include flashlights, jumper cables, a first aid kit, water, a shovel, and warm clothes!
You can purchase readiness emergency supplies online at the Red Cross Store.
The Washington State Emergency Management Division published a disaster readiness plan for individuals and families that enables becoming ready after spending one hour a month for a year.
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Click for more informationGetting information out to impacted people during disasters is a difficult responsibility for local, state and federal emergency responders. The Emergency Alert System is considered the primary means of providing the public with information about disasters. While there are the wireless emergency alerts and broadcast TV/radio emergency alert system, they are less effective in case of localized power loss. But EAS messages are also broadcast via the NOAA Weather Radio system which can be received on battery-operated radios in the event of power loss.
Communicating with and among neighbors is an important responsibility that everyone can share during a disaster. It will help identifying missing and injured people as well as identify where high priority needs or risks are located once professional responders arrive.
If you would like to help in times of disasters, Volunteer Center of Whatcom County is responsible for setting up and operating volunteer mobilization centers around the county if and when a big event requiring many volunteers occurs. VCWC is in the process of developing/updating plans and procedures for accomplishing this. Call Mel at (360) 734-3055 if you can help.