Several Seattle neighborhoods, including our local community of Loyal Heights, took part in an earthquake preparedness drill on Saturday morning. The drill was put in place to test Seattle’s emergency radio communication skills in a scenario based on the impact of the 2011 6.3 magnitude earthquake that hit Christchurch in New Zealand.
In addition to this drill, the Seattle Office of Emergency Management (SOEM), in collaboration with other local agencies, have launched an initiative to inform residents of how to prepare and respond to a catastrophic emergency in our region. The initiative titled “What to do to make it through” provides locals with information and guidance on making individualized, family plans for what to do in the case of major catastrophes including flooding, earthquakes and tsunamis.
The new initiative focuses on the personal impact that catastrophic emergencies can have on people and their families. Queen Anne resident Susan McLaughlin is able to reflect on the personal impact of a major emergency from her experiences of the devestating Christchurch earthquakes of 2010 and 2011. “When the first earthquake struck, it disrupted so many things we depend on in daily life,” says Susan. “We had no power, no TV, and cell phone lines were jammed so we walked the streets at 5:00 a.m. on the morning of the quake to get news from neighbors, find a radio and to learn what to do.”
The devastating earthquake destroyed over half of the central city’s buildings and forced residents to live with no running water and electricity for an extended period of time. People of all ages had to live with no functioning sewer systems and McLaughlin recounts that “for a while, ‘dig a hole in your backyard,’ was the best that the Mayor could offer many people.”
Now living in the Puget Sound region, McLaughlin still thinks about disaster preparedness and encourages others to do the same. “Having a child and feeling unprepared is an awful place to be,” she remembers.
The new Puget Sound initiative offers residents like McLaughlin a plan to follow to prepare for an emergency situation and what to do if one occurs. “What to do to make it through” encourages locals to take three simple steps to plan for a catastrophic event: make a plan, build a kit and help each other. The initiative encourages locals to make an emergency plan that caters for both people and pets and to practice it regularly. “Doing simple things – like making a kit for my husband, son and me – makes me feel much more prepared for an earthquake or other disaster now,” says McLaughlin.
In terms of the time frame of what to plan for, SOEM Public Education Coordinator JoAnn Jordan states that “it’s really important to plan for seven to 10 days.” “Given the magnitude of earthquake that’s likely to occur in the Pacific Northwest, experience has shown it could take from several days to more than a week before essential services are restored, such as running water, electricity and phones,” she continues.
Jordan recommends families to build a kit with enough of these items to last for seven to 10 days:
- Storage container: a plastic bin, or even an old suitcase or backpacks, which you’ll store near an exit
- Water: one gallon of water per person per day, for drinking and sanitation
- Food: seven to 10 days of non-perishable foods per person and pet
- Cash: small bills are best (ATMs won’t work without electricity)
- Battery-powered radio and extra batteries
- Flashlight and extra batteries (no candles!)
- First aid kit
- Whistle to signal for help
- Filter mask or cotton t-shirt to help filter the air
- Moist towelettes for sanitation
- Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities, if needed
- Manual can opener for food
- Shelter items like tents, tarps and rope
- Garbage bags and plastic ties for sanitation
- Unique family needs: supplies for infants, pets and elderly; prescriptions; important family documents
All locals are encouraged to check out the initiative’s website to find more pointers on what to do to make it through. As McLaughlin says, “we can’t stop the next disaster from coming, but we can help our families and neighbors make it through. Plan to be a survivor!”
To find out more about the disaster preparedness initiative click here to check out the official Facebook page.
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