Emergencies can occur at any time; being prepared beforehand can drastically increase your level of safety during an emergency event. In larger disaster situations, emergency services may be overwhelmed, and you may be the first person available to assist others. With a few simple steps – learn the hazards, make a kit, and have a plan. You will be better able to help yourself, friends, and loved ones in a time of crisis.
Individual Preparedness
When a disaster happens, the normal services we rely on each day will be disrupted. A quick trip to the store for a few essential items may not be possible, and emergency services and assistance will likely be impacted. To help keep you and your community safe after a disaster, build a kit at home with enough supplies to last 2 weeks. This means 2 weeks’ worth of food, water, pet food, warm clothes, medical supplies and sanitation materials. Two weeks is a lot of supplies, but don’t be overwhelmed. Make 2 weeks your goal and continually work towards it. Creating a kit for 2 weeks can be as simple as adding one can of food to your shopping cart each time to go to the store and adding that can to your disaster kit.
When thinking about what supplies to include in your kit, think about what items you use every day. You will want these same items during a disaster. Start with the basics and continue to add from there. Make sure to include personal items — things unique to your family members, such as mobility devices, medications and glasses. For a basic checklist to help get you started, see the 2 week ready list here.
Prepare in a Year
Prepare in a year is a series of small and reasonable action items you can take over the course of a year to be more ready and prepared. This framework provides one task per month; examples include performing a home hazard hunt, creating a communications plan, and storing drinking water.
Follow along with these monthly activities to strengthen your preparedness step-by-step throughout the year (with videos for each step available here).
ShakeOut
The national ShakeOut earthquake preparedness program provides quality information and steps to practice to keep yourself safe during an earthquake. Join over 30 million people in the annual earthquake drill on the third Thursday in October, and further your knowledge and skills of to be ready for the next earthquake.
Community Preparedness
CERT: The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), is a program dedicated to educating communities about emergency preparedness for local hazards. Citizens can sign up to take part in an affordable hands-on emergency training course that covers various aspects of emergency preparedness. Lessons include learning valuable skills like triage, first aid, and fire suppression. The CERT Program spans a total of eight weeks, with one three-hour session per week. For information on class schedules and signing up for CERT training, visit http://www.whatcomcert.org
American Red Cross: The American Red Cross is an organization that works with communities to provide disaster relief as well as training in emergency preparedness. You can sign up to receive training in First Aid, CPR and AED, and caregiving, among others. The American Red Cross also provides volunteering and blood donation opportunities. The Northwest Region of the American Red Cross has an office in Everett. For more information about American Red Cross Northwest Region’s trainings and resources, visit https://www.redcross.org/local/washington/about-us/locations/northwest-washington.html
Map your neighborhood: ‘Mapping your neighborhood’ is a strategy to connect neighbors to provide support in times of need. ‘Mapping your neighborhood’ includes creating an inventory of useful skills and supplies within a neighborhood to be used in the local response to any emergency. Compiling a contact list for a neighborhood can help identifying individuals which may need assistance in evacuation before or after a disaster. For more details on ways to map your neighborhood, visit https://mil.wa.gov/map-your-neighborhood
(LEPC) Local Emergency Planning Committee
The Whatcom Unified Local Emergency Planning Committee (WU-LEPC), coordinated by the City of Bellingham Office of Emergency Management and Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Management, coordinates emergency planning for hazardous materials located in Whatcom County and provides information about chemical hazards to the community. It was formed under the authority of the Emergency Planning Community Right-to-Know Act to help communities prepare for chemical emergencies. Visit, Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) | Whatcom County, WA – Official Website
Preparedness for Individuals with Special Needs
If you are an individual with a disability or other special needs, there may be extra steps you need to take to be prepared for emergency events. These measures vary depending on the needs of the individual, however there are preparedness resources pertaining to a variety of special needs to make sure you can be prepared for emergencies. For more information regarding preparedness for individuals with special needs, visit https://www.ready.gov/disability. Additional resources are provided in the resources section below.
Additionally, aged populations may be more vulnerable in some hazard situations and may have special needs regarding preparing for emergency situations. Events like heat waves can have larger implications for older populations; it is important to have the resources needed to keep yourself prepared. For more information for preparedness for seniors, visit https://www.ready.gov/seniors. Additional resources are provided in the resources section below.
Resources for Individuals with Disabilities
Ready.gov Individuals with disabilities page: https://www.ready.gov/disability
Coalition on Inclusive Emergency Planning: https://www.wasilc.org/coalition-on-inclusive-emergency-planning
Red cross Disaster Safety for People with Disabilities: https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/inclusive-preparedness-resources.html
Resources for Older Adults
Ready.gov seniors page: https://www.ready.gov/seniors
American Red Cross Emergency Preparedness for Older Adults: https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/older-adults.html
CDC Emergency Preparedness for Older Adults: https://www.cdc.gov/aging/publications/features/older-adult-emergency.html
