Disaster Preparedness - 1.26.20

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DISASTER PREPAREDNESS GUIDE Preparing yourself, your family and your community for a disaster.

2020 Hazard Mitigation Plan Winter Driving Map Your Neighborhood Stop The Bleed Flooding Power Outages

Elderly & Disabled Pets & Animals Alerts & Training Message from Snohomish County Executive - Dave Somers

snohomishcountywa.gov/DEM > Click on Snohomish County Hazards – Are You Ready?

HeraldMedia The Daily Herald • Herald Business Journal • HeraldNet.com • La Raza Marysville Globe • Arlington Times • Washington North Coast Magazine

VIEW OR DOWNLOAD ONLINE AT HERALDNET.COM

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JANUARY 2020 | DISASTER PREPAREDNESS GUIDE

DISASTER PREPAREDNESS GUIDE | JANUARY 2020 3 DISASTER PREPAREDNESS GUIDE | JANUARY 2020 3

HazardMitigation MitigationPlan Plan Hazard

It is a proven strategy for encouraging a smarter and more resilient Snohomish It safer, is a proven strategy for encouraging a County. safer, smarter and more resilient Snohomish County.

It’s also an investment in saving lives and It’smoney. also an investment in saving lives and money.

Every five years, emergency planners around the county take stock of the range of hazards Every five years, emergency planners around that can put property risk here. the county takepeople stock and of the range ofathazards Thecan data and mapsand theyproperty assembleatform the that put people risk here. the county’s Hazardform Mitigation Thbackbone e data andofmaps they assemble the Plan. Theofplan identify the Mitigation community’s backbone thehelps county’s Hazard options for minimizing damage and reducing Plan.

The plan helps identify the community’s harm when facing flooding, severe weather, options for minimizing damage and reducing earthquakes, landslides andsevere manyweather, other harm when facing flooding, challenges. landslides and many other earthquakes, challenges.

“Hazard mitigation isn’t glamorous but it is effective,” said Jason thebut county’s “Hazard mitigation isn’tBiermann, glamorous it is director.

“We know effemergency ective,” saidmanagement Jason Biermann, the county’s from disasters around the country that this emergency management director.

“We know workdisasters can savearound homes,the businesses, and this lives.” from country that work canmakes save homes, businesses, and lives.”

It also good financial sense.

Federal studies have shown that communities on avIt also makes good financial sense. Federal erage avoid spending $6 for every $1 directed studies have shown that communities on avtoward mitigating erage avoid spendinghazards. $6 for every $1 directed Updating the countywide toward mitigating hazards. Hazard Mitigation Planthe is acountywide necessary step in keeping Updating Hazard Mitiga-the community eligible for federal disaster-astion Plan is a necessary step in keeping the sistance dollars.

Thfor e plan wasdisaster-aslast revised in community eligible federal 2015.

A team of representatives around sistance dollars. The plan was last from revised in the community, including area cities and 2015. A team of representatives from around tribal governments, is now working to have the community, including area cities and an update ready for adoption by mid-Septribal governments, is now working to have tuned in the months ahead for antember. updateStay ready for adoption by mid-Sepdetails on opportunities to review the work tember. Stay tuned in the months ahead for details on opportunities to review the work

and offer input. and er input.

Theoff2020 Hazard Mitigation Plan will call to risksMitigation posed by Plan natural Thattention e 2020 Hazard willphenomcall enon, from the Glacier Peak volcano located attention to risks posed by natural phenomdeepfrom in thethe county’s side to evienon, Glacierwild Peakeast volcano located dence of past tsunami along deep in the county’s wildevents east side to the evi- Puget Sound Unlike pastalong years,the thePuget plan dence ofshoreline. past tsunami events also will exploreUnlike the community’s exposure Sound shoreline. past years, the plan to technological human-caused hazards, also will explore theand community’s exposure including chemical spills, cybersecurity to technological and human-caused hazards, threats, and activespills, assailants in places where including chemical cybersecurity people gather. threats, and active assailants in places where people gather.

The plan’s broader focus recognizes the the community in recent Thchanges e plan’s to broader focus recognizes theyears, not only to digital technology that changes tolinked the community in recent years, now pervades every aspect of publicthat and not only linked to digital technology private life, but alsoaspect the area’s booming now pervades every of public and population.

800,000 people now private life, butMore also than the area’s booming call the county home, with most livingnow in population. More than 800,000 people the urbanizing western third.

Th e county call the county home, with most living in is expected remain third. one ofThWashington’s the urbanizingtowestern e county fastest-growing places.

Hazard mitigation is expected to remain one of Washington’s planning is a part of preparing for those new fastest-growing places. Hazard mitigation arrivals. planning is a part of preparing for those new Natural, technological, and human-caused diarrivals. sasters technological, can cause injury, and property Natural, anddeath, human-caused didamage.

Th ey may have lasting impact on sasters can cause injury, death, and property the economy, particularly when recovery damage.

They may have lasting impact on efforts divert funding and attention away from the economy, particularly when recovery efother priorities. forts divert funding and attention away from But planning other priorities.also can identify projects that can help protect people,projects homes and But planning also can identify businesses, as stabilizing slopesand that are that can helpsuch protect people, homes prone to landslide or using building codes businesses, such as stabilizing slopes that areto prone to landslide or using building codes to

1 gallon of water per person per day.

1 gallon of water per person per day.

Alternative Water Source Alternative Source A typicalWater home water heater can provide 30 or more

promote construction that holds up better during earthquakes. promote construction that holds up better The plan also enables Snohomish County and during earthquakes. its planning partnersSnohomish to maintainCounty eligibility The plan also enables and disaster-related granteligibility assistance, itsfor planning partners federal to maintain accordance with the federal Disaster Mitiforindisaster-related federal grant assistance, Act (2000).

In addition, the planMitihelps ingation accordance with the federal Disaster gation Act (2000). In addition, the plan helps

2020 HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN UPDATE ▼ https://bit.ly/2PQmPGv 2020 HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN UPDATE ▼

https://bit.ly/2PQmPGv

Are you prepared?

Are you prepared?

For more on creating a disaster preparedness kit visit: mil.wa.gov/emergency-management-division/preparedness/personal For more on creating a disaster preparedness kit visit: mil.wa.gov/emergency-management-division/preparedness/personal

gallons of clean drinking water. To use the water in your A typical home heater can 30 or more tank, first turn offwater the electricity orprovide gas to the water heater. gallons cleanthe drinking Topreserve use the water in your Then,ofclose supplywater. valve to the cleanliness At least a 14-day supply of tank, rst water turn off gasthe to air theout water heater. of fithe in the the electricity tank. Next,orget of the tank Thby en,opening close theany supply valve to the kitchen cleanliness nonperishable food and water. hot-water tappreserve such as the sink.

At least a 14-day supply of of(Caution: the waterTh inethe tank.

Next, out get the air tank out ofmay thebe tank Add a can opener, scissors or knife water coming of the very nonperishable food and water. by opening any hot-water tap such as the kitchen sink. hot.) You can use a short water hose (e.g., the supply hose for cutting open foil and plastic Include a battery-powered or Add a can opener, scissors or knife (Caution: The water coming out ofthe thewater tank from may be to a washing machine) to drain thevery tank. pouches, and disposable plates, cups hand-cranked flashlight hot.) You can use a short water hose (e.g., the supply hose for cutting open foil and plastic Include a battery-powered or Use a screwdriver or coin to operate the drainage and utensils. Remember food for and radio and extra to a washing to drain water from thethe tank. pouches, and disposable plates, cups hand-cranked flashlight valve. Ifmachine) you do not have the a hose to transfer infants, those on special diets, pets. batteries.

Use a water screwdriver operate the drainage and utensils. Remember food for to jugsororcoin pots,touse a shallow pan to and radio and extra Keep a list of dates when food valve. Ifcollect you do not have a hose to transfer the the water. Allow the tank to fill infants, those on special diets, pets. items need to be replaced. water tobefore jugs orrestoring pots, usepower a shallow pan to 14 days worthbatteries. of to the Keep a list of dates when food collect the water.

Allow the tank to fill water heater. food and water. items need to be replaced.

14 days worth of before restoring power to the water heater. food and water.

Radio, ashlight flRadio, and batteries flashlight and batteries

meet requirements of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Rating meet requirements of theCommunity Federal Emergency System.

Under that program, fl ood insurance Management Agency’s Community Rating premium ratesthat canprogram, be discounted to reward System.

Under flood insurance activities aimed at reducing fl ood damage premium rates can be discounted to reward and encouraging comprehensive floodplain activities aimed at reducing flood damage management. and encouraging comprehensive floodplain management.

Food Food

Important Information Important Phone numbers, family records, Information insurance and financial documents and

First Aid First Phone numbers, family records, Supplies Aid copies of passports, identification docinsurance and financial documents and uments, Social Security cards, mediSupplies of passports, identification docBandages, washcloths, cleaningcopies cations, immunization records for

Security cards, mediagent/soap, hydrogen peroxide/ uments, Social people and pets, etc.

Bandages, washcloths, cleaning cations, immunization records for isopropyl alcohol, antiseptic agent/soap, hydrogen peroxide/ people and pets, etc. cream and aspirin or an isopropyl alcohol, antiseptic aspirin substitute. cream and aspirin or an aspirin substitute.

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JANUARY 2020 | DISASTER PREPAREDNESS GUIDE

Winter Driving Snowmageddon, Snowpocalypse and Snowzilla were a few of the names given to 2019’s winter storm. Those days in February made streets snowy, icy and a challenge.

To help you get your car ready for whatever 2020’s winter has in store, here are some tips:

• Tell a friend and family member where you are headed and check in with them when you arrive safely to your destination.

• Build an emergency car kit – include items featured in the graphic and anything else you feel you might need.

• Winterize your car – snow tires, check and fill coolant. Coolant, also known as antifreeze, keeps the engine from freezing in cold temperatures. Make sure your coolant is filled, and check for leaks that could cause coolant to drain out.

• Check Road Conditions and weather forecast- if conditions are unsafe, stay home.

• Full tank of gas • Allow extra time to get to your destination.

• Don’t take unfamiliar back roads.

Slow down in ice or snow and following distance should increase to 8 to 10 seconds.

Don’t stop if you’re driving up a hill (unless you have to). Trying to start moving uphill after stopping in snow or ice is difficult.

Give snow plows plenty of room and drive behind the snow plow, not next to it. Never drive into a cloud of snow thrown up by a snow plow.

Never use cruise control on a slippery (snow/ ice/sand) road.

Braking and accelerating should be kept smooth – steady and firm does it.

Winter Driving Safety:

Build An Emergency Car Kit

ROAD CONDITIONS/WEATHER FORECAST ▼

wsdot.com/traffic/trafficalerts

■ Water in small bottles so it can thaw quickly ■ Road flares or reflective hazard triangles ■ Jacket, winter hat and gloves ■ Warm blanket or sleeping bag ■ Pocket knife or multi-tool ■ Spare mobile phone charger ■ Snow shovel and ice scraper ■ Sand or kitty litter ■ Jump cables or portable battery charger ■ Head lamp or flashlight ■ Energy-boosting snacks ■ Tow strap ■ Tire pressure gauge and tire sealant ■ Battery-operated weather radio ■ Tire jack and lug wrench ■ Hand warmers ■ First aid kit ■ Personal medications ■ Tire chains ■ Waterproof shoes ■ Emergency contact list

If conditions are unsafe, stay home.

Contacting 911? Know this:

Texting 911 in Snohomish County

Stay Calm When you call, stay calm and answer the questions from the dispatcher. Be prepared to follow instructions and keep answers brief and to the point. Do not hang up until you are instructed to do so.

Stay on the Line

Send a text to 9-1-1 ONLY if:  



If you call 911 by accident, stay on the line to tell the dispatcher you are fine. If you hang up they may send officers to check on you.

Know Your Location 911 can’t always access your location. Be prepared to describe where you are to the dispatcher. Use landmarks and street names if no address is available.

Not an Emergency?

If there is no immediate threat to life or property but you still need 911 services, you may call 425-407-3999. Examples include reporting illegal fireworks or a past robbery.

You are deaf or hard of hearing You have a speech impairment You are unable or it is unsafe for you to make a voice call

– AND – 

You are having an emergency and need immediate police, fire, or medical assistance Always call if you can, text if you can’t. A phone call may transfer information much faster in an emergency.

Do NOT send test messages to 911.

Be prepared to describe your location to the dispatcher. Use landmarks and street names if you don’t have an address.

DISASTER PREPAREDNESS GUIDE | JANUARY 2020

Map Your Neighborhood

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In a disaster your most immediate source of help are the neighbors living around you.

Prepare Neighborhoods that are prepared for emergencies and disaster situations save lives, reduce the severity of injuries and trauma, and reduce property damage. In addition, contributing as an individual and working together as a team helps develop stronger communities and improve the quality of life in the community. And it’s FREE! The Map Your Neighborhood program is a scalable program that can be used with a few of your most immediate neighbors or a whole community.

For example, late last year the Echo/ Lost Lake Community Group began the process to implement the program for their entire community of 1,500 homes.

Learn • Learn the first 9 Steps to Take Immediately Following a Disaster to secure your home and protect your neighborhood. It is hard to think clearly following disaster.

These steps will help you to quickly and safely take actions that can minimize damage and protect lives.

• Identify the Skills and Equipment Inventory each neighbor has that are useful in an effective disaster response. Knowing which neighbors have supplies and skills ensures a timely response to a disaster and allows everyone to contribute to the response in a meaningful way.

• Create a Neighborhood Contact List that identifies those with specific needs such as the elderly, those with a disability, or homes where children may be alone during certain hours of the day.

• Work Together as a Team to evaluate your neighborhood after a disaster and take the necessary actions.

• Neighborhood Map created during the neighborhood meeting pinpoints the exact locations of natural gas meters and propane tanks; recognizing the single biggest source of neighborhood fire (about 67%) following disaster is natural and propane gas leaks.

Program Materials: • MYN Neighbor Handout: contains the 9-Step Response Plan, Skill & Equipment Inventory, Neighborhood Map & Contact List, Help / OK card. Available in English and Spanish.

• Teaches neighbors to rely on each other during the hours or days before fire, medical, police, or utility responders arrive.

• MYN Discussion Guide: designed as a ‘script’ for MYN’s DVD and can be easily read if a DVD player is not available.

• Takes just one person to begin this process by inviting the neighborhood to his or her home for a 90-minute meeting, facilitated by the program DVD.

• MYN DVD: produced in a play-pause-discuss format and is subtitled in English, Spanish, Russian, Korean, Chinese, and close-captioned for the hearing impaired.

• Program Components (accomplished in a 90-minute neighborhood meeting):

• MYN CD: supporting materials (also available online) – includes Discussion Guide, meeting invitation, promotional

▼ MAP YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management (DEM) 425-388-5060

flyer, brochure, reporting tool, and database.

Additionally: • Partners in 43 states, including Washington, have found MYN to be a cost effective and time efficient approach to neighborhood preparedness.

• MYN has a proven track record. During the 2001 Nisqually earthquake, 92% of 460 organized neighborhoods in Seattle reported responding in a timely and organized manner to the needs of their neighbors.

Interested?

Interested in being a Map Your Neighborhood program ambassador? Questions about Map Your Neighborhood?

Contact Michelle Boll at 425-388-5064 or e-mail Michelle.

Boll@snoco.org.

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JANUARY 2020 | DISASTER PREPAREDNESS GUIDE

Stop the Bleed Classes In this FREE Class you will be taught bleeding control basics.

Providence Colby Campus - Everett Wednesday, Jan. 22 1-2:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Feb. 26 1-2:30 p.m.

Wednesday, March 25 1-2:30 p.m.

Cascade Valley Hospital - Arlington Tuesday, March 17 2-3 p.m.

Tuesday, May 19 2-3 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 22 2-3 p.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 17 2-3 p.m.

Rainier Room Rainier Room Rainier Room

In this free class you will be taught bleeding control basics. Stop the Bleed is a national awareness campaign and call to action. Stop the bleed is intended to cultivate grassroots efforts that encourage bystanders to become trained, equipped and empowered to help in a bleeding emergency before professional help arrives.

Most Stop the Bleed courses last no more than 90 minutes. A formal presentation is followed by hands-on practice of applying direct pressure, packing a wound and using a tourniquet to stop bleeding.

The Stop the Bleed website contains upocoming courses. Courses are updated on a regular basis, so you can check back again if you don’t find a course that matches your schedule or is close by. If you don’t find a

course in your town or city, trying searching

by ZIP code or state.

Stop the Bleed is a grassroots effort. If you don’t see a course available near you, contact your local hospital and ask for one to be held in your local community.

It’s easy to set up a Stop the Bleed course for your local group. You can find someone nearby to come teach a course for your group by contacting stopthebleed@facs.org.

Bleeding control courses are not available online. You do have to attend and be physically present to participate to learn how to control bleeding in one of our courses.

Reach out to the instructor of your course for a copy of your Stop the Bleed course completion certificate.

STOP THE BLEED LOCAL CLASSES

▼

www.stopthebleed.org cms.bleedingcontrol.org/class/search

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DISASTER PREPAREDNESS GUIDE | JANUARY 2020

Flooding More than 75,000 people in Snohomish County live and work in places where potentially devastating floods occur. The major river basins – the Snohomish and Stillaguamish – flood every three to five years, often at the same time. Big creeks draining through southern Everett, Mill Creek, Lynnwood and Bothell also bear watching.

Since 1962, the county has weathered 18 floods large enough to be presidentially declared disasters. The worst arrived during winter 1975, causing $42 million damage and the deaths of 3,500 head of livestock.

Flood season here typically begins in October and lasts into spring. The threat is greatest between late November and early February.

That’s when storms heading inland from the Pacific Ocean bring heavy rains and mild temperatures, often melting mountain snows and spurring rivers to jump over their banks.

While heavy downpours can produce flash flooding, particularly in some urban neighborhoods, there usually is some warning that high water is coming. That means there is time to prepare.

snohomish.onerain.com/home.php Snohomish County Road Closures:

snohomishcountywa.gov/518/Road-Closures

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The county uses SnoCoAlert to warn people of emergencies. When threatened areas have been identified, Snohomish County notifies residents of potential hazard conditions.

Sign-up now at snohomishcountywa.gov/ alertsense.

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7

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Rubatino Refuse Removal has a long-standing tradition as a professional, courteous and personal refuse removal firm.

Whether related to disaster preparedness or general handyman needs, let us help!

• Earthquake strapping of cabinets and TV’s, water heaters, tall/heavy furniture • Down-spout rainwater collection set-up • Roof repair • Smoke/Fire/Carbon monoxide detector installation and testing • Window and door locks • Security camera installation • Storm clean-up including branch chipping • Board-ups and tarping • Gutter clean-out • Tractor and excavator work to prepare for or recover from damage

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JANUARY 2020 | DISASTER PREPAREDNESS GUIDE

Power Outages Everyone who lives in Snohomish County becomes familiar with severe weather. High winds, torrential rains, ice and snow are regular visitors. They often cause millions of dollars in property damage and sometimes take lives. Experts say the community averages at least one high-wind event annually, and calculate a 58 percent probability of a severe winter storm any given year.

Storms not only knock out electricity, they

often leave live power lines across roadways and topple trees into homes. The most vulnerable populations include the elderly, people living with life-threatening medical conditions, low-income families and those who are isolated either because they live in remote areas or do not speak English.

For access to PUD’s 24/7 outage map or to report an outage, visit the PUD Outage Center.

BE PREPARED FOR POWER OUTAGES

Power Outages

Report an outage or determine restoration time frames.

▼

• PUD Outage Map – website outagemap.snopud.com to report an outage or determine power restoration time frames.

• Generator safety check • Flashlights safer option over candles • Stay away from fallen power lines • Safe cooking methods; no grills indoors • Food safety – USDA notes in Keeping Food Safe during an Emergency; your refrigerator will keep food safe for up to 4 hours during a power outage. Keep the door closed as much as possible. Discard refrigerated perishable food such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and leftovers after 4 hours without power.

• Check on your neighbors, especially elderly and those with life-threatening medical conditions.

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Elderly & Disabled ■ Think through the details of your everyday

life. If there are people who assist you on a daily basis, list who they are and how you will contact them in an emergency.

■ Create your own personal support network by identifying others who will help you in an emergency.

■ Think about what modes of transportation you use and what alternative modes could serve as back-ups. If you require handicap accessible transportation be sure your alternatives are also accessible.

■ If you have tools or aids specific to your disability, plan how you would cope without them. For example, if you use a communication device, mobility aid, or rely on a service animal, what will you do if these are not available?

■ If you are dependent on life-sustaining equipment or treatment such as a dialysis machine, find out the location and availability of more than one facility.

■ For every aspect of your daily routine, plan an alternative procedure. Make a plan and

write it down. Keep a copy of your plan in your emergency supply kits and a list of important information and contacts in your wallet. Share your plan with your family, friends, care providers and others in your personal support network.

■ If you anticipate needing assistance during a disaster, make a list of family, friends and others who will be part of your plan. Talk to these people and ask them to be part of your support network. Share each aspect of your emergency plan with everyone in your group, including a friend or relative in another area who would not be impacted by the same emergency who can help if necessary.

■ Make sure everyone knows how you plan to evacuate your home, school or workplace and where you will go in case of a disaster.

■ Make sure someone in your personal support network has an extra key to your home and knows where you keep your emergency supplies. Teach them how to

use any lifesaving equipment or administer medicine in case of an emergency.

■ If you use a wheelchair, oxygen or other medical equipment show friends how to use these devices so they can move you if necessary or help you evacuate.

■ Practice your plan with those who have agreed to be part of your personal support network.

■ Inform your employer and co-workers about your disability and let them know specifically what assistance you will need in an emergency.

■ If you are hearing impaired, discuss the

best ways to alert you in an emergency.

■ Your family may not be together when di-

saster strikes, so plan how you will contact one another and review what you will do in different situations.

■ Consider a plan where each family member calls or e-mails the same friend or relative in the event of an emergency. An out-of-town contact, not in the impacted area, may be in a better position to communicate among separated family members.

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JANUARY 2020 | DISASTER PREPAREDNESS GUIDE

Pets & Animals ■ Know which hotels and motels along your escape route will accept you and your pets in an emergency. Call ahead for reservations if you know you may need to evacuate. Ask if no-pet policies could be waived in an emergency.

Portable Pet Emergency Kit Checklist ■ Important pet documents (Shot records, ownership papers, microchip registration, phone numbers of your vet and “pet buddy” and a current photo of each pet).

■ Water, food, and bowls ■ Disinfectant and cleanser to handle animal waste properly.

■ Cat litter, disposable litter pans and plastic bags.

■ Pet carrier ■ Towel and blankets, toys, brushes and combs.

■ Medications ■ Leashes and collars with current license, identification and rabies tags.

■ First aid supplies including bandages, adhesive tape, scissors, gauze, antiseptic, ice pack, tweezers and antiseptic ointment.

■ Most Red Cross shelters CANNOT accept pets because of health and safety concerns and other considerations.

Service animals that assist people with disabilities are allowed in Red Cross shelters.

■ Know which friends, relatives, boarding facilities, animal shelters or veterinarians can care for your animals in an emergency. Check ahead for pet-friendly hotels/motels. Prepare a list with phone numbers.

■ Although your animals may be more comfortable together, be prepared to house them separately.

Plan to take your pets with you in an emergency. If it is not safe for you to stay, it is not safe for them either.

■ Include your pets in evacuation drills so they become used to entering and traveling in their carriers calmly.

■ Watch your animals closely and keep them under your direct control as fences and gates may have been damaged.

■ Make sure your pet’s vaccinations are current and all dogs and cats are wearing collars with securely fastened, upto-date identification. Many pet shelters require proof of current vaccinations to reduce the spread of disease.

■ Pets may become disoriented, particularly if the disaster has affected scent markers that normally allow them to find their home.

■ Consider having your pet “microchipped” by your veterinarian.

■ The behavior of pets may change dramatically after a disaster, becoming aggressive or defensive, so be aware of their well-being and protect them from hazards to ensure the safety of other people and animals.

■ Be aware of hazards at nose and paw or hoof level, particularly debris, spilled chemicals, fertilizers and other substances that might not seem to be dangerous to humans.

■ Consult your veterinarian if any behavior problems persist.

■ Bring pets inside so you won’t have to search for them if you have to leave.

LIVESTOCK, HORSES OR OTHER ANIMALS

RedCross.org | HSUS.org | Ready.gov

▼

Alerts & Training CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) everettwa.gov/243/CERT-Class The Everett Fire Department offers Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) classes. The 8-session course will provide a variety of disaster planning, recovery and survival skills aimed at surviving and assisting our community in disaster response and recovery. Residents, as well as business owners, are encouraged to participate or send employees to these free emergency preparedness classes. To date, more than 1200 people have participated in the Everett Fire Department CERT Program. There is a requirement to attend all sessions, establish a home emergency kit, obtain personal safety equipment and be a willing team participant. Cost for personal safety equipment is approximately $30 and it’s advised to purchase equipment on your own to ensure proper fitting. The basic equipment information and where to purchase will be explained at the first class. If interested in CERT call your local fire department for information. If you live in the City of Everett, Everett OEM information is online at https://www.everettwa.gov/243/CERT-Class.

Residents living in south county should contact South County Fire. In Marysville, applications are available online at www.marysvillewa.gov/758/CERT or through the City of Marysville Emergency Management Office. For more information, contact the City of Marysville Emergency Management at 360-363-8096 or email drose@marysvillewa.gov. Residents of Tulalip can find more information online at www.tulaliptribes-nsn.gov/Home/Government/Departments/OfficeofEmergencyManagement/CERT.aspx. If you live outside these areas contact Michelle Boll 425-388-5064.

SnoCoAlert snohomishcountywa.gov/SnoCoAlert Residents and businesses can sign up to receive emergency alerts and notifications through SnoCoAlert. Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management, in coordination with the county’s 9-1-1 call centers, has opened public enrollment in the county’s SnoCoAlert System. Emergency response providers will use SnoCoAlert to warn people quickly in emergencies that may affect the local area. Residents and businesses may elect to receive alerts by e-mail or text message. SnoCoAlert allows individuals without landline phone service to link their address and cell phone to receive notifications affecting their registered location.

DISASTER PREPAREDNESS GUIDE | JANUARY 2020 11 DISASTER PREPAREDNESS GUIDE | JANUARY 2020 11

DISASTER PREPAREDNESS FOR FAMILIES FREE

2-HOUR

P

WORKSHO

Learn how to prepare and care for your family in a disaster in this interactive, hands-on training presented by South County Fire: • How to build a preparedness kit for your family • Disaster first aid basics • Putting out small fires • Shutting off utilities • Assessing damage to determine a safe action plan for your home

– AND MORE

Add SNOCOALERTS to Your Communication Device: snohomishcountywa.gov/SnoCoAlert Download FREE disaster preparedness apps available for iPhone and Android users.

Search “American Red Cross” at the Apple App or Google Play Stores for: Earthquake App • Hurricane App • First Aid App • Shelter Finder App

Websites with more information: Snohomish Co. Dept. of Emergency Mgmt .....................................................................snohomishcountywa.gov/DEM American Red Cross .................................................................................................................................................................................redcross.org WA State Emergency Management Division............................... mil.wa.gov/emergency-management-division South County Fire ...........................................................................................................................................................................southsnofire.org Sno. Co. School Districts .............................................................................snohomishcountywa.gov/384/School-Districts FEMA .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................fema.gov Ready .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................ready.gov ASPCA .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................aspca.org Humane Society.........................................................................................................................................................................humanesociety.org Providence Health & Services.................................................................................................................................................. providence.org Cascade Valley Hospital...........................................................................................................................................................cascadevalley.org To Volunteer......................................................................................snohomishcountywa.gov/749/volunteer-opportunities Real-time Flood Information .............................................................................................. snohomish.onerain.com/home.php Road Closure .................................................................................................................snohomishcountywa.gov/518/Road-Closure Power Outages .....................................................................................................................................................................snopud.com/?p=1180

WHEN: Fourth Thursday of select months, 6 - 8 p.m.

First class is Feb. 27.

WHERE: Lynnwood Fire Station 15, 18800 44th Ave. W. Advance registration is required. Sign up and learn more online www.southsnofire.org/FamilyPrep or contact South County Fire Community Outreach, 425-320-5800. All abilities welcome. Children ages 13 & up welcome when an adult caregiver is also registered.

12 JANUARY 2020 | DISASTER PREPAREDNESS GUIDE

Message from Snohomish County Executive Dear Fellow Resident: If you felt this year’s earthquake with an epicenter in Monroe or saw the results of the tragic wildfires in California, you’ll understand why we take preparedness so seriously. Fires, flooding, earthquakes, landslides, and volcanic eruption are the most serious threats we face. But we are not defenseless. We can prepare.

If you need to know how, then you have come to the right place.

Look no further than these pages and our emergency management website. We hope that nothing bad happens to us or our community, but hope isn’t going to make us resilient or help our families survive when disaster does strike. That’s why we have the Department of Emergency Management working day (and night) to ensure we are as prepared as possible. Please do your part, and together we’ll make it through whatever comes our way.

DAVE SOMERS Snohomish County Executive

Sincerely,

Dave Somers

Snohomish County Executive

www.snohomishcountywa.gov