News Release

Sept. 6, 2005

King County Emergency Management has information to make citizens disaster prepared for the next 'Big One'

It often times takes a major disaster to get everyone thinking about what they would do if a disaster were to happen here at home. Repeatedly, the urgent need for food and water, and finding out if family members were safe, were common themes during the initial aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Preparedness is a critical element to emergency planning and benefits us as individuals and as a community as a whole. The more we can prepare the better chance we have of responding to and recovering from disasters. Even if you just take a few initial steps right now towards emergency preparedness, it’s a start. Seriously consider what you and your family might need to survive fore a while on your own – without immediate help from emergency responders. Think about the most important items you and your family might need you were instructed to evacuate right away. Establish an out-of-state emergency contact that everyone in your family can report to. There is a lot you can do to get informed and become better prepared.

King County Office of Emergency Management has a website dedicated to helping you prepare, at www.metrokc.gov/prepare.

• Personal Preparedness: Learn how to assess disaster readiness in your community and prepare your family for an emergency. Includes important information on personal preparedness as well as resources geared towards children, multi-lingual residents, people with special needs, and what to do in the workplace. Details.
• Hazards and disasters within King County: A list of the most common disasters that can strike in King County. Click to learn more about the affects of these hazards and what you can do to prepare and respond. Each section contains hazard-specific preparedness steps, response steps, and basic preparedness information along with related links leading to interesting and informative sites. Details.
• Basic, Better, Best: What level of preparedness do you want to be at? Follow the "Basic - Better - Best" model to find out how to build on your preparedness skills and resources. Start with your basic needs and then over the next few weeks or months move toward the best category of preparedness. Remember, anything you do to start to prepare, even if it's a little thing, is a step. Not only will you and your family benefit from your steps to prepare, but your neighbors, friends, and community will also benefit! Details.
• Project Impact: Hosted by King County Office of Emergency Management Director Eric Holdeman, shows include:
• • Homeland Security and Disaster Planning for Auburn and South King County
  • Pandemic Flu (updated)
  • Crime Stoppers
  • Mount Rainier: Perilous Beauty
  • US Army Corps of Engineers
  • How the Media Covers Emergencies and Disasters
  • Washington National Guard
  • American Red Cross
  • Homeland Security
• Citizen Corps/CERT: Citizen Corps is a unique opportunity to join with friends, neighbors, and local leaders to ensure the safety of our area. Learn how you can become more involved in the security of your community and country by joining a CERT team. Details.
• Home Team Ready: A partnership with King, Snohomish, and Pierce Counties, the State of Washington, the City of Seattle and KING 5 to create a preparedness plan for your family today. This innovative collaboration features changing themes, ideas, and resources centered on tools you can use for readiness at home, the workplace, and the community. Details.
• Turn 2 for Preparedness: The American Red Cross and Philips Medical Systems bring you Turn 2 for Preparedness, a special promotion by your local Offices of Emergency Management, the Department of Homeland Security, the State of Washington and KOMO 1000 News in partnership with the Seattle Mariners. For every double play turned by the Mariners at Safeco Field, a two-person disaster supplies backpack is awarded to a lucky fan. The goal is to raise awareness for the need to prepare each and every household in King, Pierce and Snohomish Counties and the City of Seattle for emergencies and disasters like natural hazards and terrorism. Details.
• Pet Preparedness: Sometimes our greatest loves are more of the furry variety than the human - although some pet owners will swear that their animals are just as human as they are. And just as you prepare for your human family for disaster, so should you take care to make sure that your pets are provided for in case of emergency - put aside extra food, water, leashes, identification, toys and carriers so animals will be comfortable in case of disaster. Details.

Media inquires can be directed to 206-205-1000 or e-mail to jic@metrokc.gov between the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Updated: Sept. 6, 2005