2010-9

WSEMA Conference Wrap-up

The WA State Emergency Managers Association annual conference was held this last week and some of the materials from that are now available online for any of us who were unable to make the conference.

Seattle Faults

If you’ve not seen it, there is a good map of local faults, with a brief write-up at www.pnsn.org/INFO_GENERAL/puget_faults.html

File Hosting Websites

If you want to disaster proof yourself, consider putting your critical (but non-private) files on a server. Unless you are the trusting type, use this as a backup – or keep a backup on a hard drive that you control. I’ve used www.DropBox.com, but here is a listing of many more options:

Vashon Wildfires

Historically Vashon has had a few major wildfires:

1893: in August 1893 a fire began in the logged off area near the present high school where the first saw mill was located.  The fire rages for two days and nights, “nearly a hundred” volunteers “fought desperately against apparently hopeless odds, with shovels and hoes and rakes, to save the new Baptist Church and the Presbyterian Church at Center, and the Fuller store across the street.  With the flames within two hundred yards of Center, the wind shifted to the north on the evening of the second day, allowing fire fighters finally gain control of the fire.

“Possible Evacuation West of Broadway in Boulder, CO”

My sister/brother-in-law live in Boulder, CO (to the west of Broadway), and here are a couple news releases detailing what to do in a fire situation that they received yesterday afternoon. Can you imagine what our PI Team would have to write up as a notice in a rush, if we had a wildfire here on Vashon some August afternoon?

Gig Harbor/Key Peninsula Preparedness Fair

“Prepare Because You Care”

Are you ready ….. for the unthinkable?**

Happy National Preparedness Month!

National Preparedness Month is a nationwide effort held each September. The goal of National Preparedness Month is to increase public awareness about the importance of preparing for emergencies, including natural disasters and potential terrorist attacks, at home, work and school. Events and activities across the nation encourage individuals to get an emergency supply kit, make a family emergency plan, and get involved in preparing their communities. National Preparedness Month is sponsored by the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Ready Campaign.