Puyallup Emergency Preparedness Fair November 5th
October 31, 2011
Puyallup’s Emergency Management Department is hosting a free Emergency Preparedness Fair this Saturday at their fairgrounds. Learn to build an emergency kit, learn about their CERT, ARES & related citizen corps programs, fire safety and much more.
Introductory HAZUS Webinars Available
October 21, 2011
Hazus is a nationally applicable standardized methodology that contains models for estimating potential losses from earthquakes, floods, and hurricanes. Hazus uses Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology to estimate physical, economic, and social impacts of disasters.
NOAA Updates Winter Predictions-- Wetter–and now Colder–than Average
October 21, 2011
NOAA had already posted news that we were likely to have a wetter than average winter in the northwest. Now they’re also saying there is over a 33% chance it may be colder than average, according to their latest long range forecast issued Thursday, and their “non-technical” explanation.
Real Change’s Survive the Streets Seeking Warm Clothes
October 21, 2011
In addition to helping maintain Vashon CERT’s generators at the local fire stations each month, Vashon’s Dennis Schroeder has been a volunteer at the Real Change newspaper for the past five years, as well as serving on its Board of Directors for a two-year term. For those who may not know, Real Change is the street newspaper that is sold in Seattle and the surrounding areas by homeless and low-income people.
2011 Great California ShakeOut Earthquake Drill Interrupted by Real Quakes
October 21, 2011
It is not too surprising that it would happen somewhere in California in any given day, but yesterday’s 2011 Great California ShakeOut earthquake drill was punctuated with a few minor quakes yesterday around the Berkeley area. No injuries and only minor damage was reported.
Draft “Task Books” for Key Incident Command System Positions Available for Comment
October 18, 2011
It appears that the ICS Task Books that help evaluators judge ICS performance (2007 versions are online at http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/ICSResource/PositionChecklists.htm) have been newly revised in April 2011, and are now published as a draft docket currently undergoing a comment period as detailed in the October 4th Federal Register. These may be revisions of the original 1993 Wildland Fire evaluation forms that are still on the Department of Labor’s OSHA site.
Infographic on FEMA’s Spending for the Year
October 18, 2011
Thanks to King County’s Dave Nichols for spotting this infographic by the Digital Surgeons depicting where FEMA’s funds have gone this year.
Swarm of 7 Earthquakes around Rainier
October 18, 2011KING 5 News reported today a swarm of earthquakes in recent weeks around Mount Rainier: nothing especially exciting, but an alert that it IS an active volcano!
Read MoreJapan Clears the Debris
October 18, 2011
If you appreciated my 14 March post that mentioned the ABC site showing before & after images of some tsunami scenes, you’ll likely also appreciate this somewhat similar set of photos from the Sacramento Bee that show 3 sequential images shot from the same perspective – of maybe a dozen different scenes. Thanks to Cathy Rogers & Jill Watson for alerting us to these.
New Tukwila Radio Club Forms–to work with the Tukwila Office of Emergency Management
October 15, 2011
A posting to the northwest DStar email list reports that a new Amateur Radio organization is being formed in Tukwila that will help to foster volunteerism, offer radio and emergency management training and build a sense of community.
Business NERO Jumps into Action
October 13, 2011
Over the last year Debi Richards, the Vashon Chamber of Commerce’s Executive Director has been thinking about how to encourage businesses to get better prepared.
King County Executive Dow Constantine Recognizes Vashon with Inaugural Community Preparedness Award
October 12, 2011
The residents of Vashon and all the volunteers and organizations under the VashonBePrepared banner were honored Friday, September 30th by King County Executive Dow Constantine and King County Councilmember Joe McDermott - the final day of National Preparedness Month. As described by the actual 2011 King County Executive Award for Community Preparedness, and by the official King County press release, the award was to the entire community and emphasized the many contributors to Vashon’s preparedness. The Carnation-Duvall Citizen Corps Council was likewise lauded with a similar award.
You may have a home fire escape/disaster plan–but do you practice it?!
October 12, 2011
According to 1st Alert, 79% of families have a fire escape plan, but 51% have never practiced it, and 29% have only done so once.
Seattle Red Cross Sponsors Amateur Radio General Class Course
October 11, 2011
Seattle Chapter, American Red Cross, is Sponsoring an Amateur Radio General Class Licensing Course
La Nina–AGAIN!
October 8, 2011
While last winter didn’t seem that cold (skiing was NOT as epic as I had hoped or the dramatic forecasts had predicted), it did have lots of rain and this year is likely to be colder and wetter than average also. According to the national Climate Prediction Center’s announcement yesterday, it looks like a wetter, but not necessarily colder winter than average. Their analysis balances a variety of models, each with a differing assessment, complicating the prediction. My personal advice: expect rain and look out the window for the latest weather update.
Upgrades to North End Voice of Vashon Standing By Alert Sign
October 7, 2011
Thanks to Steve Allen for installing a new automatically activated alert system this afternoon at the North End Fire Station. The system has been improved gradually overtime and no longer relies on monthly volunteers swapping out manually charged batteries for instance. The new system is actually located inside the fire station and so has a trickle charger that will keep the batteries topped off.
King County Executive Dow Constantine’s 2011 Award for Community Preparedness to VashonBePrepared
October 7, 2011
On September 30th, King County Executive Dow Constantine presented the citizens of Vashon and the organizations that comprise VashonBePrepared with his 2011 Award for Community Preparedness as noted in the King County press release and my comments on the award. The actual text of the award follows:
