Disaster Preparedness 101

1. Disaster Preparedness 101 Lee Champagne, Chief Mobile Emergency Response Support, DHS/FEMA Bothell, WA

2. So Why Should I Prepare? It is not going to happen here. If it does, it probably won’t affect me. If it does affect me, it might not be that bad. If it is that bad, then I can’t do any thing about it anyway, and there is always FEMA….. So Why Prepare? A head in the sand approach is never good strategy when it comes to disaster preparedness.

3. Because Bad Stuff Happens: We as individuals, as a community and government (local, state federal) can’t stop it, but with prior planning and preparation we stand a better chance of mitigating the effects, surviving and recovering. nd Federal Agencies

4. Why Do You Need to Prepare? • Disasters are unpredictable • Disasters happen in every community • Your family’s well-being is important “For a community to be prepared everyone needs to take the necessary steps to become disaster ready” - Statement by DHS and American Red Cross

5. How Can You Prepare? Simple 1- 2 - 3 - 4 Approach to Disaster Preparing 1. Get Informed 2. Make a Plan 3. Get Resources 4. Get Organized

6. Step 1. Get Informed. • Good starting place is www.ready.gov to find specific preparedness information on what you should know and do before, during and after any disaster. • Visit City, County and State Emergency Management websites, (Woodinville is great, and also the state’s: www.emd.wa.gov/preparedness) • Discover what the most likely disaster threats in your area and what you specifically need to prepare for each one. (Local hazard vulnerability assessment) • FYI, based on historical experience, the most likely disasters that could happen here, might include: • Severe Storms • Ice, Snow, Rains, Winds • Volcanoes (Mt Rainier?) • Pandemic Flu (Flu shots?) • Fires* • Flooding • Power Failures • Earthquakes

7. So, What’s the Biggest Threat To Most Likely Happen Here? • A huge catastrophic 9.0 earthquake and tsunami just off our Pacific Northwest Coast . (Up to 80% chance in next 50 years) • The results would be devastating ! • Seismically identical and similar in effects to the deadly ones (9.0+) that previously hit elsewhere along the Pacific rim in “Subductions Zones”: • Indonesia in 2004, • Chile 1960 and 2010, • Alaska 1964, • Japan in869and2011

8. Cascadia Subduction Zone (CSZ). • A “subduction” zone is the boundary where an oceanic tectonic plate “sub-ducts” beneath a continental plate. Over time, significant force builds ups along this boundary until there is a sudden slip, release of energy and an uplift in the ocean floor causing a massive earthquake and tsunami. (The largest on earth are in these zones) • Japan’s catastrophic disaster occurred in a subduction zone. • We have a similar zone called the “Cascadia Subduction Zone (CSZ), where the Pacific Oceanic plate “sub-ducts under the North American plate. • Located just a short distance off shore, running parallel up the U.S. Pacific coastline for 800 miles from northern California Northern California to British Columbia. • Been the scene of major seismic events in the past. Last occurred January 27, 1700, slightly over 312 years ago. Geological evidence shows an earthquake and tsunami as great as what occurred two years ago in Japan.

9. Japan 2011 Earthquake/Tsunami • 16,447 Deaths • 4,787 Missing • 5,888 Injured • 430,000 Homeless • 111,944 Buildings destroyed • 637,277 Buildings damaged • Honshu Island moved 7.8 feet west • Nuclear power meltdown • Cost could exceed $300 billion

10. Damage Projections from a 9.0 CSZ Event • Major Impact to 3 States, British Columbia • Complete rupture of the 800 Mile Fault Line • Impacts affecting over 140,000 sq. mi. • Ground shaking lasts up to 5 minutes • Numerous aftershocks with several of M7.0+ • 1,100+ Deaths From Earthquake 24,000+ injuries • 10,600+ Deaths from tsunami 3,000+ injuries • Over $60 billion in property damage, • Damage extending from the coast to beyond the I-5 Corridor

11. CSZ Tsunami • Projected Impacts Could Include: • 11 coastal counties • Over 10,000 Deaths (Oregon/Wash). • Only 15 to 30 minute warning • No surviving coastal ports or airports • Multiple waves 10-12 hours after initial shake • Waves height could very from 20’to 80’ based on location • Aftershocks with a magnitude of 7.0 or greater could generate additional tsunamis

12. Earthquake Shake Intensity In the greater Seattle Area we can expect Moderate to Strong Shaking

13. Projected CSZ Earthquake Impacts:

14. After CSZ event, what could you expect here? • Moderate structural damage, ruptured utility lines, and falling home fixtures, if not secured. Surrounding road/bridge damage, could cause you to be stuck: • At home with no power, heat, running water, and no communications for week(s), with safety, security, health and sanitation issues. • Outside assistance can’t be counted upon because state and federal emergency responders will be responding to the worse hit areas first, as local emergency responders (police and fire) most likely will be overwhelmed. • If unable or unwilling to evacuate, families would have to be self-sufficient until vital services are restored and/or help arrives. (up to 30 days or more) • How well individuals, families and the communities survives and copes will depend upon how well they are prepared.

15. Step 2. Get a Plan . • The first step should include a visit to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) website: www.ready.gov and www.emd.wa.gov/preparedness. • Since disasters can happen suddenly, anytime, night or day, summer or winter, when you may be away from home, you should develop flexible plans that will help you quickly react to any emergency to safely protect you, your family, and property for any eventuality. The plan should perhaps include: • Review of adequacy of personal, family, and property insurance coverage • How to communicate with family members if separated and phones don’t work, • How and where to evacuate, escapes routes, where to meet • How to shut off gas, power, and other utilities, • How to provide for special needs, babies, pets, seniors. • How to perform first aid, CPR • Safeguarding of important documents

16. Considerations for your Disaster Plan • Where will you meet family members? • Who is your out-of-State “check-in” contact? • Will you have an extended stay? Shelter in place? Evacuate? • How will you escape your home? Workplace? School? Place of worship? (verify your routes) • What route (and several alternates) will you use to evacuate your neighborhood? • Do you have transportation? • Do you have fuel? (keep your car above half tank) • Did you practice your plan? • Plan for the worse, prepare for all

17. Community Planning Considerations • Community disaster preparedness cannot be over emphasized. During huge disasters, your neighborhood may be isolated for quite a while awaiting outside assistance, so it makes sense to work together and help each other. • Neighbors cooperating together in mutual support and protection, makes the entire community safer and disaster resilient. This takes prior planning. • You can help this process by becoming aware of neighbors who are elderly, handicapped, with medical conditions or other needs that could use assistance in the event of an emergency. • Such assistance could include evacuation, food, shelter, water, first aid, helping with debris removal, providing comfort, or help with their pets. • Civic groups, schools and churches can also make plans on how they can be ready when disaster strikes to lend a similar helping hand. This lending hand is often crucial to a successful disaster recovery effort. • Contact your local emergency managers and volunteer.

18. Step 3.Get Resources (Kit) • According to www.ready.gov, the key to surviving a disaster is having the appropriate resources. Every family should have an emergency kit of essentials supplies to be self sufficient for at least 3 days (but longer is better). • Consider having several kits, home, vehicles, other location. • Consider what to expect from disruption of services: electricity, gas, water, sewage treatment and telephones may be cut off for days or longer. Your supplies kit should contain items to help you manage during these outages. • Recommended resources should perhaps include these items: Water Food Lights/Batteries Cash, (no ATM’s) Extra Clothes, blankets Personal medicines Battery operated radio Camp Stove/Grill Emergency generator Fuel Baby formula/diapers Pet food Fire extinguisher Extra cell phone battery Gloves, work boots Extra prescription glasses Health and sanitary items Duct tape First Aid Kits Toilet paper Can opener Matches Tool kit

19. Step 4.Get Organized…and Involved • Identify roles and responsibilities • Assign duties and priorities • Training and practice personal plans • Keep informed • Network and help others • Become and stay prepared

20. What Can You Expect From FEMA • FEMA’s mission is to reduce the loss of life and property and protect the Nation from all hazards, including natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters, by leading the Nation in comprehensive emergency management system of: Preparedness , Response, Recovery, and Mitigation. • When disaster strikes, FEMA comes in support of a state governor following a major declaration to supplement and support the state’s efforts to provide critical requested disaster relief services . • Response Phase: Provides emergency services to save and protect lives, (search and rescue, evacuation, shelter, emergency medical, etc). • Recovery Phase: Provide helping hand to individuals and families, and help local/state governments rebuild and restore critical public infrastucture.

21. FEMA - Emergency Response Life Saving • Search and Rescue • Evacuation • Medical Life Sustaining • Emergency Power • Distribute Commodities (Ice, Water, Food, etc) • Debris Removal • Shelters/Base Camps • Mortuary Services • Security • Restore Critical Infrastructure

22. FEMA Recovery programs help individuals and communities affected by disasters are able to return to normal function with minimal suffering and disruption of services • Key Recovery Programs: • Individual Assistance (Help individuals and families) • Public Assistance (Help rebuild public infrastructure, remove debris, etc) • Mitigation (Grants to mitigate future disasters, and Flood Insurance) FEMA - Recovery

23. FEMA Individual Assistance Programs • Housing Repairs, Property loss • SBA Low interest Loans • Other Needs Assistance for personal losses (medical, dental, funeral, transportation, etc.) FEMA can provide grant assistance up to $28,800 per family Process Starts with an Applicant Phone Call to I-800-621-FEMA or visit to www.fema.gov • TempHousing and Shelter • Crisis Counseling • Disaster Unemployment Assistance • Legal aid • Volunteer agency coordination

24. FEMA Public Assistance Programs Public Assistance Programs provide government assistance to state or local governments and certain private non-profit organizations for: • Repair of public infrastructure (roads, bridges) and • Repair of public buildings and facilities, • Repair of public utilities, • Debris removal, and • Emergency protective measures. The Federal cost-share can be no less than 75%.

25. Mitigation • FEMA provides grants to states following every disaster to be spent on projects to mitigate or lessens the severity, harm and cost of future disasters. Examples: Tornado safe houses, hurricane building codes, building dams, levies, floodwall and spillways, flood mapping, home elevation. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- • You can personally mitigate to lessen the severity, harm, and cost and of likely hazards and be more safe from disasters. Examples: • Buying flood and Earth movement insurance • Secure tall furniture, water heater, other fixtures to make home make earthquake resilient. • Cut overhanging trees • Install Fire and C02 alarms • Evaluate shelter accessibility in your community • Using Snow Tires in Winter

26. OK, What’s The Bottom Line? • After a major disaster, successful recovery afterwards is often a slow uphill climb. • No one should rely solely on the government for more than just a helping hand, as government assistance is limited and not designed to make anyone whole. • People who are self reliant, resourceful and prepared no matter where they live, have the best chance to survive and successfully recover from any disaster, so: • Get Information, Plan, Get Resources, Get Organized….and become PREPARED, your life may someday depend upon it.

27. THE END So, any questions? . Remember Go to www.ready.gov for what you need to know to be prepared