Submitted by Thurston County Emergency Management
Would you be prepared to keep yourself and your family safe if a storm like Hurricane Sandy hit the Pacific Northwest? Get the tips, tricks and tools you need to be “StormReady” at a free personal preparedness workshop this Saturday at the Lacey Timberland Library.
“There are stories coming out of New York and New Jersey and other places where neighborhoods were flooded in a matter of minutes and people had to evacuate with the clothes on their backs,” said Vivian Eason, a coordinator with the Thurston County Emergency Management Division and speaker at the November 3 workshop. “The lesson from Hurricane Sandy is this—don’t wait to until the storm hits to think about your emergency go kit, get StormReady now!”
Thurston County earned the “StormReady” designation from the National Weather Service, but being storm-ready doesn’t mean that communities are storm proof. While Thurston County Emergency Management officials are ready to respond to heavy rain, snow, extreme winds or flooding this winter, each resident should also be prepared to respond to severe winter storms and other natural disasters and emergencies:
- Sign up for Thurston County Emergency Management’s Telephone Alert System for river flooding. You can also follow Thurston County Emergency Management on Facebook and Twitter.
o Telephone Alert System sign-up: www.co.thurston.wa.us/em/flood/teleAlert.htm
o TCEM on Facebook: Thurston County EM
o TCEM on Twitter: @ThurstonEM
- Download a copy of the 2012 Thurston County Flood Bulletin that includes kit checklists, evacuation tips, contact numbers for government agencies and utilities, and more (www.co.thurston.wa.us/em/Flood/2012FloodBulletin.pdf).
- Stay safe when the power goes out. Never use a gas range, indoor cooker, or charcoal or gas barbeque indoors because the carbon monoxide fumes can be deadly. Learn more about electric safety and power outage tips from Puget Sound Energy’s web pages (http://pse.com/safety/ElectricSafety/Pages/default.aspx).
- Make sure your food is safe after the storm has passed—when in doubt, throw it out! Get more food safety information at www.FoodSafety.gov on the Keep Food Safe pages (http://www.foodsafety.gov/keep/emergency/index.html).
For more information about the November 3 workshop, or for more information on the Thurston County Emergency Management Division, visit www.co.thurston.wa.us/em or contact Vivian Eason ateasonv@co.thurston.wa.us or (360) 867-2825.
WHAT: FREE! Emergency Preparedness Workshop
WHEN: Saturday, Nov. 3 from 10:30 a.m. to noon
WHERE: Lacey Timberland Library at 500 College St. SE in Lacey
Stay connected with TCEM with social media. Get Thurston County Emergency Management updates on Facebook and Twitter:
Facebook: Thurston County EM
Twitter: @ThurstonEM
