 |
Emergency Services
Coordinating Agency
|
OUR MISSION: To coordinate and assist the Emergency Services Coordinating Agency member cities
to be better prepared for disaster through mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery activities.
|
|
Prepare
As we have seen in disasters in recent years, it may take several days before outside assistance arrives. It is critical for individuals to be prepared to take care of themselves and their families until help arrives.
This page provides basic information and identifies additional resources to increase individual and family preparedness.
Personal Preparedness
Preparedness starts at home and consists of three primary steps:
Make a plan.
Plans should contain the following components:
Evacuation routes out of of the home
Build a kit.
The attached brochures contain a list of some items suggested for disaster preparedness kits. This is not an exhaustive list, and individuals and families are encouraged to personalize the kits according to specific needs.
The primary brochure is for All Hazards Preparedness. In addition, brochures are included for Children, Elderly or Special Needs Persons, and Pets. Many of the items are listed in each of the brochures to ensure that the basics are not overlooked in assembling the "special" items.
Get trained.
There are many useful trainings and classes available, both online and in person. Some suggestions and resources are:
American Red Cross
The Red Cross offers courses that include Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and First Aid among others. Contact the local chapter for schedules.
American Red Cross (National site)
Red Cross of King and Kitsap Counties (local chapter)
Red Cross of Snohomish County (local chapter)
Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
CERT teaches basic preparedness and disaster response skills. Click here to see the CERT information pages, including links to schedules and programs.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
FEMA has a wide range of free, online courses related to disaster preparedness and response.
Neighbor Helping Neighbor
Neighbor Helping Neighbor is a local program for public outreach and education.
The purpose of this program is to encourage both personal preparedness and pre-disaster communication and coordination among neighbors. (In a disaster, neighbors are going to be the "first responders" for several days until things stabilize.)
Neighbor Helping Neighbor may be delivered by one of the ESCA Staff or Volunteers. It may also be downloaded and facilitated by a neighborhood organizer. The following documents are provided for download and printing as tools for increasing personal and neighborhood preparedness.
Neighbor Helping Neighbor - Planning Booklet
Neighbor Helping Neighbor - Facilitator's Guide
Planning Templates
Long Term Care Facilities and Adult Family Homes
Disaster Preparedness for Long Term Care Facilities
Letter to Long Term Care Facility Administrator
Special Needs
FEMA provides a website that addresses some of the issues that may need to be address by individuals with special needs. That website is:
http://www.fema.gov/plan/prepare/specialplans.shtm
Personal Preparedness and "Go Kit" Lists for Volunteers
The following lists were compiled from several lists and resources. Included are items suggested by one or more CERT Leaders or RACES members as being of use. As always, this is not a promotion of any item(s) or vendors.