PUBLIC PREPAREDNESS
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PUBLIC PREPAREDNESS
At West Thurston, public safety education is a priority. So we have made it a priority to provide tips and tools to you and your families so that you can better prepare for a large scale emergency or disaster.
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Different preparedness strategies have been provided to you by local, state, and federal Emergency Management Offices. For more information on different preparedness tools check out our seasonal newsletters!
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Emergency Management Citizen Preparedness Resources:
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Department of Natural Resources Emergency preparedness
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The web pages above are few of the many resources available to the public regarding citizen preparedness. Read through the available literature on these websites for more information on what you can do to prepare for an emergency.
DISASTER PLANS
LEARN ABOUT DISASTER PLANS FOR:
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Your work
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Your children's school
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Your medical and/or transportation provider
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Other places where your family spends time
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CHECK WITH YOUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICE
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Find out what hazards could affect your home and place of work
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Sign up for emergency alerts and notifications such as:
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Thurston Community Alert also known as RAVE​
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SMART 911
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Ident​ify your local emergency alert system (EAS) Radio Stations
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Know your evacuation and alternate transportation routes
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HAVE AN EMERGENCY EMERGENCY KIT
Be 2 weeks ready! In the event of a large scale emergency/disaster responders may be overwhelmed and their resources limited. It may take longer for local,state, and federal agencies to get to you; be prepared with emergency kits that can last you and your family up to two weeks.
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Every individual and family's needs can be different. Use the checklist below as a guide to building your own emergency kit. Be sure to adjust the kit's size based on the number of people in your household. If you have any questions about how to begin building your emergency kits feel free to contact us at 360-352-1614.
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Building your emergency kit:
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Water (1 gallon per person per day)
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Food (non-perishable)
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Can opener
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Medical Equipment
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Medications
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First Aid Kit
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Glasses/Eye Care
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Personal Hygiene Items
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Toilet paper
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Warm Clothes
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Sturdy Shoes
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Tools
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Fire Extinguisher
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Pet Supplies
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NOAA Alert Radio
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Identification & Important Documents
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Click here for a pdf of this emergency kit list.
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DEVELOP A COMMUNICATION PLAN
Emergencies/disasters can happen at any moment, anywhere; you could be at work, at home, or on the road. Disasters can bog down normal means of communication, with phone lines being overloaded. Communication plans prior to an event is essential, plan ahead with your family a plan so that you can check in with your loved ones in the event of a disaster. Below are some tips to developing a communication plan:
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Write down emergency contact information
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Texts are more likely to go through
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Have an extra cell phone charger and batteries
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An out-of-area contact can serve as a relay point for family communication.
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HELP EACH OTHER
You are not alone, emergencies can affect anyone on any day. By being prepared together and sharing the tools and tips you learn we can better prepare for the different emergencies. Here are some tips on the ways you can be involved with your community:
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Form a neighborhood group:for examples and suggestions, see Map your Neighborhood at: emd.wa.gov/myn
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Help organizations in your neighborhood that may need support during a disaster
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Attend free disaster skills workshops offered by your local emergency management office and learn basic survival skills
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Preparedness is everyone's responsibility.
Be prepared. Be safe.
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