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EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

What will you do when a catastrophe strikes? How do you prepare your homeowners for an emergency?

The resource material available on this page is a great start to planning for everything from the low probability worst-case scenario to handling common concerns that arise as part of multi-family residential living and also offer ideas for emergencies related to single-family homes spread across many acres.

KNOW THE DIFFERENCE:

  1. Resident-facing material should be kept to "grab and go" lengths of 1 to 2 pages maximum. Include a QR code that links to additional material.
  2. Comprehensive emergency preparedness plans can be quite lengthy (as you'll find in some of the examples below). These plans typically detail the exact equipment, locations, personnel and procedures relevant to address any emergency situation.

TYPES OF PREPARATION:

  1. Individual Home / Unit: Steps and supplies residents should prepare in advance within their home.
  2. Property-Wide: Steps and supplies properties should prepare in advance for the benefit of all residents, staff and visitors.

EXAMPLES: EMERGENT EVENTS

  • Medical | Fire | Major Water / Sewer Discharge / Backup / Leak | Power Failure | Natural Gas Leak or Explosion | CO2 Alarms
  • Earthquake | Tsunami | Acts of Terrorism
  • Active Shooter | Active Burglary

EXAMPLES: URGENT EVENTS

  • Lack of Air Conditioning (A/C) in the summer months | Lack of Heat in the winter months | Minor Leaks

INDEMNIFICATION

  • Does your community designate residents and staff to assist in case of emergency? Washington State (and others) offer legal immunity to volunteers who act in good faith. RCW 4.24.400:

No building warden, who acts in good faith, with or without compensation, shall be personally liable for civil damages arising from his or her negligent acts or omissions during the course of assigned duties in assisting others to evacuate industrial, commercial, governmental or multi-unit residential buildings or in attempting to control or alleviate a hazard to the building or its occupants caused by fire, earthquake or other threat to life or limb.

The term "building warden" means an individual who is assigned to take charge of the occupants on a floor or in an area of a building during an emergency in accordance with a predetermined fire safety or evacuation plan…This section shall not apply to any acts or omissions constituting gross negligence or wilful or wanton misconduct.

DOCUMENT YOUR PLAN

FEMA Disaster Ready EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS HANDOUT EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS EXAMPLE 2-PAGER Emergency Preparedness Manual Example CAO Emergency Planning & Preparedness

ADDITIONAL EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS PLAN EXAMPLES

Food Storage Tips for Emergencies FEMA Preparedness Webinars FEMA Shelter in Place Guide FEMA Ready Make it Through Emergency Preparedness Before and After Disaster Strikes Book Emergency Preparedness Guide - WA Emergency Management Prepare In a Year - Emergency Preparedness Guide Be Prepared

REMEMBER

Residents will NOT consult a 30 page binder in an emergency.

Your community should prepare and disseminate a double-sided, laminated, letter or legal sized reference document to all residents.

NATURAL DISASTER

US Department of Homeland Security Natural Disasters Page CAI Disaster Preparedness Page Pinellas County Emergency Information Air Quality Checklist EPA INDOOR AIR QUALITY FEMA Ready FEMA READY: DISASTERS & EMERGENCIES Natural Disasters: How Community Associations Protect Themselves CAI Best Practices for Natural Disasters

ACTIVE SHOOTER

FEMA: Active Shooter Preparation FEMA: Active Shooter Tip Sheet FBI: Active Shooter Resources
READ: 'Run, Hide, Fight' Tactic in Active Shootings may be Outdated
CISA Active Shooter Preparedness
READ: Rethinking ‘Run, Hide, Fight’

REGIONAL RESOURCES

ALERT SEATTLE ALERT KING COUNTY SNAP - Seattle Neighborhoods Actively Prepare SEATTLE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OEM EVENT CALENDAR KING COUNTY EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS WA EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DIVISION WA DNR EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

FIRE

National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) SEATTLE FIRE CODE REQUIREMENTS Carbon Monoxide Q&A + Safety Tips Grilling in Seattle SFD EVACUATION TIPS SFD MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL FIRE SAFETY HANDBOOK SFD HIGHRISE INSPECTION CHECKLIST FEMA Fire Incident Lookup

EARTHQUAKES & TSUNAMIS

When An Earthquake Strikes Poster.PDF

Open tweet on X

La Push Tsunami Evacuation Walk Times.pdf
GUIDE TO EARTHQUAKES SEATTLE EMERGENCY HUB WEBSITE PUGET SOUND TSUNAMI HAZARD MAPS FROM CASCADIA EARTHQUAKE WA DNR - Tsunami Information PACIFIC NORTHWEST SEISMIC NETWORK SEATTLE OEM EARTHQUAKE RESPONSE
SHAKEALERT | SHAKEALERT VIDEO
Here's what to know about earthquake preparedness | Seattle Times What if the megaquake happens when you’re in a Seattle high-rise? New study predicts stronger shaking | Seattle Times Seismic Neglect | Seattle Times A mega-earthquake could strike the Pacific Northwest any day — and we're not prepared
The GREAT WA SHAKE OUT
SEATTLE HAZARD EXPLORER A double earthquake threat? Study finds 2 Seattle-area faults ripped about the same time | Seattle Times WA’s new tsunami maps show how long it would take to walk to safety | Seattle Times
Cascadia 9 Earthquake Preparedness Game

EMERGENCY RADIOS

RADIO SELECTION - I RADIO SELECTION - II
Governance GOVERNANCE Resources RESOURCES
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