Disaster Preparedness

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Aubrey Walker
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1 Disaster Preparedness On a Budget Total devastation following Hurricane Katrina Photo Courtesy NOAA

2 What is a disaster?

3 What is a disaster? Any event that overwhelms local resources and requires the assistance of outside organizations in order to respond to or recover from it. Representatives from the Small Business Association survey the damage caused by a tornado. Photo Courtesy FEMA, May 17, 2003

4 What is the difference between an emergency and a disaster?

5 Emergency vs Disaster Emergency Dial Help 3-5 minutes Confined area Food & water Utilities Limited number of victims Disaster No phones 3-5 days Large area No food, water No utilities MANY victims RESOURCES OVERWHELMED!

6 What local resources are on-duty to serve Auburn during a normal day?

7 What local resources are on-duty to serve Auburn during a normal day? Firefighters 17 in VRFA coverage area (Auburn, Pacific, Algona) Police Officers 7 in City of Auburn Emergency Medical Services / paramedics 2 / South King County area Public Works Emergency Management Office Auburn Regional Medical Center

8 What other local resources are available in case of disaster?? Y O U! 95% of victims rescued in urban earthquakes are rescued by other victims within the first 24 hours. Dennis Miletti, Professor Emeritus at the Institute of Behavioral Science, Department of Sociology, University of Colorado

9 What hazards do we have here?

10 Floods Caused by heavy rain, dam and levee malfunctions or failures, low absorption, and snow melt Account for as much as 90% of the damage related to all natural disasters nationwide Are the most frequent and costly in terms of human hardship Most areas of the U.S. are subject to some flooding

11 Floods Snohomish, WA, November 8, 2006 Snohomish River Flooding Sekiu, WA, March 2, 2009 Flood damage done to State Route 112 Photographs by FEMA

12 Dams Dams can fail due to natural events Earthquakes, heavy rains, etc. Dams can fail due to manmade events Terrorism, accidents, etc. Failures cause massive amounts of water to be suddenly released, all of which will flow downhill Go to high ground immediately! Photo of Grand Coulee Dam in WA. Photo Courtesy of US Dept. of The Interior

Severe Weather Elements include: rain, snow, and/or hail flooding ice and cold wind heat Considered deceptive killers: auto accidents exhaustion

13 Severe Weather Elements include: rain, snow, and/or hail flooding ice and cold wind heat Considered deceptive killers: auto accidents exhaustion and heart attacks hypothermia and asphyxiation house fires heat related illnesses Carport collapse in Auburn due to heavy snow accumulation. 1996

What to do if you are caught in an Earthquake DROP COVER & HOLD Under tables/desks Weight-bearing Walls Corners & Doorways Avoid heavy objects hanging overhead Driving: Move

14 What to do if you are caught in an Earthquake DROP COVER & HOLD Under tables/desks Weight-bearing Walls Corners & Doorways Avoid heavy objects hanging overhead Driving: Move away from power lines, bridges, overpasses Pull over and stop Be ready to walk Outside Stay low to ground Cover your head If you are Inside- STAY INSIDE! DO NOT RUN Outside!

15 Earthquake Aftermath Seattle, WA, March 4, Large van was crushed by earthquake debris in a Seattle parking lot. Photo Courtesy FEMA. San Miguel, CA January 25, Damage to the historic Mission San Miguel Photo Courtesy FEMA

16 After the Earthquake Be prepared for aftershocks Put the phone back on the hook Only call 911 for life threatening emergencies Check the building for: structural damage damaged electrical, water, or gas lines Turn off if damaged chemical and flammable liquid spills

17 Landslides

18 Landslides Can be triggered by: Severe weather Earthquakes Volcanic activity Floods Hurricanes Wildfires Generally occur during periods of intense rainfall or rapid snow melt. Usually start on steep hillsides as shallow landslides that liquefy and accelerate. Speeds can reach 10 MPH, & Exceed 35 MPH Cause ~$3.5 Billion in damage annually Kill between people every year in the US

19 Liquefaction When stressed, soil liquefies or loses strength, water pushes up to the surface Problematic in soil that is sandy, or consists of fill Auburn valley is a liquefaction-prone area

20 Our Volcano!

21 Volcanoes U.S. is 3rd in the world after Japan and Indonesia in number of active volcanoes Large explosive eruptions can endanger people and property hundreds of miles away Hazards include: ash toxic gases lava and pyroclastic flows landslides earthquakes lahars

22 Volcanoes / Lahar The Muddy River SE of Mount St. Helens, October 23, A mud line on trees shows depths reached by the mudflow. USGS/Cascades Volcano Observatory Photo by Lyn Topinka

equipment failure, damage to buried cables, or line loading major

23 Utilities & Power Outages Extended Power Outages Typically related to: severe weather such as snow, high winds and flooding equipment failure, damage to buried cables, or line loading major earthquakes, or fires Photos Courtesy City of Chandler, AZ, & Norfolk VA

When not properly contained, they may pose a potential risk to life, health, the

24 Hazardous Materials Hazardous materials may be: Explosive, flammable, combustible, corrosive, reactive, poisonous, biological or radioactive, in solid, liquid or gaseous forms When not properly contained, they may pose a potential risk to life, health, the environment, and property Industry is the primary user, but also found in our homes, cars, at work and recreation

25 Terrorism The use of force or violence for purposes of political or social change. Terrorists: Create fear among the public. Try to convince citizens that their government is powerless. Get immediate publicity for their causes.

26 Transportation Major Highways Air Transportation Railroads Deep-Water Marine Ports Dec. 22, 2008 Bus Crash over I5 in Seattle. Photo Courtesy WADOT

Fire Hazards Structure Fire: Homes, businesses, and other

Wildland Fire: Forests, field crops and grasslands.

where isolated homes, subdivisions, and small communities are

27 Fire Hazards Structure Fire: Homes, businesses, and other structures in populated, urban or suburban areas. Wildland Fire: Forests, field crops and grasslands. Wildland-Urban Interface: In or near forest or grassland areas where isolated homes, subdivisions, and small communities are also located. Photos Courtesy: Indian Health Service, NOAA, & Utah division of Forestry, Fire, & State Lands

28 EVENTS THAT HAPPEN ELSEWHERE- CAN IMPACT US.

Avalanches Photo Courtesy Idaho Bureau of Homeland Security Typically occur in mountain areas Avalanche risk is at its greatest 24 hrs following a snow

29 Avalanches Photo Courtesy Idaho Bureau of Homeland Security Typically occur in mountain areas Avalanche risk is at its greatest 24 hrs following a snow fall. Up to 75% of victims are recreational explorers, who ve stepped beyond the boundary. Road and pass closures impact local food and supply distribution.

30 Tsunami What is a Tsunami? A tsunami is a series of sea waves caused by an underwater earthquake, landslide, or volcanic eruption. Tsunami waves can be as long as 60 miles and be as far as an hour apart. The top of the wave moves faster than the bottom, causing the sea to rise dramatically, as much as 100 feet at times.

31 Can a Tsunami happen here? Hawaii is at greatest risk for a tsunami getting 1 per year, and a damaging one every 7 yrs. California, Oregon & Washington experience a damaging tsunami every 18 years. Impacts local supply and distribution of product

32 After A Disaster After the disaster things won t be normal: Banks will be closed Grocery stores will sell out Gas stations won t be able to pump gas You may be stuck

33 The Post-Disaster Environment First responders are inundated by calls for help; urgent requests for assistance may not be met for hours or even days Most people are initially on their own dealing with the effects of the disaster

34 What do you need to do?

35 What you need to do: Make a Plan Build a Kit Get Involved and Be Informed

36 What should be in your plan?

37 Make A Plan Know your neighbors Evacuation Plan: Inside Home Outside Home Shelter Meet with your family and talk about what you will do. Become familiar with Emergency Notification Systems Write down contact information Work numbers School numbers Medical Out-of-State Shut off Utilities Test Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detectors Restock 1 st Aid Kit

38 Out of Area Contact Local phone lines get jammed If you have relatives or friends that live in another state, arrange with them to be your contact point in a disaster situation. Write their phone number(s) on a card and keep it with you. Make a card for each family member.

39 Do you need insurance?

40 Purchase Insurance Available whether you own or rent Most policies do not automatically cover earthquake or flood damage Federal assistance will cover only a fraction of your damages Insurance is the only way to guarantee your ability to fully recover

41 Build an Emergency Kit Go Kit: 3 Days/person Home Kit Be sure kits can be transported easily

42 What should go in your kit?

43 Building a Kit What: Where: Price: Utility Knife Dollar Tree $.36 Radio Walgreens $.81 Whistle Dollar Tree $.19 Food Walmart $6.50 Water (1 Gallon) Dollar Tree $1 Basic First Aid Kit Dollar Tree $1.10 Pencils (2) / Paper Dollar Tree $.64 Leather Gloves Walmart $2.17 Waterproof Matches Walmart $.52 Flashlight Dollar Tree $1.10 AA Batteries (2) Dollar Tree $.27 Survival Blanket Walmart $3.17 Backpack / Bag Goodwill $2.20 Total: $20.03 Please Note: The City of Auburn does not endorse specific companies. This list is provided as a reference of what we found and where we found it. You may have the same, or even better, results with these or other stores.

44 How do you stay informed?

45 Be Informed NOAA Weather Radio Code Red: Phone, Text, Alerts Emergency Alert System (EAS) and website alerts Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! Facebook: City of Auburn Emergency Management Twitter: auburnupdates

46 Get Involved CERT Map Your Neighborhood First Aid / CPR Volunteer CERT Amateur Radio Shelter Operations Red Cross Host disaster preparedness classes at your churches, clubs and other places

47 Start Small & Start Now When you get home: Put sturdy shoes, flashlight, work gloves, & helmet under your bed. Keep a crowbar near your door Does not have to cost a lot of $$$$$ Most items can be found around your home. Dollar & Other Discount Stores have a lot of needed supplies

48 What have you done to prepare? Tell us what you have done to get yourself and your family prepared! Did you buy something? Do you make something? Do you have something stored? Do you have a great idea you just haven t done yet? Please tell us about them!

49 Contact Us City of Auburn Emergency Management 25 W Main Street Auburn, WA (253) emergencyprep@auburnwa.gov

Volcanoes. Introduction

Volcanoes. Introduction Volcanoes Introduction Display Slide V-0 Explain that a volcano is a vent through which molten rock escapes to the Earth s surface. Unlike other mountains, which are pushed up from below, volcanoes are