North Tillamook County had a “preparedness” lesson last night, September 25th when the Pacific Power transmission line went down, leaving thousands without power from Manzanita to Garibaldi. Many households were searching for flashlights, bottled water and more. And the comments on social media showed how many newcomers there are in our area – “Does this happen often?” “When will it come back on?” “How am I going to charge my phone?” and more… This was a gentle call to action for anyone living on the upper left edge – scout’s motto: “BE PREPARED.” We quickly gathered flashlights, changed batteries in headlamps, located candles and made alternate dinner plans, but also made plans to improve our preparedness.
Watch for upcoming classes and seminars from the various local preparedness groups, make a plan, have a Go-Bag and more.
Mark your calendar for the Tillamook County Shake-Out & Move Out – Earthquake & Tsunami Evacuation Drill on October 19th. A little planning and a few preparations can go a long way towards making a power outage or any emergency much easier. The power came back on in about five to seven hours. Here are some tips from TPUD and be sure to enter for a chance to win an emergency preparedness kit.
Getting prepared, and staying prepared, is no small task. Preparing yourself, your family and even your community for a potential disaster can make a significant difference.
Prepare for an Emergency – Build an Emergency Supply Kit!
Building an emergency supply kit is a vital piece to any preparedness plan. Emergency supply kits, also known as emergency go-bags, are filled with essential items. Go-bags can be customized to fit each individuals needs, however, FEMA recommends a list of basic items that every emergency go-bag should have. These items include:
- Water (one gallon per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation)
- Food(at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food)
- Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert
- Flashlight
- First aid kit
- Extra batteries
- Whistle (to signal for help)
- Dust mask (to help filter contaminated air)
- Plastic sheeting and duct tape (to shelter in place)
- Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties (for personal sanitation)
- Manual can opener (for food)
- Local maps
- Cell phone with chargers and a backup battery
Download a copy of the Recommended Supplies List from the FEMA website here.
For more information about building your kit, visit www.ready.gov/kit.
ENTER OUR NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS MONTH DRAWING!
EARTHQUAKE PREPAREDNESS KIT DRAWING
Complete the form below to be entered into a drawing for a chance to win a Stealth Angel Survival Two Person Earthquake Preparedness Kit! All entries must be received by Saturday, September 30, 2023. The drawing will be held on Monday, October 2, 2023, all selected participants will be notified after the drawing.