Emergency Preparedness Campaign Week 2: Disaster Planning with Everyone in Mind

(Astoria, OR) - Clatsop County's 6 Weeks Ready campaign focuses on personal emergency preparedness and is introducing its Week 2 focus: Disaster Planning with Everyone in Mind.

"Just like learning any new skill, disaster planning takes time. It's okay if your plan is imperfect at first. What's most important is that you have a plan in place and remain curious about how it can be improved. Then, practice!" said Jen Munson, Clatsop County Emergency Management Community Engagement Coordinator.

Clatsop County's 6-Weeks Ready campaignprovides residents and businesses with an opportunity to increase preparedness efforts.

"Need ideas or feedback? Come to our Get Ready Fairat Camp Rilea on September 28," Munson said.

Disaster Planning with Everyone in Mind encourages individuals to tailor their preparations to their life:

• Find out which hazards might impact where you live, work and play. Check if your home, workplace or child's school is in a tsunami inundation zone.
• Identify factors unique to your life that may require extra attention. Do you have children, care for seniors, petsor individuals living with disabilities?
• You never know where and when a disaster will strike. That means being prepared may look different depending on where you are - at home, work, shop or spend leisure time. Make a plan to respond for each location.
• Have a Communications Planso you can stay informed during an emergency and know how you and your loved ones can stay in contact with one another. Make sure you give a paper copy of your plan to every loved one so they can refer to it.

IMPORTANT TIP: Did you know that during a disaster, cell towers often get jammed from all the people trying to call loved ones? Have someone on your contact list who is out of state. They can serve as a "relay," where you and your loved ones can leave messages and updates.

• Identify and prepare for potential natural and human-caused hazards at work. "In fact, members of our business community would benefit by having a continuity-of-operations plan.This strategy can help keep a workplace functional and safe both during and after a disaster," Munson said.

Each week of the campaign, preparedness themes and resources will guide residents to becoming prepared. They will be posted on the County website.

Week 1: Sept. 5 Building a Kit
Week 2: Sept. 11 Disaster Planning with Everyone in Mind
Week 3: Sept. 18 Protecting your Family & Property in a Disaster
Week 4: Sept. 25 Food & Water in an Emergency
Sept. 28 Get Ready Clatsop County Preparedness Event
Week 5: Oct. 2 Tsunami Evacuation
Week 6: Oct. 9 Earthquake Safety

The campaign ends Thursday, Oct. 17, on the day of the Great Shakeout.

"The Great Shakeout offers a valuable chance to test your disaster plan, whether for your family or business. It's a fun, hands-on way to practice and promote community responsibility in whichever setting you choose to participate," Munson said.

Personal and emergency preparedness information is at ClatsopCounty.gov.

###

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.