CRESA offers tips for readiness in natural disasters

May 23-Vancouver resident Donna Ellis, 70, understands the panic and disorder of a natural disaster.

She was working in the San Francisco Bay Area in 1989 when a 6.9-magnitude earthquake hit, killing 63 people and injuring nearly 4,000. Thirty years later, when a wildfire forced Ellis to evacuate her Northern California home, she raced to grab photo albums and other irreplaceable items, then rushed her two dogs into her car. It was only after she'd driven away that Ellis realized she'd forgotten to bring her pups' collars and leashes.

Nowadays, Ellis keeps dog collars, leashes and a bag of kibble in her car at all times along with other emergency supplies. She also shares preparedness tips with her neighbors. Ellis was one of about 50 people who attended a Wednesday workshop at Firstenburg Community Center led by Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency and the city of Vancouver.

"One of the top hazards in our area is urban wildfire," said Jordan Macfarlane, CRESA's emergency management coordinator. "We are in a snow drought, so the likelihood of urban wildfire is pretty high."

Even so, she cautioned against getting too focused on any one type of emergency. Whatever you do to prepare for summer wildfires also will help you in the event of floods, snow and ice storms, or earthquakes, she said.

Emergency Preparedness Checklist

* Water: 1 gallon per person, per day (plus water for pets)

* Food: Concentrate on high-protein, portable, nonperishable, familiar and easy-to-prepare foods. You should have enough food to last each person and pet at least three days

* Can opener: Hand operated, not electric

* Radio: Preferably battery powered

* Flashlight and batteries

* Cellphone power bank or solar charger

* Copies of important documents

* Sleeping bag or blankets

* Whistle

* First aid kit

* Scissors

* Sheet

* Tarp

* Tent

* Heavy-duty trash bags

* Duct tape

* Seasonally appropriate clothing: jacket, socks, hats (including sun hat in summer), gloves, rain clothes, warm coat in winter, sturdy shoes

* Mobility aids/devices

* Medicine list and extra medicine for people and pets

* Personal hygiene supplies: toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, etc.

* Sanitation supplies: toilet paper, portable toilet, handwashing station, waste bags, hand sanitizer, etc.

* Deck of playing cards for entertainment

* Family-specific items: diapers, baby formula, pet supplies, medical devices, etc.

* Communications plan: Local and out-of-area phone numbers and contact information for family members, friends, medical providers, veterinarians and other emergency contacts

* Other: cash in small bills; house and vehicle keys; utility gloves, towels, N-95 respirator masks, LifeStraw to filter water, games for entertainment

- Source: Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency

"At the end of the day, when you're prepared for one hazard, you're likely prepared for all hazards," Macfarlane said. "What do you need in your household? Do you have medical devices you need electricity for? It's important to start thinking about those things."

'You are the first responders'

During a large-scale emergency, Macfarlane said, first responders likely will be busy dealing with the event's most immediate aftermath and could be waylaid by damaged roadways.

She said there are fewer than 100 first responders per shift to cover more than half a million people in Clark County. In a catastrophe, it could take first responders days or even weeks to respond to less critical calls or to help with neighborhood recovery efforts, she said.

"Look around you," Macfarlane told the workshop participants gathered inside Vancouver's Firstenburg Community Center. "You are the first responders. And so, the more of us that have this awareness and have preparedness in place and are connected to our neighborhoods, the better off we're going to be when something happens."

First steps

An easy first step in disaster preparedness, Macfarlane said, is to sign up for regional emergency alerts online at ClarkPublicAlerts.org.

"If you're not signed up for Clark Public Alerts, there's a chance that you might not get an evacuation notice," she said. "I would also encourage you to plug into the social media accounts for trusted resources - the city of Vancouver, CRESA, the Vancouver Police Department and public works for the city - because that's where you're going to get the fastest, most accurate information."

Next, Macfarlane said, develop your network:

* Familiarize yourself with the neighborhoods around your home and workplace. Find the closest fire stations, grocery stores, gas stations, parks and schools that might act as shelters or local resource centers. Consider whether you could access these locations if roads, bridges and overpasses are damaged.

* Keep contact information for neighbors who might need extra help during an emergency or who can help care for your home or pets if you are stranded elsewhere.

* Keep a written list of loved ones' contact information, in case you are unable to access phone numbers or email addresses stored in a cell phone.

* Have a contact outside the region whom you and your loved ones can text in case local cell communication systems are overwhelmed.

Emergency kits

A disaster could happen when you're at home, at work or on the go, so assemble emergency preparedness kits for each setting, Macfarlane said.

"All of your kits are going to have the same foundational items: water, food, first aid, shelter and sanitation," she said. "You take these priorities and scale them for every bag or kit you're creating, so you don't have to reinvent the wheel."

You'll need a "go bag" in case you have to leave your home or workplace to find shelter elsewhere, Macfarlane said. These types of bags can be especially handy during an urban wildfire, when seconds can mean the difference between life and death.

"You want to be able to carry it, roll it, whatever you need to do to get it to go with you," she said. "You also have to think about your pets and your children. Everyone in your household should have their own go bag."

Macfarlane encouraged people to "start small but start now" when it comes time to build their emergency preparedness kits.

"I don't want this to sound like this big to-do list or something that's going to be expensive or unattainable," she said. "It really is about a mindset shift."

Macfarlane said she often stops at estate sales to see if they might have an inexpensive supply she can add to her own emergency kits. Recently, she said, she bought a brand-new tent for $20 at a local estate sale. Other people at the workshop noted that they stock up on their favorite foods and packs of bottled water when they spot a grocery store sale, and said they ask their doctors if it's possible to get extra medication to keep in their home kits and go bags.

Being prepared for a disaster does not have to take a lot of time, money or effort, Macfarlane said.

"We want to stress that every action you take in preparedness is so beneficial," she said. "I don't want you to be overwhelmed."

Bill Wheeler of Clark County's Community Emergency Response Team showed examples of emergency supplies, including trail mix packets, bottled water, canned tuna, a LifeStraw that filters water, protective eyewear and an N-95 respirator mask that all fit into a small backpack.

Wheeler said he keeps his own go bag under his bed and has a small emergency preparedness kit for his vehicle, as well as a larger kit for his home.

"They say you should be prepared to camp in your backyard for two weeks," Wheeler said.

In the event of a large-scale disaster, electricity might not be available to power cell phones, radios, lights, cooking supplies, air conditioners, heaters or medical devices for several days or weeks, Macfarlane said.

"Just have that preparedness in place for power outages, especially for longer-term ones," she said.

This also is why it's important to know your neighborhood and where you might be able to find or pool resources during an emergency, she said.

"Maybe one person has a gas stove and someone has another supply they can share," Macfarlane said. "Connect with people you live by ... so that you're not in this by yourself."

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