Be Prepared

Many of us are overwhelmed by the prospect of preparing for disaster or emergency – wondering how to plan for an unexpected future when today’s tasks need all our time and attention.

This graphic from ready.gov from FEMA suggests 12 ways to prepare, starting today. And if you've already checked some of these boxes, congratulations. Acknowledge your success and consider your next step. 

Make a Plan

Here's a task you can start today, with this fillable, printable form from ready.gov. Develop a strategy for staying in touch with family in case you’re unable to use your cell phone, cordless phone, internet and email. You can complete it online and send the PDF to family members and other close contacts. 

Do You Know A.L.I.C.E.?

The Lake Washington School District was recently questioned about how it handles the challenge of defending our students  from an armed intruder.  The district has responded and would like to introduce you to A.L.I.C.E. which stands for Alert. Lockdown. Inform. Counter. Evacuate.  Students and teachers at Eastlake have been empowered to make smart and quick decisions in response to an armed-intruder emergency.

Have you asked your teen about A.L.I.C.E.?  We suggest that you do.  Is your teen the type to fight, flight or freeze during these highly stressful events?  Having these conversations now to help prepare your teen to make good decisions when the time is critically important.  Remind them to listen to and respect their teachers and authority figures when these events happen, as it is critical for everyone’s safety.

Are You Prepared?

Have a plan.  Build a kit.  Stay informed.

Many of us lose power during those crazy wind and ice storms.  Losing power can seem like a far cry from a disaster -- but at the same time, the inconvenience serves as a reminder to always be prepared.  We encourage you to download your copy of the Sammamish Emergency Preparedness Guide to help you to prepare for, respond to, and recover from a disaster that could affect our city.

The City of Sammamish has an abundant list of resources to help you prepare for an emergency; click here to see them all.

Questions? Suggestions? Contact eprep@ehsptsa.org.