During a Disaster

• Disasters happen without warning and sometimes cause disruptions to the phone system, and damage or congestion to the transportation routes.
• It will take time to get a clear picture of the impacts of the disaster.
• During this time, please stay off all phones for a minimum of 3 - 5 hours following a disaster, unless you are calling 911 for a life-threatening situation.
• Stay where your are and take care of yourself and those around you, unless you have been given direction to move to a safer area.
• Listen to AM/FM radio to find out which roadways are available and those to avoid.

Learn Skills

When disasters happen, City services will likely be overwhelmed. Bridges and roadways can be damaged and may limit resources from getting to your area. Learning some basic skills can go a long way in reducing injuries, damage to property and prepare you to take care of yourself and others.

• Stay Safe in an Earthquake (PDF)
• How to be Safe in an Earthquake (PDF)
• Shelter in Place (PDF)

Triangle of Life – Dangerous Misinformation

Since the January 12, 2010 earthquake in Haiti, "Triangle of Life" misinformation is making its way around the internet again. The "Triangle of Life" is an alternative safety concept that is inappropriate for earthquakes in the United States and dangerous to follow.
 
This comes around the emergency management community every few years, and we do our best to de-bunk it. Because building codes here in the United States are among the best in the world, most injuries and death in the U.S. from earthquakes occur from non-structural threat (stuff inside the building), not from structural threat (the building itself).

The best way to react to an earthquake is to “Drop” – get under a table, desk or counter top, “Cover” – protect your head and neck,  and “Hold on” – to a table leg or to that cover, until 30 seconds after the shaking stops. We encourage you to disregard the Triangle of Life message – it is dangerous misinformation.
 
For correct information for the U.S., go to: http://www.earthquakecountry.info/dropcoverholdon/

There, you’ll find links and statements from the Washington State Emergency Management Division, King County Emergency Management, as well as other pertinent news stories.

Skill classes are offered in Simple Search and Rescue, Disaster First Aid and Becoming an Amateur Radio Operator. Information on them is available on our Events Calendar.