Disaster Preparedness

Total devastation following Hurricane Katrina 2005. Photo Courtesy NOAA

Why Prepare?

What is a disaster?

What is a disaster?Any event that overwhelms local

resources and requires the assistance of outside organizations in order to respond

to or recover from it.

Representatives from the Small Business Association survey the damage caused by a tornado.

Photo Courtesy FEMA, May 17, 2003

What is the difference between an emergency and a disaster?

Emergency vs Disaster

Emergency Dial 9-1-1 Help 3-5 minutes Confined area Food & water Utilities Limited number of

victims

Disaster No phones 3-5 days Large area No food, water No utilities MANY victims RESOURCES

OVERWHELMED!

What local resources are on-duty to serve Auburn during a normal day?

What local resources are on-duty to serve Auburn during a normal day?

Firefighters 17 in VRFA coverage area (Auburn,

Pacific, Algona) Police Officers

7 in City of Auburn Emergency Medical Services / paramedics

2 / South King County area Public Works Emergency Management Office Multicare Auburn Medical Center

Y O U!

What other local resources are available in case of disaster??

“95% of victims rescued in urban earthquakes are rescued by other victims

within the first 24 hours.”

Dennis Miletti, Professor Emeritus at the Institute of Behavioral Science, Department of Sociology,

University of Colorado

What hazards do we have here?

Flooding100-year FloodErosionLandslideSeismicLiquefactionLahar

Floods Caused by heavy rain, dam and levee malfunctions or

failures, low absorption, and snow melt

Account for as much as 90% of the damage related to all natural disasters nationwide

Are the most frequent and costly in terms of human hardship

Most areas of the U.S. are subject to some flooding

Floods

Photographs by FEMA

Sekiu, WA, March 2, 2009

Flood damage done to State Route 112Snohomish, WA, November 8, 2006 Snohomish

River Flooding

Dams Auburn is protected by 5

different dams.

Dams can fail due to natural events Earthquakes, heavy rains,

etc.

Dams can fail due to manmade events Terrorism, accidents, etc.

Failures cause massive amounts of water to be suddenly released, all of which will flow downhill

Go to high ground immediately!

Photo of Howard Hanson Dam.

Severe Weather Elements include:

rain, snow, and/or hail flooding ice and cold wind heat

Considered deceptive killers: auto accidents exhaustion and heart

attacks hypothermia and

asphyxiation house fires heat related illnesses

EarthquakesWashington has 2nd highest risk in the United

States.Cause fires and explosionsCan trigger landslides, avalanches, tsunamisStructural instability, i.e. dam failures which can

cause flash floods

What to do in an earthquake

DROP COVER & HOLD

Under tables/desks Weight-bearing

Walls Corners & Doorways Avoid heavy objects

hanging overhead

Driving: Move away from power lines, bridges, overpasses Pull over and stop Be ready to walk

Outside Stay low to ground Cover your head

If you are Inside- STAY INSIDE! DO NOT RUN Outside!

Earthquake Aftermath

Seattle, WA, March 4, 2001 -- Large van was crushed by earthquake debris in a Seattle parking lot. Photo Courtesy FEMA.

San Miguel, CA January 25, 2004 -- Damage to the historic Mission San Miguel Photo Courtesy FEMA

After the Earthquake Be prepared for aftershocks Put the phone back on the hook

Only call 911 for life threatening emergencies Check the building for:

structural damage damaged electrical, water, or gas lines

Turn off if damaged chemical and flammable liquid spills

Landslides

Landslides Can be triggered by:

Severe weather Earthquakes Volcanic activity Floods Hurricanes Wildfires

Generally occur during periods of intense rainfall or rapid snow melt.

Usually start on steep hillsides as shallow landslides that liquefy and accelerate. Speeds range from 10 MPH to 35 MPH

Cause ~$3.5 Billion in damage annually Kill between 25-50 people every year in the US

Liquefaction When stressed, soil

“liquefies” or loses strength, water pushes up to the surface

Problematic in soil that is sandy, or consists of fill

Auburn valley is a liquefaction-prone area

Our Volcano!

Volcanoes U.S. is 3rd in the world after Japan and Indonesia in

number of active volcanoes

Large explosive eruptions can endanger people and property hundreds of miles away

Hazards include: ash toxic gases lava and pyroclastic flows landslides earthquakes lahars

Volcanoes / Lahar

Lahar is a mud flow that comes from the volcano

Can carry trees, cars, houses

Moves very fast! Much of Auburn

can be impacted by lahar.

Lahar Will only take 90

minutes to get here from Mt. Rainier.

Walk, don’t drive, to high ground.

50 feet of elevation could save your life

You probably have to travel less than a mile to safety

The Muddy River SE of Mount St. Helens, October 23, 1980 -- A mud line on trees shows depths reached by the mudflow. USGS/Cascades Volcano Observatory Photo by Lyn Topinka

Utilities &Power Outages Extended Power

OutagesTypically related to: severe weather

such as snow, high winds and flooding

equipment failure, damage to buried cables, or line loading

major earthquakes, or fires

Photos Courtesy City of Chandler, AZ, & Norfolk VA

Hazardous Materials Hazardous materials may

be: Explosive, flammable,

combustible, corrosive, reactive, poisonous, biological or radioactive, in solid, liquid or gaseous forms

May pose a potential risk to life, health, environment, and property if leaked

Industry is the primary user, but also found in our homes, cars, at work and recreation

TerrorismThe use of force or violence

for purposes of political or social change.

Terrorists: Create fear among

the public. Try to convince

citizens that their government is powerless.

Get immediate publicity for their causes.

Transportation

Major Highways

Air Transportation

Railroads

Deep-Water Marine Ports

Dec. 22, 2008 Bus Crash over I5 in Seattle.

Photo Courtesy WADOT

Fire Hazards Structure Fire: Homes,

businesses, and other structures in populated, urban or suburban areas.

Wildland Fire: Forests, field crops and grasslands.

Wildland-Urban Interface: In or near forest or grassland areas where isolated homes, subdivisions, and small communities are also located.

Photos Courtesy: Indian Health Service, NOAA, & Utah

division of Forestry, Fire, & State Lands

EVENTS THAT HAPPEN ELSEWHERE-

CAN IMPACT US.

Avalanches Typically occur in

mountain areas

Avalanche risk is at its greatest 24 hrs following a snow fall.

Up to 75% of victims are recreational explorers, who’ve stepped beyond the boundary.

Road and pass closures impact local food and supply distribution.Photo Courtesy

Idaho Bureau of Homeland Security

Tsunami A tsunami is a series of

sea waves caused by an underwater earthquake, landslide, or volcanic eruption.

Tsunami waves can be as long as 60 miles and be as far as an hour apart.

The top of the wave moves faster than the bottom, causing the sea to rise dramatically, as much as 100 feet at times.

Can a Tsunami happen here? Hawaii is at greatest risk for a tsunami–

getting 1 per year, and a damaging one every 7 yrs.

California, Oregon & Washington

experience a damaging tsunami every 18 years.

Impacts local supply and distribution of product

After A DisasterAfter the disaster things

won’t be normal:

Banks will be closed Grocery stores will

sell out Gas stations won’t be

able to pump gas You may be stuck

First responders are inundated by calls for help; urgent requests for assistance may not be met for hours or even days

Most people are initially “on their own” dealing with the effects of the disaster

The Post-Disaster Environment

What do you need to do?

What you need to do:

Make a Plan Build a Kit Get Involved and Be Informed

What should be in your plan?

Make A Plan Know your neighbors Evacuation Plan:

Inside Home Outside Home Shelter

Meet with your family and talk about what you will do.

Become familiar with Emergency Notification Systems

Write down contact information Work numbers School numbers Medical Out-of-State

Shut off Utilities Test Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detectors Restock 1st Aid Kit

Out of Area Contact Local phone lines get jammed

If you have relatives or friends that live in another state, arrange with them to be your contact point in a disaster situation.

Write their phone number(s) on a card and keep it with you.

Make a card for each family member.

Do you need insurance?

Purchase Insurance Available whether you own or rent

Most policies do not automatically cover earthquake or flood damage

Federal assistance will cover only a fraction of your damages

Insurance is the only way to guarantee your ability to fully recover

Build an Emergency Kit

Go Kit: 3 Days/person Home Kit

Be sure kits can be transported easily

What should go in your kit?

Building a Kit: Got $20 in your pocket?

Utility Knife Dollar Tree $ .36

Radio Walgreens $ .81 Whistle Dollar Tree $ .19 Food (3 days) Walmart $6.50 Water (1 Gallon) Dollar Tree $1 Basic First Aid Kit Dollar Tree $1.10 Pencils (2) / Paper Dollar Tree $ .64 Leather Gloves Walmart $2.17 Waterproof Matches Walmart $ .52 Flashlight Dollar Tree

$1.10 AA Batteries (2) Dollar Tree $ .27

Survival Blanket Walmart $3.17 Backpack / Bag Goodwill $2.20

Total:$20.03

What: Where: Price:

Please Note: The City of Auburn does not endorse specific companies. This list is provided as a reference of what we found and where we found it. You may have the same, or even better, results with these or other stores.

How do you stay informed?

Be Informed

NOAA Weather Radio Code Red: Phone, Text, Email Alerts,

Mobile App Emergency Alert System (EAS) E-mail and website alerts Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

http://www.auburnwa.gov/disaster Facebook: City of Auburn Emergency

Management Twitter: auburnupdates

How can you get involved?

Get Involved CERT Map Your Neighborhood First Aid / CPR Volunteer

CERT Amateur Radio Shelter Operations Red Cross

Host disaster preparedness classes at your churches, clubs and other places

What have you done to prepare?

Tell us what you have done to get yourself and your family prepared! Did you buy something? Do you make something? Do you have something stored? Do you have a great idea you just

haven’t done yet? Please tell us about them!

What can you go home and do tonight to get prepared?

Contact Us

City of Auburn Emergency Management25 W Main Street

Auburn, WA 98001(253) 876-1925

emergencyprep@auburnwa.govhttp://www.auburnwa.gov/disaster