presentation to alpha delta kappa honor society
DESCRIPTION
On November 10th, Carol Dunn from the Bellevue Office of Emergency Mangement had the opportunity to talk to retired and active teachers about ways to identify and reduce risks from the hazards we co-exist with in Bellevue WA.TRANSCRIPT
Alpha Delta KappaSigma Chapter
Carol DunnCity of Bellevue
Office of Emergency Management
What steps have you taken to be prepared?
Our brains and disaster
Our systems block out future risk
Photo by bitboy
“C’est la vie”
“What will be will be”
"You just take the good with the bad. You got to go somehow...So why not under six feet of mud?“*
“Have faith, Opi! God is good!”**
*Seattle Times: Orting Resident on risk from volcano**NY Times: “The Day of the Tsunami” 9/30/09
• Every risk that can be identified in advance, can be reduced or avoided with the decision is made to act.
• Every risk that is avoid, is one less thing that goes wrong.
Disasters are inevitable
Cold Arctic Blasts
Hot Tropical Weather
Source: Environment Canada
Weather: Rain
• Pineapple Express– Flooding/River &
Urban– Mudslides– Transportation/
Commerce Disruptions
Weather: Snow
• Convergence zone, but also occasional weather events.
• Cold• Disrupted
Transportation/ Commerce
http://www5.kingcounty.gov/iMAP/viewer.htm
King County iMAP
University of Washington Neptune Project
Best thing about earthquakes:
We have a say about almost everything.
Except when it will happen.
Every problem has a solution
Earthquakes
• Subduction– 5 minutes: we will
feel shaking about 2 minutes
– Region wide damage– Highest buildings
have largest problems
– Likely to generate tsunami/seiche
– Aftershocks likely
Earthquakes: Shallow
• Lasts about 20 seconds
• Very intense localized shaking
• 1,100 years ago: with Elliot Bay Tsunami, landslides
• Aftershocks likely
Earthquakes: Deep/ Benioff Zone
• 2001 Nisqually• Usually every 20-50
years• Lasts about 20-30
seconds• Effects most of Area• Moderate Shaking
Some truths we need to realize
• We provide an amazing gift when we teach others how to identify and reduce risks.
– What risks exist and how to reduce them– What resources exist & how to access
them– We are our own best resource
We can avoid injuries
• Heavy objects placed high become projectiles during earthquakes
Most fixes pretty easy
Best: low, wood --Bolted to Foundation
Pretty good in most earthquakes
Not great in Subduction zone quakes
Worst for earthquakes
Worst: Un-reinforced brick (recognized by levels of brick ends)
Not very good: reinforced bricks (recognized when all bricks show their sides)
Not very good: Retrofitted masonry (recognized by the added bolts)5 out of 6 were damaged during the 2001 Nisqually Quake
Unreinforced Masonry
Bad for Quakes: Soft Structures
I’m in a ‘bad’ building!
• Retrofit– Anchor masonry to wood– Add Framing
• Still will be risks
• Rebuild– Create a new safer building
• Lose character and feeling of history
• Relocate– Currently located in one of the most
dangerous parts of the city• Lose character and history
Disasters = disruption
Disruption happens
• That we may not have access to stores, medicine, etc. on short notice & for a long time
• Emergency information broadcast on:– radio.–2-1-1 (multiple languages)– Internet: www.RPIN.ORG
Disaster Supplies
How to start?
Where to put them?
How will your schools do?
• How will the schools be affected?– Are non structural items secure?– Will all of the parents be able to return?– Do all of the schools have the resources
and plans to reduce the harm from any disaster?
– Have future risks been analyzed objectively?
Pledge to take it seriously!
• Literally: write down a statement to remind you that you want to act-put it where you can see it.
• Reward every step forward!!
School Preparedness Resources
• FEMA: Incremental Seismic Renovation for Schools
• Spreadsheet for School Preparedness Supplies
• Upcoming meeting for PTSA Preparedness Representatives
• Information on grants and toolkits
