October Employee Preparedness Giveaway
In support of employee family preparedness and County Emergency Management, this month we will be initiating a month-long preparedness contest. Beginning October 1st through the 21st, we will be giving employees a daily task to complete related to preparedness and emergency management. The intent is to help each participant become more resilient to the impact of the hazards of concern through awareness and planning tasks.
Each participant will track their progress on their Passport Giveaway card (found below). Most tasks can be completed at work and will typically take under 30 minutes to complete (with a few exceptions). If you do not work in Coupeville but want to participate, please email DEM letting us know you plan to participate and where you work. We will make sure you have access to all the materials for the month.
The purpose of the contest is to help educate employees about earthquakes and other hazards that can occur in Island County. Each task will help prepare you for these hazards. Contestants will have until October 28th to turn in their Passport and supporting documents, which must be completed in order to be entered into the drawing. The drawing will be for an Amazon gift card. We will also have more goodies to giveaway to everyone as the month progresses. We want to thank Bridgeview Consulting for donating the Amazon gift cards and flash drives to our event! We also want to thank Cascade Natural Gas for sending giveaway items!
Once completed, please send your documents to dem@islandcountywa.gov. Documents must be received by COB on October 28th to be considered for the drawing.
*Drawings limited to county employees only. Entry is limited to one per employee.
Giveaway Passport.pdf
October 1st: Kick Off Video
Why do we have earthquake preparedness? Well, we live in earthquake country. This quick video (click here to view) provides an overview of where our local earthquake faults are located and when the latest activity occurred. Think of it as a primer getting you ready for upcoming presentations this month!
October 4th: Cascading Events
This week will start off with another Power Point. This time you will learn about the secondary effects that an earthquake can cause, as well as learning about the other hazards to which the County is susceptible as we identified in our Hazard Mitigation Plan (available for full review here). An earthquake isn't just shaking. The power point will cover all of the hazards in Island County. Please view the power point, and once you are finished, you can check it off on your passport.
- Secondary effects of EQ
- Hazards of IC
- All prep this month will help with not only EQ but all hazards
October 5th: FEMA IS Course
Today's task is a little different. While the other tasks are to be completed daily, this task will be given more time to complete. You will go to FEMA's free Independent Study Courses and take IS 100 and IS 700. These courses will give you the basic knowledge for disaster preparedness and ICS.
These courses are important because as County employees, all of us will be involved with response and recovery efforts following a disaster. These two courses will help provide you the basic information necessary to help work in the County's EOC when it is activated after a disaster or event.
Before you can take the class, though, , you need to register for a FEMA Student Identification number (SID) (if you don't already have one). The website is found here: FEMA Student Identification (SID) System (dhs.gov)
It is important for you to keep this number, because all training related to emergency management will be tracked under this SID, and you can only register with the SID number.
Once registered, you will take the IS 100 course, found here: FEMA - Emergency Management Institute (EMI) Course | IS-100.C: Introduction to the Incident Command System, ICS 100
This is an interactive web-based course. Once completed, you will need to take the final exam. After passing the exam, you will be emailed a certificate. Please save and submit that to DEM to be entered in the drawing. (Each test is different, with questions randomly selected from the course materials.)
The next course you will take is IS 700, found here: FEMA - Emergency Management Institute (EMI) Course | IS-700.B: An Introduction to the National Incident Management System
This course expands on the first course you took. Again, save your certificate and send it to DEM after successfully completing the course.
If you've already completed the courses, please indicate the date you did them, and provide us a copy of the certificate so you still get credit on your Passport. Have other ICS or IS classes that you've taken? Please give us copies of those certificates, too!
October 6th: Island Ready App
Today you will go onto the app store on your cell phone and download the Island Ready App. This app is free and managed by DEM. After downloading the app, go to the Make-A-Plan section and create your family profile. You can add family members, animals, vehicles and locations (such as home, work, school). This information is strictly confidential and is not accessible to anyone else.
After filling out your profile, the information in your checklists will reflect your family's needs, helping you to pre-plan in advance of an event. It will help identify the type of items you need to have on hand, and provides other information and tools to help during a disaster or event.
Our app also has quizzes, news, and alerts.
Finally, you will add the Island County employee module to your app. To do this, go to the left navigation menu, scroll down to Access Codes, select the plus sign in the bottom right corner, enter in this code: SCDD0L. This will help emergency management provide you valuable information during a disaster or emergency incident, such as road closures, areas of impact, or evacuation notices.
October 7th: Relevant Documents
Do you know your insurance policy numbers? If your phone was damaged, do you have everyone's phone number memorized? Most people don't know this type of information because we rely on our cell phones, or on our computers. But what happens when information from those two sources isn't available? The information should be stored in a location that it is always accessible. Grab a flash drive and get ready! If you don't have a flash drive, come by DEM to grab one (while supplies last)! For this task, we encourage you to save a copy of your important documents onto a flash drive and store it in a safe location, like a fire safe, or in a bank safety deposit box. Remember to update the flash drive annually, so the information is current. Use our checklist below to help identify some of the documents you may need, but this list is not all inclusive.
Documents to scan and add to your flash drive:
- Estate Planning
- Financial Documents (including the last two years' tax returns)
- Medical insurance cards
- Home or Renters Insurance
- Deeds
- Vehicle titles, registration, and proof of insurance cards
- Birth/Death Certificates
- Family Emergency Plan
- Life insurance documents
- Pet Health records
- Marriage Certificate
- Passport or license
- Mortgage or rental agreements
- Military documents (DD-214)
- A list of banking institutions, and associated account numbers.
- Contact lists
- Prescriptions for medication (long-term) and eyes
- A video of your house in case significant damage occurs. This will help you remember what was lost when you file a claim, while also having proof of ownership.
These documents will be important after a disaster. During a disaster or stressful event, our memories don't always function at its best, so having information available will be very helpful. You may need to file a claim with your insurance company, or apply for disaster assistance; without these documents or information, you will have a difficult time. Also, if you are the person who normally pays the bills for the family, but you've been injured, having this information available for someone to help you will make it much easier.
October 8th: Family Plan
Now that you've started compiling all of the data and information from the previous days' efforts, it's time to start putting the data to work! This weekend, sit down with your family members and create a plan - together! Fill out our quick and simple family plan, and then practice it!
We have provided you with a Family Emergency Communication Plan. Go through the checklist with your family to determine your meeting location and emergency contact information. Make sure your kids know where you should all meet in case the house is damaged, and you aren't all at home. Do you have an emergency backup to help pick up the kids from school if a disaster happens? Most schools will not transport children in busses, and require parents pick the kids up from school to ensure they aren't alone.
Fill out your emergency communication plan attached to the checklist, then practice your plan! Make sure to discuss with your family why this plan is important. The last thing that you want is to be separated from your family with no way to contact them, or any idea of their location.
The family plan can be found here: http://pubweb/DEM/PublishingImages/Pages/Preparedness/Family%20Emergency%20Communication%20Plan.pdf
October 11th: Register for Alert sense
If you are already registered for Alert Sense, go ahead and check this task off! Alert Sense is our mass notification system, it allows us to send emergency alerts and community notifications that affect you. See the below flyer for more information.
Use this link to find the Alert Sense flyer. http://pubweb/DEM/PublishingImages/Pages/Preparedness/Alert%20Sense%20Information.pdf
Alert Sense Registration Link: Alert Sense Registration
October 12th: Create an Emergency Contact Card
Come by DEM today to fill out your emergency contact card. We will be laminating them afterwards. If you do not work in Coupeville, you can print the card using the link below.
This contact card will go in your wallet or backpack. Take an extra for your family members. These are perfect for kids' backpacks too.
We have copies of the card at DEM in Coupeville. For those that want to print it, you may use this link: http://pubweb/DEM/PublishingImages/Pages/Preparedness/Emergency%20Card.pdf
October 13th: AHAB Sirens
Ever hear sirens on the first Monday of the month at 12:00 when you are out walking the coastal areas? Those are Island County's All Hazard Alert Broadcast (AHAB) Sirens. Today you will learn about AHAB sirens. AHAB stands for All Hazard Alert Broadcast. DEM worked with Washington State Emergency Management to have 7 sirens installed this summer along areas where tsunami waves are most likely to occur. These sirens are located in almost all coastal areas of Washington, and most are tested monthly. You will have a short Power Point to view today. After you finish the power point, you can mark it as "complete" on your Passport.
AHAB sirens
- Locations
- Sounds
- Testing
- Alternate alerts
October 14th: Identify Workplace Hazards
Today's effort relates to workplace safety and making sure your work environment is as safe as possible. Look around your workspace and identify any hazards that may exist in your area.
If an earthquake occurred right now, what items around you are potentially hazardous? Checkout our checklist below for things to look for (many of these may apply to home, too)! If you locate hazards, please fill out the form below and submit it to your supervisor. We want to identify these hazards and create as safe a work environment for you as possible!
Workplace hazards:
- Is furniture and equipment anchored to the walls?
- Do you have skid-matts under your computer monitor?
- Do you have any equipment and furniture on wheels that don't lock and that could move during an earthquake?
- Are any objects, equipment, containers, and materials on open shelves that aren't restrained or secured?
- Do you have wall- or ceiling-mounted displays, tiles, art, pictures, and mirrors that aren't properly secured?
- Do you work near fixtures, utility conduits, or compressed gas cylinders that aren't properly secured or affixed?
- Do your cabinets latch shut?
- Are all of the exits in your area marked and visible?
- Do you know where the emergency exit is located?
These are some ideas to get you started.
Workplace Hazard Form.docx
October 15th: Locate Utilities and Under Bed Kit
This weekend we want you to locate your utility shut offs in your home. This includes water, gas, electric, and propane. It is important that you know where these shut offs are located. You also need to make sure that you have the correct tool to shut off each utility. There are other reasons you may need to turn off your utilities, such as a landslide, flood, or other hazards. This is great knowledge to have and to share with your neighbors.
Why is this important?
An earthquake (or other hazard) can cause pipes to burst. If your water pipe bursts, you could be dealing with your home flooding. If your gas line cracks and causes a leak, the leak could lead to an explosion and fire hazard. If you have a gas fireplace, the pilot light going out could allow gas to continue to flow through the line. Do you know where your fireplace shutoff key is? Even a small landslide can push a house off a foundation, or a car accidentally hitting the side of a garage when it's pulling in or out. These are all issues that can create unsafe conditions for you and your family. We have attached a separate document for you to review on utility safety.
Next you will make your under bed kit. This is fairly simple!
- Grab an old pair of sturdy shoes and place them under your side of the bed. Do this for everyone in the home.
- Grab a light source like a flashlight or headlamp to place next to the shoes. This light source will not only help guide you out of the house, but also help you locate other family members. Remember to test this process, so the kids know where the shoes are (and remember to replace the shoes regularly for the kids so they still fit)!
- Grab a pair of gloves and place them in the other shoe. These will protect your hands in case you need to move fallen objects while trying to evacuate your house.
- If you are in a second story house, consider purchasing an escape ladder that fits under the bed.
Supporting Documents:
Under the Bed: http://pubweb/DEM/PublishingImages/Pages/Preparedness/Under%20the%20bed.pdf
Utility Safety: http://pubweb/DEM/PublishingImages/Pages/Preparedness/Utility%20Safety.pdf
Each one of these tasks must be completed to get credit!
October 18th: Locate Evacuation Route, Floor Warden, and Meeting Location
Today you will need to locate your building's evacuation route in case of an emergency. Check the postings closest to your work location, and make sure nothing has changed like furniture being moved that blocks the closest path. Remember to look for the quickest way out of the building from your desk or office. Then, find an alternate route to get outside the building. Take time to practice taking your route(s) out of the building and walk to the designated meeting location. Do you know where that is located? While walking out of the building, notice potential hazards and fire extinguisher locations.
Next, take a look at the fire evacuation book (found on the wall in each workspace). Who is the floor warden for your area? Where is your meeting location?
Don't forget to practice evacuation routes at home as well as getting to the family meeting spot. You should practice this both during daylight hours, and at night to make sure there aren't any safety hazards that may cause problems when it's dark out, and there aren't any street or porch lights illuminating the path. Is there a big landscape boulder in your path, or landscape curbing that might be a trip hazard? Consider solar landscape lighting to illuminate those hazards, or a solar motion detector (those are great prowler deterrents, too).
October 19th: Emergency Financial First-Aid Kit
We will send you a copy of our Emergency Financial First Aid Kit. This is similar to the Family Plan that you filled out. You will need to sit down with this kit and go through all important financial documents– the same ones that you should have on your thumb-drive. This guide will walk you through what to make copies of and have on hand. You will also have a spot to write down important account numbers. You may have already done some of this with the Relevant Documents task. If so, just fill in any gaps!
Remember, if the power and internet went out for an extended time, you will need your account numbers. How will you pay bills? Do you know your home/renters insurance policy information?
After completing the kit, save all of the documents to your flash drive.
Please use this link to find the supporting documents for this task: http://pubweb/DEM/PublishingImages/Pages/Preparedness/Fema%20Financial%20Kit.pdf
October 20th: Review COOP and CEMP
You might be wondering, what is a COOP or CEMP?
These are plans that DEM and the County have developed in case of an emergency. The COOP is the Continuity of Operations Plan, which identifies how the County and all of its employees will carry on County operations should an emergency happen. This plan outlines the essential functions and services, emergency organization, and critical resources needed to minimize negative long term impact to the County, its employees and citizens.
The CEMP is the Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan. This is the document that the County implements as soon as an emergency occurs, or when it opens its Emergency Operations Center (EOC). You may remember this from your IS100 class! The emergency may or may not be a disaster event.
For significant events, the County will open its EOC to help manage the response and recovery efforts of the emergency. The document helps identify the roles and responsibilities of each County department, as well as identifying the various roles that employees may be responsible for completing during EOC activate. This plan includes all other county departments as we all work together during an emergency.
The County's primary goal is to protect lives and safety of county employees, its citizens, and guests to the county. Combined, these plans help ensure that goal is met, while also ensuring the continuation of government operations.
You aren't required to read the entire documents. Just skim through them to find relevant information to your department. Once you finish reviewing the documents, tell us one new thing you learned or found interesting in each of the documents.
Here is the link to our COOP plan: COOP Final Documents - All Documents (islandcountywa.gov)
You will find your department and read through it.
Here is the link to our CEMP: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/DEM/Pages/CEMP.aspx
October 21st: Shake Out
Today is the final day of activities. At 10:21 AM, all of the Pacific Northwest is participating in The Great Shake Out. You've probably heard about this in the news this week. You can participate by practicing Drop, Cover, and Hold. This link illustrates the appropriate way to Drop, Cover and Hold.
Drop, Cover, Hold On (usgs.gov)
After completing all of these tasks throughout this month, you are now better prepared with the knowledge and resources needed to help you and your family stay safe in a disaster and be prepared for the recovery effort to begin. By preplanning, you are ensuring a much quicker recovery from the disaster incident, both on a personal level, and professional.
If you enjoyed the activities of this month and want to get involved or learn more, please reach out to dem@islandcountywa.gov
Ways to Get Involved:
- Volunteer with us
- Join the County's Medical Reserve Corps (MRC)(medical background required)
- Participate in Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
- Follow us on Facebook
- Encourage family and friends to enroll in Alert Sense.
Please submit the following documents to DEM in order to be registered for the drawing.
- Passport
- IS 100 and IS 700 certificates
- Workplace Hazard form
The drawing for a gift card will be held October 29th. All documents are due by the 28th to be included in the drawing.
