Emergency preparedness and Public Education

How is King County doing?

Across the country, governments are emphasizing the importance of being prepared for both natural and man-made disasters. To mitigate, prepare for, respond to and recover from emergencies, governments invest in infrastructure, plan and train for response activities, identify organizational responsibilities, and coordinate with other jurisdictions.

Individuals must also be prepared for emergencies. King County's multimedia ad campaign 3 Days, 3 Ways, Are You Ready? urges citizens to "Make a plan, build a kit, and get involved." In 2005, 15 percent of residents were aware of the 3 Days, 3 Ways campaign. By 2007, 39 percent of residents were familiar with it. As more individuals, families, and businesses become better prepared to survive a disaster and its aftermath, local government can focus its response efforts on life-threatening situations.

What else influences these indicators?

Despite the best efforts of governments, private sector businesses and individuals, disasters will happen. For King County, geography and weather systems affect the possibility of a natural disaster striking the region. With the Cascade Mountain Range to the east, Puget Sound to the west, eight river basins and two of the most active seismic zones in the state, King County residents and governments must be prepared for a variety of hazards and disasters. Potential natural disasters include: avalanches, earthquakes, severe storms, volcanic eruptions, forest fire, flooding, landslides, and tsunamis, man-made and other disasters include: utility/energy outages, terrorism, pandemic flu and hazardous materials release.

King County government is committed to inform the public about emergency preparedness and to motivate residents to "make a plan, build a kit, and get involved." Delivering this message, however, can be challenging among populations with diverse languages and cultures. OEM has translated preparedness materials into fourteen languages and pictorial images for bridging cultural barriers.

What role does King County government play?

Many King County government departments play a role in preparing for and responding to emergencies. Most activities associated with disasters are coordinated through the Office of Emergency Management (OEM). One of OEM's primary goals is to provide the public with the necessary information and tools to effectively prepare for any emergency. Another important role of OEM is to coordinate regional, multi-jurisdictional disaster response and recovery activities. King County's Regional Disaster Plan is a unique agreement that establishes a framework which allows public, private and nonprofit organizations to efficiently assist one another during a disaster. The Regional Disaster Plan is signed by 145 organizations and has been recognized as a model of regional cooperation and preparedness by the federal government. OEM also works in partnership with other local governments to test regional response capabilities during exercises and drills. King County government regional planning efforts include the Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan to help identify and mitigate the impacts of disasters, and a Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan to guide county officials in preparing for, responding to, and recovering from natural and technological disasters.

What can you do?

Check out 3 Days, 3 Ways (http://www.govlink.org/3days3ways/) and learn how to make your family more prepared for the next disaster. Whether you face a windstorm, flood, or catastrophic earthquake, having adequate food and supplies will give you peace of mind and help keep you safe and more comfortable during all emergencies.

Be in touch-stay in touch. Join the Regional Public Information Network (RPIN) at www.RPIN.org . RPIN is your one-stop resource for news alerts about street and highway closures, weather, major transit disruptions, and provides updates on what agencies are doing to respond to emergencies and incidents. You can also sign up to receive e-mail alerts and pager headlines from RPIN partners and get helpful tips to prepare for emergencies.