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Neighborhood Emergency Preparedness
In November of 2006, Local 20/20 partnered with the Jefferson County Department of Emergency Management (DEM) to begin a process to motivate individuals throughout the county to get their neighborhoods prepared for any emergency. Currently, there are over 100 neighborhoods at varying stages of organization. Others will be under way soon. There are still plenty of neighborhoods in the county and in Port Townsend that have yet to organize. Organizers are recruited at booths at various community events.
This year we will also have booths at the Port Townsend Farmer’s Market on the 11th of September in anticipation of “Neighborhood Preparation Week". We are asking the City of Port Townsend and Jefferson County to declare the 3rd Saturday in September each year, as “Neighborhood Preparation Day”. This corresponds with the 3rd Sunday of each year which is "National Neighborhood Day" and all of September which is "National Emergency Preparedness Month."
To find out the status of YOUR neighborhood, use the Contact Us option and provide a description of your residential location. If your neighborhood does not have an organizer then consider your own willingness to step into a leadership role. Anyone interested in organizing their neighborhoods is encouraged to make use of the tools we have supplied in our Download Center.
The number of households included in the organizational effort can be determined by the neighborhood organizer. A group size of 10 - 20 households is ideal. The process of getting organized takes time and persistence. Having two or more neighborhood organizers per area is recommended, as a buddy system can provide the focus and support needed to be effective. People will have varying levels of receptivity to this type of reality-based thinking that is needed to get prepared for the unexpected. Some may not want to participate in the group’s organizational efforts but only want to be listed on the contact sheet and block map. The ability to engage the task, however, is clearly enhanced as a group effort. It helps to pace yourself in preparing one step at a time.
A PowerPoint presentation of the GetEmergencyPrepared website course for individuals is also available to educate within neighborhood groups. Neighbors can organize together with the use of a tool called Map Your Neighborhood (MYN). This convenient flip chart tool maps each household and lists contact information, tools and supplies (e.g., ladders, generators, HAM and NOAA radios) and skills available (e.g., first aid, fire-fighting, and child care). MYN also identifies a neighborhood gathering place and child/elder care center ahead of time, since communication at the time of a disaster is chaotic. Working to gather the above information can be fun and at the same timed build a stronger sense of connection as neighbors, in advance of a disaster. Initially you may find some neighbors may only want to have a minimal role in the planning and emergency roles.
Beyond the supply gathering and mapping efforts, effective preparedness efforts require the maintenance of information as people move in and out of the neighborhood. This is greatly assisted by identifying organizers who are committed, residents of their neighborhood.
The Jefferson County DEM offers bi-monthly informational meetings to aid Neighborhood Organizers in doing their jobs effectively. These meetings have been very helpful in building the sense of cooperative networking between the grassroots neighborhoods and the official emergency service organizations.
Resources and Contacts
Jefferson County Department of Emergency Management
81 Elkins Road Port Hadlock, WA 98339
(360) 385-9368 (Voice) (360) 385-3831, option 7
(Email) jcdem@co.jefferson.wa.us (Website) www.jeffcoeoc.org
Sign up for NIXLE (Emergency Alert for this area)
Red Cross of Jefferson County
219 D West Patison, Port Hadlock, WA 98339
(360) 385-2737 (voice)
(Email) wajcarc@olypen.com (Website) www.peninsularedcross.org
(Offering First Aid classes, CPR classes, Disaster Volunteer training)
Fire Departments
East Jefferson County Fire & Rescue
40 Seton Rd., Suite A, Port Townsend, WA 98368
(360) 385-2626
Port Ludlow Fire & Rescue
7650 Oak Bay Road, Port Ludlow, WA 98365
(360) 437-2236
Quilcene Fire District 2
Herbert St. Quilcene, WA, 98376
(360) 765-3333
Brinnon Fire District 4
272 Schoolhouse Rd, Brinnon, WA, 98320
(360) 796-4450
Gardiner Fire District 5
360-797-7711
Get Emergency Prepared
(Email) emergencyprepared@earthlink.net
(Website) www.GetEmergencyPrepared.com
(This website has been designed to provide a eight-session online class for Individual & Families Emergency Preparedness )
Local 20/20 Emergency Preparedness
1240 W. Sims Way #12, Port Townsend, WA 98368
(P) 360- 379-1406
(Email) local2020@l2020.org (Website) www.L2020.org/EP
Jefferson County Health Department www.jeffersoncountypublichealth.org
615 Sheridan St. Port Townsend, WA 98368
(Emergency Preparedness Classes for People with Disabilities)
North Olympic Peninsula's Local 20/20, Port Townsend and surrounding communities
Working together toward local sustainability - integrating economy, ecology and community through action and education.
Working together toward local sustainability - integrating economy, ecology and community through action and education.
Web site space donated by OlympusNet
Additional thanks to:
WSU Main Homepage, WSU Extension and County Extension Offices,
the Agricultural Research Center, CAHNRS, and the North Olympic Learning Center
Looking for more information? Send us an Email
Additional thanks to:
WSU Main Homepage, WSU Extension and County Extension Offices,
the Agricultural Research Center, CAHNRS, and the North Olympic Learning Center
Looking for more information? Send us an Email
