September will be National Preparedness and NOAA Weather Radio Awareness Month in Washington.
Special events are scheduled to enable residents across the state to participate in the month-long observance which is designed to focus individuals and businesses on preparing for disasters and emergencies.
These events include:
• A statewide Drop, Cover and Hold earthquake drill at 10:15 a.m. on Sept. 15. The drill will be initiated through the Emergency Alert System using the Required Monthly Test for broadcasters.
• A Sept. 15 Tsunami Warning Communications Test for the All Hazard Alert Broadcast sirens in outer coastal counties. This test will coincide
with the statewide earthquake drill and will activate warning sirens in 40 locations in Pacific, Grays Harbor, Jefferson and Clallam counties. The sirens will play a wail sound, rather than the standard chimes.
• The launch of the new “Help 9-1-1, Help You! What’s Your Location” campaign to remind residents and children of the importance of knowing their address and location when they call 9-1-1. Sept. 11 is the national 9-1-1 Day.
“Citizens, companies and governments agencies should review individual preparedness plans, contact information, and emergency kits” so they can be ready in the event of an emergency,” said Gov. Chris Gregoire. These actions should enable citizens “to be self-sufficient for a minimum
of three days following an act of terrorism, natural or man-made disasters.”
Preparedness month information materials, including Drop, Cover, Hold drill instructions and 72-hour comfort kit fact sheets, are available from the Washington Emergency Management Division at www.emd.gov/preparedness/prep_infocus.shtml.
For more information, please contact Rosanne Garrand, EMD public education program coordinator, 253-512-7419.
A NOAA Weather Radio is an important preparedness tool for homes, businesses, government offices and schools. The radios are personal all-hazard warning systems. They help protect lives and property with a warning alarm feature that activates for immediate life-threatening events such as windstorms, tsunamis and hazardous materials releases. The goal of the Weather Radio campaign is to make All-Hazard Weather Radios as common and necessary as smoke detectors in the home, workplace and classroom.
For more information about NOAA Weather radios consumer incentives and other special events around Washington during September, visit www.emd.emd.wa.gov.
