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Home My WebLink About10City of Port Townsend (360) 379-5047 (email: citycouncil@ci.port-townsend.wa.us) www.ci.port-townsend.wa.us October 2005 DISASTER SERVICES—YOUR FAMILY PREPAREDNESS PLAN As we have learned in the past several days, disaster can strike quickly and without warning. It can force you to evacuate your neighborhood or confine you to your home. Because of our community’s remote location, it is likely we will be cut off from outside help for a long period of time if a regional disaster strikes. We must be ready to cope with a lack of basic services--water, electricity, telephone or gas. Although local officials and relief workers will be on the scene as quickly as possible, you can help them by helping your family, your neighbors, and yourself to be prepared for disaster in advance and working together as a team. Here are some steps to follow: 1. Create a Family Preparedness Plan •Meet with your family and explain the dangers of fire, severe weather, earthquakes and tsunamis. •Discuss what to do in case of evacuation. Include plans for your family pets. •Pick two places to meet: -Right outside your home in case of a sudden emergency, like a fire. -Outside your neighborhood in case you can't return home. Everyone must know that address. •Ask an out-of-state relative or friend to be your family contact and make sure everyone knows the phone number. 2. Practice and Maintain Your Plan •Quiz your family members every six months or so. •Conduct practice emergency evacuations. •Replace stored water and food every six months. 3. Evacuation •Evacuate immediately if told to do so. •Listen to your battery-powered radio and follow the instructions of emergency officials. •Use travel routes specified by local authorities because certain areas may be impassable or dangerous. If you're sure you have time: •Shut off water, gas, and electricity before leaving. •Make arrangements for your pets. 4. Emergency Supplies •Keep enough supplies in your home to meet your needs for at least three days. Assemble a Disaster Supplies Kit with items you may need in an evacuation. Store these supplies in sturdy, easy-to-carry containers such as back- packs, duffle bags, or covered trash containers. Keep a smaller kit in the trunk of your car. Include: −A three-day supply of water (one gallon per person per day) and food that won't spoil (for pets too!) −One change of clothing and footwear per person, and one blanket or sleeping bag per person. −A first aid kit that includes your family's prescription medications. −Emergency tools including a battery-powered radio, flashlight, and plenty of extra batteries. −An extra set of car keys and a credit card, cash or traveler's checks. −Sanitation supplies. −Special items for infant, elderly, or disabled family members. −An extra pair of glasses. −Keep important family documents in a waterproof container. −A City map. When Disaster Strikes, Remember to... •Confine or secure your pets. •Call your family contact--do not use the telephone again unless it is a life-threatening emergency. •Check on your neighbors, especially elderly or disabled persons. •Stay away from downed power lines. We urge you to meet with your neighbors to plan how the neighborhood could work together after a disaster until help ar- rives. If you're a member of a neighborhood organization, introduce disaster preparedness as a new activity. Consider how you could help neighbors who have special needs, such as disabled and elderly persons and make plans for child care in case neighboring parents can't get home. The Jefferson County Department of Emergency Management website at http://jcdem.co.jefferson.wa.us contains information about our community’s ongoing emergency plans as well as more comprehensive guidelines about what you can do to prepare for an emergency. A special water-resistant City map is available in the Finance Department and Development Services Department for $4.27 (includes tax.) Watch for announcements in the Leader and on the City’s website about an upcoming Community Disaster Preparedness Forum. PT MAIN STREET PROGRAM EVENTS FOR OCTOBER Girl’s Night Out “Women on a Mission” Thursday, October 6, 11AM to 8PM Fun activities and in-store events, special sales and snacks. The sale of Girls’ Night Out “Goody Bags” generate donations for the local Breast and Cervical Health Program of the Jefferson County Health Department. Taste of Port Townsend Thursday, October 27, 4:30PM to 7:30 PM This event is held in participating restaurants listed on the Main Street’s website at www.ptguide.com/ mainstreet. Come join us for Chicken Fingers, Shrimp, Ribs and more delectable delights! Downtown Halloween Trick or Treat Monday, October 31, 4:00PM to 5:30PM Downtown merchants will again be hosts to “ghoulies, ghosties and long legged beasties” for the annual children’s Halloween Parade and Trick or Treat. MAKE A DIFFERENCE! Port Townsend Citizen Advisory Board Recruitment The City is seeking interested citizens to fill volunteer positions on the following advisory boards and committees. All committees have either vacancies or members with terms ex- piring on December 31, 2005. Arts Commission Promotes and encourages public programs to further the development and public aware- ness of and interest in the arts. Design Review Advisory Committee Reviews development proposals in the C-II zoning district (General Commercial) outside of the historic commercial district. Architec- tural design expertise required. Historic Preservation Committee Reviews proposals to develop, demolish, or change development within the historic dis- trict. Planning Commission Provides recommendations to the City Coun- cil on land use cases, growth management, and other planning issues. Tree Committee Advisory body on forestry issues including potential legislation, coordinates urban for- estry education for staff and citizens, and ap- plies for urban forestry grants. Administers Tree City USA Program. Applications are available in the City Clerk’s office on the second floor of the Waterman & Katz Building, 181 Quincy Street, Port Town- send, WA. Call 379-5083 to request an appli- cation form or download from www.ci.port- townsend.wa.us (Boards & Commissions). City residency or employment within the City is a requirement for most positions. WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES (WSF) is holding an open house to discuss the Port Townsend Ferry Terminal Preserva- tion and Improvement Project: Wednesday, October 19, 2005 6:30-8:30 PM Fort Worden Commons—200 Battery Way, PT WSF has been analyzing options for the Port Townsend Ferry Terminal and will share the proposed terminal design at the open house. WSF is beginning environmental analyses of the proposed design and these analyses begin with a public ‘scoping period’. During this period, the public is encouraged to comment on the scope of the environmental studies. The open house is an opportunity for the public to review the proposed project and to provide official comments to WSF. Comments can also be emailed to PortTownsendProject@wsdot.wa. gov, or sent to Joy Goldenberg by phone (206- 515-3411) or by mail (WSF, Attn: Joy Golden- berg, 2901 3rd Avenue, Suite 500, Seattle, WA 98121-1042). If you cannot attend the public open house on October 19, please visit the project website for meeting materials and additional information (www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/projects/ WALK ACROSS WASHINGTON On October 15, participants will assemble at 9:30AM at the Park & Ride. To register go to www.walkwashington.org. To volunteer, call Marion Huxtable at 379-9527.