November 2017 - Prepare In a Year
Shelter In Place

Sometimes the best way to stay safe in an emergency is to get inside and stay inside a building or a vehicle.

Get Inside, Stay Inside

Get inside – Bring your loved ones, your emergency supplies, and your pets
Find a safe spot – The exact spot will depend on the type of emergency
Stay put – until officials say that it is safe to leave

Stay in Touch
Send a text message to your emergency contact. Let them know where you are, how you are doing, and if anyone in your family is not with you.
Continue to listen to the radio station or local TV stations for updates. Do not leave your shelter unless authorities have said it is safe.

Staying Put in Your Vehicle or Public Transportation
In some emergencies, you might be in between work and home or another destination and it is safer to stay in your vehicle or on public transportation than to continue driving/ riding. If you are very close to home, work or a public building go there immediately and go inside. If you can’t get indoors quickly and safely:

Pull over to the side of the road – stop in a safe location.
Stay where you are – until officials have said it is safe to get back on the road.
Listen to the radio and social media for updates and additional instructions – even after it is safe to start driving again continue to listen to the radio and follow any additional instructions from officials.

Sealing a Room
In some types of emergencies, you will need to stop outside air from coming inside. If officials tell you to “seal the room”, you need to:

Turn off things that move air, like fans and air conditioners
Get yourself and anyone with you and pets inside one room that you can easily seal off, and bring your emergency supplies with you if they are close
Block air from entering the room you are in
Dampen towels and place over the cracks under doors
Cut plastic sheeting to fit over the windows and vents. Secure the plastic with duct tape
Tape around the door
Turn on the radio
Don't air out or leave your sealed shelter until you are told to do so
Listen to radio stations, local TV stations, and social media for further instructions

WA State Preparedness Guide and Shelter In Place

Selecting on the image below will take you to a link of the Washington State Prepare in a Year Shelter in Place document.

Shelter In Place instructions with images of taping door, plastic over windows and taping, turning outside air source off, go to a room with least outside vents and windows, bring radio, cell phone, ability to charge these items, water and snacks.

Winter Wise banner, shovel in the snow along a road covered in snow, trees with snow cover lining road. Link to Public Works Winter Wise webpage

Are you ready for winter weather?

Pierce County is gearing up for winter weather, and you should do the same. Pierce County Emergency Management encourages you to take time now to create emergency kits for your home, car and workplace. You should also create a family plan to identify an out-of-state emergency contact, where you will meet if your family is separated, etc. Pierce County Planning and Public Works plays an important role in responding to winter weather. The department responds to roadway flooding, river flooding, windstorms and snow and ice events. It also manages storm cleanup. BE ‘WINTERWISE’ At piercecountywa.org/ winterwise, you can learn about response efforts during winter weather, how to stay informed and how to prepare now for inclement weather or an emergency.

Yellow banners with "If we can't reach you...we can't alert you

Pierce County ALERT

The county cannot send an emergency message to your cell phone via text or voice if you have not registered your cell phone.

Preparedness Academy

Information and Registration HERE

A neighborhood or community can request a course, call for attendance requirements and dates available. Peggy 253-798-2209

Psychological First Aid

November 7, Tuesday 6:00 PM Graham Fire Station 94 - Graham

Disaster First Aid
November 18, Saturday 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM, Our Savior Lutheran- Tacoma/Puyallup ( Almost full, PC Neighborhood Emergency Teams will receive priority )

Updated Bucket List

Check out the cool graphic of the bucket list posted on our website www.piercecountywa.org/PREPARE or a downloadable version at www.piercecountywa.org/BUCKETLIST .
The new info-graphic look is spreading across Washington State! Seattle, Spokane and Washington State Emergency Management all have a similar brochure with info graphics.
Emergency Management offices across the state are sharing documents, brochures and programs to share the wealth of good ideas and support jurisdictions with smaller staff and budgets.

Citizen Corps Council of Pierce County - Meeting

Are you interested in volunteering?
More information at CCC-PC.

Meetings are held first Thursday every even-numbered month.
Location Pierce County EOC 2501 South 35th St, Tacoma

What is PC-NET?

P ierce County Neighborhood Emergency Teams
(PC-NET ) provides neighbors with information and tools necessary to work together for an effective response following emergencies and disasters. Professional responders will not be available to assist your neighborhood after a major disaster—you become the first responder. If individuals and their neighbors are prepared to mutually assist one another, lives can be saved and property can be spared.

Like Us On Facebook

Pierce County Department of Emergency Management regularly posts education information on our Facebook. Please like us, share the information with your friends and networks.

Contact Us
Phone: 253-798-6595

Email: [email protected]

November 2017 - Prepare In a YearShelter In Place