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Wildfires have emerged as a growing public safety concern for much of the Western United States. The combination of extreme heat, low humidity, dry terrain, high winds, and nearby fuels/vegetation increases wildfire risk. How can you lower your risk? Along with the safety tips below, you can contact the fire station at (253) 884-4040 to schedule a Wildfire Risk Assessment Survey of your property to identify potential areas of concern. CAMPFIRE SAFETY If your fire escapes, you will be responsible for paying for fire suppression personnel and equipment, as required by state law. Campfires are allowed only when a campfire burn restriction is not in place Campfires are permitted on DNR-managed lands only in approved fire pits Ensure there is a shovel and buckets of water close by Never walk away from a smoldering campfire. Put the fire out cold before leaving - if it's too hot to touch, it's too hot to leave Protect our forestlands by reporting illegal or unsupervised campfires to 911 or the DNR South Puget Sound Region office at (253) 825-1631 email: southpuget.region@dnr.wa.gov. HOME LANDSCAPING IN DRY CONDITIONS Work in the mornings or late evenings to avoid the hottest parts of the day, and postpone your work when the weather calls for low humidity or high wind. Keep a water hose or bucket or fire extinguisher on hand. Use a nylon or plastic weed whacker line instead of metal. Be careful not to set a hot tool down on dry grass or leaves. Allow power engines to cool before refueling, and make sure the hot exhaust is kept away from dry grasses, weeds, and shrubs - only use such equipment that’s in good repair and has spark arresters installed (when applicable). Stay home for an hour after finishing your work - this way you’ll be around to notice if anything begins to smolder and smoke. If conditions are right for outdoor burning, keep your debris piles small and have a hose ready should your fire escape. ADDITIONAL PREVENTION TIPS Be sure recreation vehicles have operating spark arrestors. Do not park vehicles in dry, grassy areas as residual heat from exhaust systems can ignite the dry grass. Know the current wildfire risk in your county, destination, or area you may be working in. Note: It's always illegal to light fireworks or use incendiary ammunition or exploding targets on DNR-protected lands. Without Warning - Wildfire Safety Comic GET WILDFIRE READY WITH: readyforwildfire.org Credit: mil.wa.gov, dnr.wa.gov, pse.com

On 6/27/2023 at 12:44 PM Anderson Island Fire/Rescue responded to an incident involving a high-angle tree rescue at the corner of Olympic Place and Island Drive. Upon arrival, our crews encountered a man inverted in a harness suspended from a tree approximately 80 feet from the ground. The man had sustained critical injuries, requiring high-angle rope access rescue. High-angle rescues are high-risk, low-frequency events conducted by Technical Rope Technicians with specialized certification and often require a multi-agency response. Working swiftly and efficiently, our dedicated team requested necessary resources to mitigate further injury to the patient, while ensuring the safety of first responders and others involved in the rescue. Through the efforts of tree expert Dave Pollard, and Leo Siefner, the patient was secured with a complex harness they created with anchors and ropes to lower him to ground level. Anderson Island EMS immediately assumed trauma care and was joined by West Pierce Fire paramedics. Subsequently, the patient was transported to Madigan Army Medical Center, a Level II trauma facility. Special recognition to West Pierce Fire who provided personnel and equipment from Station 20 and a ladder engine from Station 21. Additional coordinated support by Pierce County Ferry, as well as assistance from Tanner Electric’s island team, contributed to the successful outcome of the rescue operation. We commend the swift response from our partner agencies and would like to express our sincere appreciation to the individuals who promptly reported the incident to South Sound 911.

With the generous support of our community in previous years, the Anderson Island Firefighters Association has been able to purchase medical equipment that helps us in our mission to save lives and protect island residents. Each year our goal is to purchase critical equipment for EMS or fire service needs. Most recently, funds raised during the Pancake Breakfast have allowed us to purchase the following items to aid in patient treatment and transport: 1. Automated CPR device 2. EMS patient transport stair chair 3. Electronic feedback CPR manikins We are so appreciative of the benefits that equipment and training means to our community. The Firefighters Association and the entire Fire Department are proud to have you join us in this effort. This year our goal is to purchase additional monitoring equipment for EMS patient care, as well as a search and rescue Stokes basket with all-terrain wheel for remote trails on island, ensuring critical patients receive the right treatment at the right place and at the right time.

Floods are the most common and widespread of all natural disasters. Floods can cause loss of life and damage to structures, crops, land, flood control structures, roads, and utilities. Although floods can happen at any time during the year, there are typical seasonal patterns for flooding in Washington state, based on the variety of natural processes that cause floods: Washington State is subject to catastrophic flooding from several different flood sources: 1) Heavy rainfall on wet or frozen ground, before a snowpack has accumulated, typically causes fall and early winter floods. 2) Rainfall combined with melting of the low elevation snowpack typically causes winter and early spring floods. 3) Late spring floods in Eastern Washington result primarily from melting of the snowpack. 4) Thunderstorms typically can cause a flash flood during the summer in Eastern Washington; on rare occasions, thunderstorms embedded in winter-like rainstorms cause flash floods in Western Washington. Washington State is subject to catastrophic flooding from several different flood sources: 1) Overbank flooding from rivers and streams, 2) Coastal storm surge flooding, 3) Local stormwater drainage flooding, and 4) Flooding from failures of dams, reservoirs or levees. 5) Other flood source - subsidence, tsunamis and seiches If you live in an area where floods occur, you should know the following: WHAT TO DO BEFORE A FLOOD Plan for evacuation including where you are going to go and the route you will follow. Prepare your home for a flood. Contact your local building department or office of emergency management for information. Purchase flood insurance. Keep all insurance policies and a list of valuable items in a safe place. Take photos or a videotape of the valuables you keep in your home. Listen to your radio or television for reports of flood danger. Keep your car filled with gas. WHAT TO DO DURING A FLOOD Do not try to walk or drive through flooded areas. Water can be deeper than it appears, and water levels rise quickly. Follow official emergency evacuation routes. If your car stalls in floodwater, get out quickly and move to higher ground. Stay away from moving water; moving water six inches deep can sweep you off your feet. Cars are easily swept away in just two feet of water. Stay away from disaster areas unless authorities ask for volunteers. Stay away from downed power lines. If your home is flooded, turn the utilities off until emergency officials tell you it is safe to turn them on. Do not pump the basement out until floodwater recedes. Avoid weakened floors, walls and rooftops. Wash your hands frequently with soap and clean water if you come in contact with floodwaters. WHAT TO DO AFTER A FLOOD Wear gloves and boots when cleaning up. Open all doors and windows. Use fans, if possible, to air out the building. Wash all clothes and linens in hot water. Discard mattresses and stuffed furniture; they can’t be adequately cleaned. Wash dirt and mud from walls, counters and hard surfaced floors with soap and water. Disinfect by wiping surfaces with a solution of one cup bleach per gallon of water. Discard all food that has come into contact with floodwater. Canned food is alright, but thoroughly wash the can before opening. If your well is flooded, your tap water is probably unsafe. Until your water is safe, use clean bottled water. Learn how to purify water. If you have a well, learn how to decontaminate it. Do not use your septic system when there is standing water on the ground around it. The ground below will not absorb water from sinks or toilets. When the soil has dried, it is probably safe again to use your septic system. To be sure, contact your local health department. When floodwaters have receded, watch out for weakened road surfaces. The Nature Conservancy | Washington Nature Flood Risks Credit: mil.wa.gov, doh.wa.gov, washingtonnature.org

The Pacific Coast, Strait of Juan de Fuca, Puget Sound, and large lakes are at risk from tsunamis, which are a series of extremely long waves that threaten people and property along shorelines. Sudden raising or lowering of the earth’s crust during earthquakes are usually the main cause of a tsunami, although landslides and underwater volcanic eruptions also can generate them. The most frequent cause of Puget Sound tsunamis is landslides. The 1949 Olympia earthquake triggered a landslide in the Tacoma Narrows that caused a 6 to 8-foot tsunami that affected nearby shorelines three days after the earthquake. Natural Warning Signs There may not always be enough time for an official warning, so it is important that you understand natural warning signs. If you are at the shore and you… • feel a strong or long earthquake • see a sudden rise or fall of the ocean, or • hear a loud roar from the ocean …a tsunami may follow very soon. This is your warning! Take action immediately and move to a safe place (to high ground or inland) immediately. Do not wait to receive an official alert or instructions. Tsunami messages are issued by the Tsunami Warning Centers to notify emergency managers and other local officials, the public, and other partners about the potential for a tsunami following a possible tsunami-generating event. These are not alerts that require a subscription to receive. · Tsunami Warning: Take Action—Danger! A tsunami that may cause widespread flooding is expected or occurring. Dangerous coastal flooding and powerful currents are possible and may continue for several hours or days after initial arrival. Follow instructions from local officials. Evacuation is recommended. Move to high ground or inland (away from the water). · Tsunami Advisory: Take Action—A tsunami with potential for strong currents or waves dangerous to those in or very near the water is expected or occurring. There may be flooding of beach and harbor areas. Stay out of the water and away from beaches and waterways. Follow instructions from local officials. · Tsunami Watch: Be Aware—A distant earthquake has occurred. A tsunami is possible. Stay tuned for more information. Be prepared to take action if necessary. · Tsunami Information Statement: No Action Needed—An earthquake has occurred, but there is no threat or it was very far away and the threat has not been determined. In most cases, there is no threat of a destructive tsunami. Evacuation Assembly Sites The site should be: 1) Outside the tsunami hazard area. 2) Easy to get to. 3) Capable of accommodating a large number of people. 4) Not blocking roadways – leaving access for emergency vehicles. 5) Assembly areas must be on publicly-owned property – If it is on private property, you will need the permission of the owner. Practice walking your chosen evacuation route, even in darkness and bad weather. This will make evacuation quicker and easier during an emergency. Be Prepared The time between waves ranges from five minutes to two hours. The first wave may not be the largest or the most damaging. Dangerous coastal flooding and powerful currents may last for several hours or days. • LEARN what the hazards are, what areas are at risk • KNOW the natural warning signs/alerting mechanisms • Have a plan ready BEFORE the event happens • TRAIN on the plan • WORK with others in your port/business areas WITHOUT WARNING! 2: TSUNAMI Learn how to protect yourself and your loved ones when tsunamis happen using the information provided in this action-packed comic! CLICK IMAGE TO READ Credit: mil.wa.gov, cityoftacoma.org, seattle.gov, dnr.wa.gov

Immediately following a widespread event like an earthquake, tsunami or severe winter storm, first responders will be in high demand and short supply. But there’s an easy step you can take to help! Residents can place a HELP/OK sign in a front-facing area of their home to help emergency responders tasked with checking door-to-door after a disaster. These are simple signs with the words “HELP” printed on one side and “OK” on the reverse; they may be red and green for increased visibility. The signs can effectively mitigate injuries and loss of life by helping local agencies use what relatively few resources they have in an efficient manner. After a disaster, place a HELP/OK sign in a visible window or tape it outside on a visible door. This saves valuable time for helpers who will be checking on people in your neighborhood or building. A HELP sign lets them know someone in the building needs urgent assistance. An OK sign tells them that they can move on and focus on those who need immediate help.⠀ These signs may be found at many emergency preparedness sites, or you can print out your own for free by clicking the download links provided below this article. Credit: clatsopauxcomm.org mil.wa.gov