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As a family, choose a friend or relative who lives outside of the Pacific Northwest and ask them to be your out-of-area contact. In a disaster, you may be unable to make phone calls due to service outages or overwhelmed cell towers. Instead of trying to call, text your out-of-area contact where you are and if you are okay or need help. This person can serve as a relay between you and your family, sharing important messages and each other’s locations. Download our contact card to fill out and keep in a safe place, like your disaster kits. Use the Web Make sure to let your family know that these websites are available so they know to check for each other there. The American Red Cross has a website that lets you search for loved ones and register yourself as “safe and well.” https://safeandwell.communityos.org/ Facebook has a “safety check” that can be implemented after a disaster. https://www.facebook.com/about/safetycheck/ Official Sources Know how officials will communicate with you. Counties and cities often have their local alert systems, the state of Washington will use the Emergency Alert System and Wireless Emergency Alerts. This will come across all forms of media, TV, radio and smart phones. Sign up for your local emergency alerts at mil.wa.gov/alerts www.mil.wa.gov

The temporary ban on recreational fires and charcoal briquettes has been lifted by the Pierce County Fire Marshal. There is still a BAN on burning yard waste at this time. The use of gas and propane self-contained stoves and barbecues continue to be allowed under the current ban. The current burn ban does not apply to small recreational campfires. A recreational fire is in an approved fire pit and consists of seasoned split dried fire wood. All outdoor burning still requires a burn permit that can be obtained from the fire station. Until further notice, ALL Recreational Fires must: Be built in a metal or concrete fire pit, such as those typically found in designated campgrounds and cannot be used as debris disposal; Grow no larger than three (3) feet in diameter; Be located in a cleared spot: free from any vegetation for at least 10 feet in a horizontal direction, including at least 25 feet away from any structure, and allow 20-foot vertical clearance from overhanging branches; Be attended at all times by an alert individual and equipment capable of extinguishing the fire, such as hand tools and a charged garden hose, or not less than two five-gallon buckets of water; and, No burning when winds exceed 5 MPH. If you do not have a Residential / Recreational Burn Permit, you can obtain one from Anderson Island Fire/Rescue, at 12207 Lake Josephine Blvd, in the kiosk box at the front of the fire station. Questions? Please call Pierce County at Burn Ban Hotline (253) 798-7278 or refer to the County's Fire Prevention Bureau website for details: www.piercecountywa.gov/fpb Your safety is our priority. Thank you for your cooperation.

Clean water is essential for life, both for hydration and to prevent the spread of disease. To help combat potential healthcare emergencies when water becomes a precious commodity, clean water storage is a top priority in disaster preparedness. Each person in a household requires approximately one gallon of water per day for drinking and sanitation, and FEMA recommends you store enough water at least two weeks. Water can be stored in specialized barrels, as well as in screw-top plastic bottles, such as sanitized two-liter soda bottles that are less likely to break or leak. However, please be aware that plastic milk and juice containers are not recommended, as the plastic can become fragile and brittle over time. To sanitize a two-liter soda bottle, rinse it out with one teaspoon on non-chlorine bleach and one quart of water. Then fill the bottle with clean water and screw the lid on tightly. Label the bottle “drinking water,” put the date on it and store it in a cool, dark place. Empty, sanitize, and refill the bottle every six months to ensure the water remains clean. Bottled water may also be purchased and used for storage. While the FDA does not require expiration dates to be printed on bottled water, it is recommended it be consumed within a two-year period. Hidden Sources of Water in Your Home Turning off the main water valve does two things: It prevents contaminated water from entering the lines in a home; and, It keeps gravity from draining water out of the home’s lines if there is a break in an outside pipe. To turn off the water, locate the main shut-off valve and turn the knob or handle clockwise until it is completely closed. A wrench may be needed to do this. Some older homes may also have a shut-off inside, located in the basement or garage. Water heaters can provide several gallons of drinking water can be obtained by following these steps: Determine whether it is an electric or gas-powered water heater. If it is electric, turn off the circuit breaker for the water heater. If it is gas, close the gas valve. Turn off the water intake valve. Attach a short hose to the valve at the bottom of the tank to assist with draining. A three-foot length garden hose or washing machine supple hose can be used. Turn on a hot water faucet in the house to let air into the system. Drain water from the hot water heater. Hearing a sucking sound in the pipes is likely to occur. Sediment will also likely be in the water that is drained. Use the methods described earlier to clear the water of sediments after allowing them to settle to the bottom of the water. Refill the tank before turning the electricity or gas back on. REMEMBER, a professional MUST turn the gas back on after it has been turned it off for safety reasons. Tip: Protect this water source by securing your water heater to the wall studs. Water standing in the pipes of a house is also available for use. To collect this water, turn on a faucet at the highest level of the home to allow air into the lines, and a small amount of water will trickle out. Water can then be collected from a faucet at the lowest level of the home. Water can also be obtained by melting ice cubes, from canned fruit and vegetable liquids, and from toilet tanks, as long as the tank is free of mold and toilet cleansers have not been placed in it. Using Water of Questionable Purity It may be necessary to use water of questionable purity, such as rainwater or water from streams, rivers, creeks, ponds, lakes, and potentially flood water. These sources of water can contain various contaminates that could cause illness, so it will be necessary to sanitize the water prior to use. The first step in sanitizing water will be to filter out as many solids as possible. This can be done using coffee filters, several layers of paper towels, or a clean cloth. Portable water filters can also be used. If purchasing a portable water filter, choose one with a filter pore size small enough to remove both bacteria and parasites. Most portable water filters do not remove viruses. Carefully read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the water filter intended to be used. Sanitizing Water by Boiling After filtering the water, bring water to a rolling boil for one minute and allow it to cool naturally. Boiling water is the surest method to kill many disease-causing organisms, including viruses, bacteria and parasites. Sanitizing Water by Using Bleach The only thing that should be used to purify water is liquid household bleach containing 6 percent sodium hypochlorite (no thickeners, soaps or scents). For each gallon of filtered water, add eight drops of unscented chlorine bleach and allow it to stand for 30 minutes. If the faint scent of bleach is present after 30 minutes, the water is good to use. If bleach is not detected, add eight more drops of bleach and let it stand for another 15-30 minutes. If a faint scent of bleach is still not detected, the water cannot be used for drinking. Remember, boiling water and using bleach will kill most viruses and bacteria but it will not remove metals, salts or chemicals, so the water may still have a funny taste. The taste may be improved by pouring it from one container to another and allowing it to stand for a few hours or by adding a pinch of salt for each quart of water. Also, plan for how to boil water if there were no power. Unsafe Water Sources Sources that should never be used for drinking water: Radiators Toilet bowls Hot water boilers (part of a home heating and not drinking water system) Water beds (fungicides are added to the water and chemicals in the vinyl case make the water unsafe for use) Swimming pools or spas (due to the chemicals added) Any water that has an unusual odor or color, or that you know or suspect might be contaminated with fuel or toxic chemicals. Water contaminated with fuel or toxic chemicals CANNOT be made safe for drinking by boiling or disinfection. Throughout this year, we will continue to provide resources to help get you better prepared for emergencies! To learn more about water storage and other essential ways to prepare for an emergency Washington Emergency Management Division offers this free guide:

Papers that prove identity, health, and finances are often not thought of as essential items in a disaster preparedness kit. These can be critical to register for benefits following a disaster. Having ready access to the documents necessary for completing application forms, as well as those which could be difficult to replace, will help reduce delay and frustration. Family Documents The ability to prove your identity is one of the single most important things anyone should be able to do following a disaster. You will want to gather any household documents that helps identify people in your household, including children and pets. Having the following documents at hand can ease this burden: Driver’s licenses/Passports Social Security Cards Citizenship papers Birth certificates/Adoption papers Marriage license/divorce decrees/child custody papers Current military ID/military discharge Emergency contact list Valuables: photos of valuables, copies of family photos, photos of home Medical Information If you need medical attention following an emergency or disaster, it is not likely that your regular doctor will be taking care of your needs. You also may not be able to communicate your medical history. Ensuring you have the information for you and your family will assist those providing medically necessary treatment: Immunization records Prescription information (drug name and dosage) Pertinent medical history such as medication allergies, surgeries, and medical conditions Health insurance identification cards Physician names and phone numbers Powers-of-attorney for health care and living will(s). Financial Documents To obtain money from your bank accounts or credit cards you will need to have proof of your finances with that institution. Keeping copies of the following documents in your disaster preparedness kit will help: A copy of last year’s tax return. This will assist in proving your income should you need to do so. Account numbers for all your bank accounts. Copies of your credit and debit card statements are also helpful to have, so that you can access your money following a disaster. Copies of all investments, including stock and bond certificates and retirement accounts. Insurance policies: including homeowners, renters, auto, life, health, disability, long-term care, flood, and earthquake insurance. At a minimum, you should have the name of the insurance company, contact information and your policy number for each of your insurance policies. Estate planning documents: wills, trusts, funeral instructions, powers-of-attorney, attorney names and phone numbers. Property records: Real estate deeds of trust and mortgage documents (at least the two-page settlement statement provided by the title company showing the actual cost of the house and purchase expenses); rental agreement or lease; auto/boat/RV registration and titles; video, photos, or a list of household inventory. Photos or video of all valuable to be able to document insurance claims. Don’t forget your pets! Pet medical and vaccination records, current photos and microchip numbers can help ensure you are reunited with your pet following a disaster. Storage Make copies of documents or have them scanned and saved in electronic format. Keep them in a sealed, waterproof pouch in your emergency kit or in a small fireproof and waterproof safe that you can easily take with you in the event of an emergency. Storing documents in an off-site location, like a security deposit box is also an option. However, access to these documents may be delayed following a disaster. Ready access to important documentation will ease the burden of obtaining assistance and resuming a sense of normalcy following a disaster. The cost of collecting and storing these documents depends primarily on your method of storage, which can be adjusted to fit within your budget.

Air medical transport can be expensive and insurances may not cover all costs. ALNW will work directly with your insurance company for claims processing. As the region’s air critical care transport service, Airlift Northwest provides advanced life support and transport for island residents. Learn more about their services, or sign up online, at Airlift Northwest Membership, or call at 1-855-520-9545. Check out the image below, or download their PDF here, to learn How ALNW Membership Works