Chelan County Fire District No. 1

Are you prepared for an emergency?

NCW is blessed with great weather, excellent recreational opportunities, and spectacular scenery. However, with this we are also at risk for disasters. Our region is at risk from Wildfire, Flood, Earthquake, Volcanic Eruption, Severe Storms, Winter Storms, on top of being in a region that offers limited travel routes. The narrow canyons and valleys of Chelan County pose challenges in and of themselves. The city of Wenatchee has only two routes capable of handling high volumes of traffic safely. Disaster preparedness is very important in our region, for individuals and businesses.

• Make a Kit

o Make a kit capable of lasting your entire family a minimum of 72 hours (3 days). Longer is better. Most people know to include non-perishable food and water, but there are also other items such as maps, compass, wind up radio, first aid kit, tools, just to name a few items.

o Make smaller kits available for the car and office. These should include a small supply of food, water, maps, etc.

o Get the entire family involved in making a kit.

• Have a Plan

o Identify an out-of-town contact, and make sure all family members know who they are and how to reach them. Out-of-town contacts can be easier to contact, and, provide a centralized and most likely unaffected person to coordinate with.

o Do not rely on cell phones or Voice Communications. Phone lines, especially cell towers, often become clogged during an emergency. If you have a cell phone, utilize text messaging instead of calling someone. Text messages are more reliable since they are much smaller pieces of information. If everyone relied on text messaging in an emergency, cell phone communications could be kept open for emergency services and 911 calls.

o Subscribe to any alert services in your community. WVC Students have this for the college, and residents can sign up for Chelan County Fire District’s own TxtAlert service.

o Plan for situations involving sheltering-in-place, or evacuating. Know your place of work’s emergency plan, as well as your child’s school emergency plan. Know where you would go if an evacuation occurred. Staying with family out of town can often be more comfortable than a shelter.

o Develop plans, and insure everyone in the family has a copy. Use online tools to help develop your plans, linked from our website.

• Be Informed

o Know the possible dangers of where you live, and plan accordingly.

o Know what impact this will have on getting or sending information. Our area’s geography makes it difficult to rely on wireless methods of sending information, whether it is telephone, radio, or television.

o Get trained to better prepare yourself for a disaster, including knowing CPR and First Aid.

If you need more information, or have questions or comments about what you heard today, you may contact us online at www.chelancountyfire.com or at Station 11 at 662-4734.

Get More Information

• ReadyAmerica Online Tools and Guides for Disaster Preparedness
• ReadyKids Tips for Families and Teachers
• ReadyBusiness Disaster Planning Information for Businesses and Organizations
• Apple Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross General Disaster Tips, Gear, and Training