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Washington Emergency Management

@washemd

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We're the official agency for preparedness and emergency management in the state of Washington.

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Have you tried the ShakeOut Workout? Learn more about this “functional exercise” that can help keep you safer at any stage of your life, in any situation you’re in, and get your muscle memory toned up so you can react quickly when the ground shakes!

* The Great Washington ShakeOut is an earthquake drill that takes place wherever you are at 10:15 a.m., Oct. 15. Find preparedness links in our bio.

Video Description: In this video, Drop, Cover, and Hold On for earthquake safety is presented in the style of a workout video, from a trainer, in a gym setting. The trainer demonstrates recognizing the danger of an earthquake, dropping low to the ground for stability, Covering your head and neck, taking cover under something sturdy, and holding on until the shaking stops. They then demonstrate themself stopping a couple of other activities in the gym (working out by swinging heavy ropes, and relaxed breathing in a cross-legged position), to show that you can do “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” during any activity, and you should practice. They finish by encouraging everyone to go to www.shakeout.org to register for the Great ShakeOut earthquake drill. by @washemd

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11 hours ago

BOO it’s October! 👻 (Sound on if you want the full experience). Update your emergency supplies before it gets scary! 🎃

To help keep you and your family safe after a disaster, gather supplies at home to last at least 2 weeks. This means 2 weeks’ worth of food, water, pet food, warm clothes, medical supplies and sanitation materials. Two weeks is a lot of supplies, but don’t be overwhelmed. Make 2 weeks your goal and continually work towards it. It can be as simple as adding one can of food to your shopping cart each time to go to the store and adding that can to your disaster supplies.

Practice Drop, Cover and Hold On together with us 10:15 a.m., October 15 during the Great Washington ShakeOut earthquake drill!

Find preparedness links in our bio. by @washemd

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a day ago

BOO it’s October! 👻 (Sound on if you want the full experience). Update your emergency supplies before it gets scary! 🎃

To help keep you and your family safe after a disaster, gather supplies at home to last at least 2 weeks. This means 2 weeks’ worth of food, water, pet food, warm clothes, medical supplies and sanitation materials. Two weeks is a lot of supplies, but don’t be overwhelmed. Make 2 weeks your goal and continually work towards it. It can be as simple as adding one can of food to your shopping cart each time to go to the store and adding that can to your disaster supplies.

Practice Drop, Cover and Hold On together with us 10:15 a.m., October 15 during the Great Washington ShakeOut earthquake drill!

Find preparedness links in our bio. by @washemd

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3

2 days ago

Lots of folks felt that earthquake yesterday. Had it been stronger, there's a chance people might have fallen and gotten hurt. That's why we suggest people drop to the ground if possible -- an essential part of drop, cover and hold on.

Practice Drop, Cover, and Hold On: Protect your melon. Join millions and register for free. Find preparedness links in our bio.

Video Description: A man in a raincoat and safety goggles drops a watermelon from about 1 foot above the ground, to show that there isn’t much damage. Then he drops it from head height, about 6 feet up, and when it hits the ground, it breaks apart, showing that there’s a greater force from up high. by @washemd

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3 days ago

Groundbreaking for a new tsunami vertical evacuation tower is set for Oct. 3 in Westport’s marina district after years of planning and community efforts to improve tsunami safety.

The public is invited to join local and state leaders at the event. The majority of funding for the project comes from a federal grant secured through the City of Westport and Washington Emergency Management Division. Construction is expected to be finished by the end of summer 2027.

The event is slated for 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, at the corner of Harms Street and East Harbor Street in Westport. Parking will be available at the corner of Harbor Avenue and Nyhus Street North, one block from the vertical evacuation structure site, with additional parking along Harms Street.

“We invite you to join us as we celebrate this important milestone, recognize the partnerships and dedication that brought us to this moment and officially break ground on a project that will help protect the community for generations to come,” Westport Mayor Ed Welter wrote in an email to the community.

The project comes from a FEMA Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant initially awarded in 2020. The $13.7 million project includes approximately $763,000 in matching funds from the City of Westport and $763,000 from the state through Washington’s Disaster Response Account.

Absher Construction won the construction bid with estimated construction costs of $11.181 million. The tower was designed by Cale Ash and Degenkolb Engineers.

Large pilings will be driven into the ground to help secure the structure against tsunami forces and debris. The tower will sit on city-owned property, provide refuge for at least 1,000 people and serve as a public viewing tower when not needed for emergencies. A white tower stands on the horizon amid grass with clouds in the sky. by @washemd

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4 days ago

On September 29, 2009, two separate M7.8+ earthquakes happened minutes apart on the Kermadec-Tonga Subduction Zone in the south Pacific. This event, a rare earthquake doublet, sent a tsunami barreling towards American Samoa, Samoa, and the Tonga Islands. This event is a critical reminder of the power and impacts of local tsunamis, such as those that form on the Cascadia Subduction Zone. Join us on 10/15 for the Great Washington ShakeOut by walking your tsunami evacuation route.

Learn more about our tsunami risk reduction efforts and find preparedness links in our bio.

All photos courtesy of NOAA’s National Center for Environmental Information. A picture of a tsunami wave from the 2009 American Samoa tsunami approaching the coast, carrying a vehicle on top of the wave. White text on the screen says “On this day… there was a major tsunami in the South Pacific in 2009”. by @washemd

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4 days ago

Prepared Communities are stronger communities. That's why for National Preparedness Month, we're encouraging you to get to know your neighbors.

After a big emergency, stores may not be open to sell food or supplies and power, roads and regular communications may be inaccessible.

Communities will need to rely on each other for days to weeks. Encourage community members to gather their personal supplies.

Every household should have a go-bag for each family member/pet and at least two weeks worth of supplies at home.

Find resources in the links in our bio. by @washemd

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5 days ago

Neighbors are the first responders of a major disaster. Despite how cute and fluffy their pets may be, they won’t be the ones able to help you when you may need it most. For National Preparedness Month, we want to encourage you to get to know your neighbors and work on your emergency preparedness together!

And don’t forget that the Great Washington ShakeOut earthquake and tsunami drill is happening on 10/15! It’s a first great step to getting you, your family, and your community prepared.

Find important links in our bio. by @washemd

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9 days ago

It's National Preparedness Month and we want to encourage you to meet your neighbors and talk about how you can get through emergencies together!

A connected community will be able to respond to and recover more quickly from the effects of a disaster and save lives. Communities will most likely be based on geography — neighbors helping neighbors — but they can be based on shared backgrounds, common interests or faith groups.

Neighborhoods that are prepared save lives, reduce the severity of injuries and trauma, reduce property damage and recover more quickly. Make a plan for:

* How to communicate with your community and notify them if you need help or are OK.
* How to evacuate to a safe location. Use your community map.
* How to help each other during and after a disaster.

Find links to help in our bio. by @washemd

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14 days ago

It’s a beautiful day to practice Drop, Cover and Hold On, walk your tsunami evacuation route and help your community get prepared.

Won’t you be our neighbor and register for ShakeOut today at ShakeOut.org/Washington? ❤️ (Find the clickable link in our bio).

Yes, we’re Mr. Rogers fans.

Video Description: A man dressed in a red sweater and khaki pants sits in a cozy, Mr. Rogers-inspired setting and sings a playful ShakeOut jingle encouraging neighbors to register, practice Drop, Cover, and Hold On, and walk their evacuation routes. by @washemd

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20 days ago

After a major earthquake, there will be help coming for you, in the forms of first responders, and assistance coming in from all over the country – but in the immediate aftermath of a quake, you and those in your immediate community will be the first ones responding. You’ll be the ones best suited for connecting with your neighbors.

For National Preparedness Month, we want to encourage you to get to know your neighbors.

Find preparedness links in our bio. by @washemd

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a month ago

September is National Preparedness Month and we want to encourage you to get to know your neighbors! So here are some general things to think about when it comes to connecting with your neighbors.
• What are the hazards in your neighborhood?
• Who might need extra help, and what kind of help might they need?
• What skills or tools do you and neighbors have that might be helpful during an emergency?
• Are there areas or buildings in the neighborhood more susceptible to hazards?

Find preparedness links in our bio. by @washemd

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a month ago