October is Disaster Preparedness Month

Submitted by Beau Renfro

County Emergency Management Director

The Wahkiakum County Sheriff’s Office Department of Emergancy Management (DEM) is happy to announce that October is Washington State Disaster Preparedness Month.

There are three primary components to being ready for an emergency or disaster: Be informed, Create a Plan, and Build a Kit.

This week I would like to talk about the first component which is “Being Informed” and an upcoming National Weather Service (NWS) Weather spotter class.

Our county has five primary ways of getting the word out to our community. Below is a brief description of each.

• Wahkiakum County Emergency Information line: Residents can call 795-3911 or 1-877- 795-3910 (Westend) and they will be able to listen to a recorded message that includes severe weather information, current road conditions and any other important announcements from the Sheriff’s Office and DEM.

• Facebook: follow the county page at “WahkiakumCounty” or Sheriff’s Office “wahkiakumcountysheriff” to see posts from County Officials and Emergency Management.

• Emergency Community Notification System: This is a system that will allow me to send out recorded messages to residents. All hard wired landline telephone numbers are automatically added to the system. It is very important for all residents to register their V.O.I.P. and/or cellular telephones by visiting the DEM website at: http://www.co.wahkiakum.wa.us/dem.html and then click on the “Alert Wahkiakum County” picture or by contacting me.

• NOAA Weather radio network: This network allows Wahkiakum DEM and the National Weather Service to issue urgent and emergent messages through any weather radio that is equipped with tone alert capability and that is monitoring frequency 162.400. These radios are widely available and retail for around $20.

• Emergency Alert System: Allows Federal, State and Local Emergency Managers to issue alerts by preempting Cable TV and Radio.

I am pleased to announce that the NWS is providing a Weather Spotter class on October 22, 7-8:30 p.m. The class will be held at the Cathlamet Fire Hall (255 2nd Street). This is a very informative class that will teach you the basics of thunderstorm development, fundamentals of storm structure, identifying potential severe weather features, information and how to report information to the NWS and basic severe weather safety.

If you have any question or for more information on the item I have discussed in this article contact me at 795-3242, 465-2202 or visit my website at: http://www.co.wahkiakum.wa.us/dem.html.