Kitsap’s  JELLY ROLL BLUES – Part Two:  Smiles, Giggles, Tears at Harrison’s Emergency Preparedness BB Meeting

We live in earthquake country.  We’ve jellied to varying degrees in the past and no doubt will again in the future.  So far we haven’t had a quake over magnitude 7.0 and that was in 1949.

More jelly jiggles and Shake, Rattle and Roll are in store for Kitsap County and surrounds.  What are we doing to prepare to take care of ourselves at least 72 hours?

Another quake or natural disaster – such as the last freeze and two day power outage in Silverdale is coming.  I don’t want to repeat the last one where everything we counted on, failed, including the generator and we lived inside where the temperature dropped to 40 degrees over the two days without heat or bi-pap and concentrator.

Smiles, Giggles, Tears at Harrison’s Emergency Preparedness BB Meeting

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“Earthquake activity:

Kitsap County-area historical earthquake activity is slightly above Washington state average. It is 235% greater than the overall U.S. average.

 

On 4/13/1949 at 19:55:42, a magnitude 7.0 (7.0 UK, Class: Major, Intensity: VIII – XII) earthquake occurred 26.2 miles away from the county center, causing $80,000,000 total damage

On 2/28/2001 at 18:54:32, a magnitude 6.8 (6.5 MB, 6.6 MS, 6.8 MW, Depth: 32.2 mi, Class: Strong, Intensity: VII – IX) earthquake occurred 36.5 miles away from the county center, causing $2,000,000,000 total damage and $305,000,000 insured losses

On 4/29/1965 at 15:28:43, a magnitude 6.6 (6.6 UK) earthquake occurred 25.1 miles away from the county center, causing $28,000,000 total damage

On 7/3/1999 at 01:43:54, a magnitude 5.8 (5.4 MB, 5.5 MS, 5.8 MW, 5.3 ME, Depth: 25.2 mi, Class: Moderate, Intensity: VI – VII) earthquake occurred 47.5 miles away from Kitsap County center

On 5/3/1996 at 04:04:22, a magnitude 5.5 (5.2 MB, 5.3 MD, 5.5 ML, Depth: 2.5 mi) earthquake occurred 44.2 miles away from the county center

On 2/14/1981 at 06:09:27, a magnitude 5.5 (5.1 MB, 4.8 MS, 5.5 ML) earthquake occurred 84.8 miles away from the county center

Magnitude types: body-wave magnitude (MB), duration magnitude (MD), energy magnitude (ME), local magnitude (ML), surface-wave magnitude (MS), moment magnitude (MW)”

Read more: http://www.city-data.com/county/Kitsap_County-WA.html#ixzz1CFUSNERU

A few key points from the outstanding and powerful program put on by Pamela O’Flynn, RRT, MBA Respiratory Care Department, Harrison Medical Center and the American Lung Association’s, Better Breathers (BB) caught my attention.  For a super reference booklet – get the 12-month Preparedness Calendar for the full story.

Contact your local hotels/motels for their pet policy.  Next time, should the generator fail us again, we’ll pack up the dogs and head for a dog friendly hotel and drag the bi-pap and concentrator along.

We were told to pack what we generally eat for our 72 hour Comfort Kit – the total opposite of what I used to pack and take in the mountains during the old horse packing and hiking years.   Food that was lightweight, easy to cook and nutritious for the weight was key in what I chose for such trips…not necessarily what I ate at home.

The difference will show up in our bodily functions – “Eat what the body is used to…” And the interesting Poo Bags were mentioned.

The go anywhere toilet kit includes:

• Waste bag pre-loaded with Poo Powder gelling deodorizing agent.
• Outer zip-close disposal bag.
• Natural odor control and decay catalyst
• 1 hand sanitizer
• 1 toilet paper

I bought mine online at REI, but they are probably sold locally at any of the sports stores.

Our homes should be earthquake proofed including anchoring furniture to the walls. Laura Jull, CEM, CHSP, Emergency Preparedness Coordinator at Harrison Medical Center, uses Museum Wax to anchor down small items to the shelf.

600 thousand pets were never found or missing after Katrina – no one was prepared for the magnitude of the storm.  A lesson learned there carries over here…and provisions are being made for our pets in case of a disaster.

For those on oxygen, bi-pap, c-pap or concentrators, register to be on a Special Needs list and shelter.  Contact the Fire Department and get on the Power Company list.

Contact your Oxygen Company and ask what provisions they have in place for their clients during a disaster.

Additional information and to get your 12-month Preparedness Calendar:

‘Our Better Breathers support group meets quarterly monthly  in the Rose room at Harrison Silverdale. Please call 360-744-6685 for dates and information. ‘   http://www.harrisonmedical.org/home/calendar/4885

Sheriff Boyer is Kitsap County’s emergency coordinator – I hope he/department will see Pam’s Katrina slide presentation and get her viewpoints based on her real life experiences working in a hospital so badly affected during and after Katrina – as were they all badly affected.  Her hard earned insight should prove helpful for that day coming in our future….in my opinion.

I am still unable to get the photos here from this computer … later

More later… Sharon O’Hara