EARTH (Enabling All. Reaching To Help)

What To Do In An Earthquake: Drop, Cover & Hold On!

2010-02-08T11:20:00.000-08:00

The last western Washington earthquake I was in, I stood from behind my desk and walked over to stand in the doorway. I'd been taught that doorways offer structural protection from falling buildings. Since then, I've learned that many people have lost their fingers doing it (when the Earth's rumblings forced the door to slam shut). That being stated -- we are receiving more data all the time about what best to do during times of disaster, such as earthquake.

HERE'S BETTER, CURRENTLY ACCEPTED STANDARD ADVICE, CIRCULATED BY AMERICAN RED CROSS NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS, FOR STAYING AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE DURING AN EARTHQUAKE

most injuries in U.S. earthquakes occur when people inside buildings attempt to move to a different location inside the building or try to leave. The Red Cross strongly advises against moving (that is, attempting to escape) during the shaking of an earthquake.
The more movement and the longer the distance that a person tries to go, the more likely they are to become injured by falling or flying debris, or by tripping, falling, or getting cut by damaged floors, walls, and items in the path of escape. Most earthquake injuries in the United States are from falling/flying objects not from structure collapses!
Earthquake experts further suggest quickly seeking a place of safety, such as under a sturdy table or desk, and moving as short a distance as possible to that place of safety. Because the research continues to demonstrate that – in the U.S. – “Drop, Cover and Hold On!” works, the American Red Cross continues to back this recommendation. It is the most reliable and easiest method to teach people, including children.

* The above advice is given for the United States (based on the severity of earthquakes that have happened here historically, and based on the building structures we have in this country). It is NOT advice for people living in Haiti, for example, where low income means buildings are not always built to code and were not designed to withstand large earthquakes. So if you are visiting there (SunTIger says, and this is NOT official Red Cross info) you may want to carefully step just outside to stand in a parking lot where nothing can fall on you!

POINT IS: THINK AHEAD! Consider what structure in your home and office (including your child's school) would be safest place to be during an earthquake. You do NOT want to walk far to get to that location. Sometimes standing inside a closet might be the safest place (reinforced area with no windows -- providing the closet has no glass doors).

Be safe. Be well! Be prepared!

FREE Ham Radio Class. Final Exam Costs ONLY $15

2009-11-30T23:06:00.000-08:00

Jan 8-9, 2010, HAM CLASS for Technician License in Bonney Lake!

THANK YOU EARTH member Betty Tanner, KE7NBL, for sharing the following opportunity:

WHAT: Ham Radio Class
- WHO: Coordinator, Donna Pearson, @ ph# (253) 376-4183
- WHEN: call Donna during the early evening hours (she works)
- WHEN? Ham radio classes will be held Fri., Jan 8th, 6:30-9pm & Sat., 9am-3pm.
- FEE: The class is FREE. The $15 test will follow Saturday's classwork at 3:30pm.
- WHAT: Bring your picture ID. No books needed. Donna will send you the first module via email once you call her and register.
- WHERE: SPACE IN BONNIE LAKE IS LIMITED SO CALL TODAY.

GOT HAM?

2009-11-22T10:44:00.000-08:00

EARTH member Betty Tanner (Ham Radio Operator KE7NBL) suggests we all might benefit to study ham radio at this awesome resource on-line. She also suggests there's a group in Bonnie Lake that is going to offer a ham radio class very soon (updates to come). THANK YOU KELLY FOR THIS INFO! Here's the on-line study site: http://www.hamtestonline.com/

BEATING WHATEVER SCARY THING THREATENS OUR COMMUNITY

2009-11-20T11:17:00.000-08:00

article by EARTH organizer & CERT member: Tami Jayne Jackson, who hails from Kent, WA

Denial. It’s an emotional coping mechanism. A lie too many of us embrace anytime words like “tsunami” and “Mt. Rainier exploding” and “climate change” vibrate off our eardrums. We’ve all heard other folks say things like: “It will never happen here,” or “the Howard Hanson Dam flooding won’t be as bad as they say.” Those kinds of sayings help us to relax, to not feel like we must do something to prepare. It gives us permission to simply maintain the status quo. Denial feels so much easier than taking action.

Sadly enough, denial is the strategy that too many New Orleans citizens employed before Hurricane Katrina hit. Too many had not done so much as store enough drinking water to keep their families healthy. Too many learned, the hard way, that emergency and rescue workers are overtaxed and simply cannot help everyone in need during a large scale disaster. Citizens were left to care for their own dead, not to mention deal with their own emergency medical situations.

Local government bodies here in Washington state are also saying “you’ll be on your own” should any large scale catastrophic event hit here. That’s because there simply are not enough rescue workers on the government payroll to handle a very large-scale need. That's why we all, as self-sufficient citizens of the United States, are being asked to take charge and prepare ourselves.

FIRST SURVIVAL HINT: STAY OUT OF THE GOVERNMENT RECOVERY SYSTEM AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE

Thank goodness that Hurricane Katrina is now history. Hindsight from that disaster has taught us a great deal. For one thing, people with guns thrived. The very trucks that were trying to deliver water bottles to the Louisiana Superdome (large government shelter) were often intercepted and the precious water was released to whatever gun-toting civilian or local law enforcement stopped the truck. When people are under duress, all sorts of crazy things happen.

Because you and I are super intelligent, we are thankful for the catastrophic events that have played out in this nation’s past because history educates us to prepare for disaster scenarios. We canNOT merely hide under the blankets pretending there will never be a flood. History proves it’s very foolish to rely on any government vacation plan (shelter scenario) to protect us. Even within those shelter systems, there has not been enough law enforcement available to protect those residents from violent crime. That is why smart people, like you and I, will plan ahead and stay out of the government recovery system as much as possible.

CONSIDER THIS:

It doesn’t take some event of “mass destruction” to completely cripple local traffic and make the most unprepared-sort-of-people act utterly crazy. Just two years ago, when extensive power outages hit Western Washington (an event that earned us the “state of emergency” designation) criminals began stealing presto logs from Safeway and fueling stations could not sell gasoline to motorists due to their lack of electricity. While that was a seemingly small burp compared to the belches most of us visualize when we think of “disaster,” other people acted shamefully, nonetheless. Smart as you and I are, we now realize, mentally and emotionally, that other people will not always act sociable, they may even turn violent, given a bigger frightening event.

TRANSITION FROM DENIAL TO THE NEW PREPARED “NORMAL”

IN LOCAL NEWS: Not only have municipalities in the valley been spending a great deal of time and money to educate those living in the valley about the Howard Hanson Dam concern, but the Green River is expected to flood and cause damage all on its own. If you doubt this is a serious concern, ask yourself why would King County, and other local governments, dole out so much cash and time to give citizens so much information about the flood. Why would so many be filling FREE sandbags if there was no real flooding threat? Why have so many businesses, such as the state’s Department of Social and Health Services, moved out of valley locations, even left downtown Kent, to operate from higher ground such as Federal Way if the threat of flooding is not very real and significant?

In light of the very many potential scenarios that threaten Western Washington today, it’s time you and I make change. We need to pull on our extremely resourceful, laid-back, secret agent MacGyver thinking-caps. After all, we are the very smartest cookies inside this Western Washington cookie-jar. We are going to prepare for anything and if the Howard Hanson Dam scenario turns out to be much less-foreboding than what local municipalities think? Then we’ll already be outfitted for any other disaster scenario that is likely to hit, such as a 9.0 earthquake, a meteorite impact, any sort of pestilence, swine flu outbreak or chemical warfare situation.

PRESSING YOUR NOSE INTO THE TOPIC OF SEWER

When the water and sewer systems are cut off, long-term, given the likely potential there will be breakages in the lines and what-not, you and I need to conserve water and we cannot do that if we’re bathing by hot shower or tub-submersion. First off, in a disaster situation, there's simply a lack of clean water. That's why Ray Gross, presenter of a recent disaster preparedness meeting in Federal Way called “Beyond 72 Hours,” suggested we change our way of thinking about hygiene. “Wash anywhere you have hair,” he said. While Gross emphasized the importance of keeping hand-wipes in any survival kit for this purpose, he said that washing the hairiest body parts are most important for survival, since that’s where bacteria are most likely to multiply, grow, and offend the noses of others. The only thing I would add to Gross’s suggestion, since I had a brother with particularly smelly feet, is that some people will also want to use those hand-wipes to kill whatever’s growing under their socks as well.

Cleanliness being a priority for many of us, Gross also presented a plethora of other hints for thriving in any flooding scenario. Seems anytime there’s been extensive flooding situation, historically, mosquitoes and other vermin have multiplied and they spread disease. Maybe the mosquitoes won’t be able to attack during the middle of winter, but come spring, with extra moisture everywhere, they’ll be making their presence known then. With our trusty MacGyver thinking-caps, you and I suddenly realize it might be a good idea to add bug-repellant and rodent traps to our emergency supply kits.

YOU SAY YOU OWN WHAT?

The exigencies of any disaster scenario create the obvious potential for economic and societal breakdown. One of the biggest difficulties that people enduring Hurricane Katrina faced was being able to prove that they owned certain property after such homes had been completely demolished. With our trusty thinking-caps on, you and I realize it might be a good idea to keep copies of important papers that identify what we own, exactly, in some safe location outside our individual homes.

Proof of ownership will become important if our possessions are ever destroyed by other potential disasters too, such as fire, excessive lava flow or by a cyclone (like the one featured in the Wizard of Oz). After a great loss of all your material goods, if you cannot prove ownership of property, your insurance and FEMA will very likely not be able to help you recuperate from your losses. That’s what folks in New Orleans learned the hard way.

MORE DEBILITATING THAN A LOST SET OF CAR KEYS

In the aftermath of any flooding situation, certain supplies become very expensive and hard to find. That’s because a sudden and unexpected demand for materials will typically exceed the current supply on hand. After a disaster, this “need for supplies” often involves construction items such as new drywall. With our MacGyver thinking-caps, anyone living in the flood-plane might also decide to stock up on snow-shovels (for moving mud out of a home or garage) and disinfectants and antiseptic-cleaning supplies for killing mold, mildew and combating any germs spread by sewer that may have backed up inside a home.

Sadly enough, I met a woman who had been flooded out of her home in Pacific last year. To date she has not been allowed to move back home. So when you plan for any kind of disaster, imagine how you will survive, financially, if you must relocate permanently.

PLAN FOR YOUR PETS

From the flooding situations that happened in down around Olympia and Chehalis, in recent years, we have been saddened to learn how few people planned for evacuating their pets. Too many locked their horses and cows up in their barns and when the family evacuated, some of those large animals were left to drown. Others decided to let their pets run loose and horses were hit by emergency response vehicles and other traffic. Hindsight shows that dogs and cats released during catastrophic events cannot find their way back home when familiar land-marks disappear. Sadly, when other people and pets grew hungry, such pets have been eaten like mere vegetables.

While the City of Auburn has arranged to lease the now vacant (former Target store) building, up on the Federal Way hill, as a potential shelter for people flooded out of their homes, family pets will not be allowed to stay in the same shelter as humans. Instead, all pets will be kept inside their carriers at another nearby structure. Pets not in carriers will not be admitted to the shelter. With our MacGyver thinking caps, you and I realize we need to keep enough carriers on-hand to accommodate each and every pet we own. This will not only help if we accept residence provided by that government vacation plan, on the hill, but it will also help when we do the much smarter thing and evacuate to some friend’s home, outside our immediate area, instead.

While you and I are now planning ahead to store one gallon of water, per person, per supposed day of the disaster-need, we are also storing one gallon of drinking water per day for each and every pet we own. That’s because we realize our faithful and beloved feathered or fur-family member (those who will look like mere vermin to others if we release them to defend themselves) will not survive if we do not plan for them.

TO PREPARE YOURSELF

Consider getting trained, locally, by contacting your local Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) or your Neighborhood Emergency Team (NET). The Red Cross also trains volunteers in emergency response. Google search any or all of these programs to learn of training opportunities nearest you. Also consider FEMA training, provided on-line:http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/downloads/IndependentStudyFlyer0508.pdf

HELPFUL WEBSITE INFORMATION

One thing you and I do, since we are very laid back and very smart, is we think ahead to PREPARE our families and pets for any potential cataclysm. Here are some very thought-provoking websites to help.

· Washington state’s check-list for emergency supplies: http://www.doh.wa.gov/phepr/handbook/hbk_pdf/list.pdf

· U.S. Senator Patty Murray’s Family Preparedness Website: http://murray.senate.gov/preparedness/ (scroll down for many helpful links)

· Handy forms to help plan ahead (family preparedness): http://www.pep-c.org/nss-folder/individualfamilypreparedness

· On the topic of FOOD STORAGE (a few websites)

o http://foodstoragemadeeasy.net/

o http://www.theemergencylady.com/food_storage/

o http://home.cablelynx.com/~K5WTH/Food%20Storage%20and%20Preparedness.htm

· Good website regarding canned good shelf life and stamped code decoder http://www.y2kkitchen.com/html/can_code_decoder.html

· MY FAVORITE resource. Utilizing the SUN to purify water! http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4786216.stm

GOING MUCH DEEPER: BOOKS (recommended by a local police officer)!

Author and Survivalist Joel M. Skousen, grew up in Oregon and later served as a USMC fighter pilot during the Vietnam war. He wrote many books specializing in preparedness. Here are a few titles: Essential Principles for the Conservation of Liberty, Strategic Relocation—North American Guide to Safe Places, The Secure Home, Survival Home Manual: Architectural Design, Construction, Remodeling Of Self-Sufficient Residences and Retreats, and How to Implement a High Security Shelter in the Home. Here’s his website: with links for preparing for a biological terrorist attack: http://www.joelskousen.com/

* NOTE: This article may be circulated freely so long as the author's name is kept in tact with the report. To contact Tami send email to tjaynejackson@yahoo.com.

Wanna Make A Foodbank Donation In Earth's Name?

2009-11-11T17:01:00.000-08:00

Debbie Christian, from Auburn Food Bank, stated we, as a group of Pagan volunteers, may now make financial donations under EARTH's name and have our group receive credit. The Food Bank, due to its many networking connections, is able to stretch any $1 donated into $5 worth of food. This kind of donation will come in very handy during any disaster scenario -- as it really serves a most basic human need.

3 WAYS TO DONATE: {BE CERTAIN TO MAKE DONATIONS ON BEHALF OF EARTH}

Online: http://www.skcfc.org/theauburnfoodbank
Mail hard-copy check: Auburn Food Bank, PO Box 464, Auburn, WA 98071
Credit card payments over the phone: ask for Gretchen at 253-804-5696

Please let EARTH members know if you have any difficulty whatsoever by communicating how smoothly your transaction went (communicate here or leave a comment on FaceBook). EARTH has been told this will be a very smooth transaction for all EARTH members.

Nov. 18 Training & Hyperlinks [Provided By Mary Peterson (Des Moines)]

2009-11-09T08:45:00.000-08:00

Disaster survival presentation: November 18, 2009

The City of Federal Way Emergency Management Division will give a presentation on disaster survival beyond 72 hours from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. on Nov. 18 at City Hall, 33325 8^th Ave S., in Council Chambers.

Topics include:

Possible catastrophic events to consider
Long term food storage ideas
Water storage & alternative sources
Long term health and hygiene concerns
Long term preparedness and protective actions

The City of Federal Way is hosting the presentation and requests that you RSVP for the presentation. To RSVP or for more information, contact Ray Gross,ray.gross@cityoffederalway.com, 253.835.2712.

Please forward to anyone you think may be interested.

Mary Peterson also provided these helpful/related hyperlinks.

Fire Extinguisher web info

http://www.fireextinguisher.com/intro.html?language=en&industry=other

FEMA Emergency Management Institute (online independent study courses)

http://training.fema.gov/IS/crslist.asp

RED CROSS TRAINING/RECRUITING VOLUNTEERS

2009-11-03T09:24:00.000-08:00

Note to EARTH members: Please realize there are TWO separate postings today. If this Red Cross opportunity does not appeal to you, perhaps the next City of Auburn disaster response opportunity will. Blessings! ~ SunTiger (on FaceBook. Search SunTiger@usa.com). EARTH is on FaceBook as well! Search Earth@post.com!

Red Cross Recruiting ReserveCorps Volunteers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 2, 2009

Contact:Katherine Boury, Red Cross
(206) 726-3547

SEATTLE - November 2, 2009 - This year there is the potential for significant flooding in the Green River Valley so the American Red Cross Serving King & Kitsap Counties is looking for volunteers to become trained now as a ReserveCorps shelter volunteer so they will be ready to respond during flood season. ReserveCorps shelter classes will be held on Nov. 14 and Dec. 5.

Volunteers must submit an online application before attending the free, day-long shelter training. A free background check will be part of the training. “We are looking for volunteer shelter workers for larger scale disaster responses because we know that there is a higher risk for flooding in the Green River Valley this year,” said American Red Cross Serving King & Kitsap Counties Volunteer Manager Ivy Davis Zolle. “Since we have started this program in October, we’ve had a tremendous response. By taking steps to be trained before flood season means volunteers will be ready to respond quickly to a disaster.”

ReserveCorps is a component of the American Red Cross program Ready When the Time Comes (RWTC) which prepares teams of “reserve” Red Cross volunteers to be ready to help during a local, large-scale disaster. For more information please go to www.seattleredcross.org.

For more information about becoming a ReserveCorps please visit our web site at www.seattleredcross.org or call 206-726- 3566 or 360-377-3761.

###

Dana Hinman, Communications Manager
City of Auburn
25 West Main Street
Auburn, WA 98001-4998
253-931-4009 (office)
253-266-2787 (cell)
253-288-3132 (fax)
www.auburnwa.gov
Follow us on Twitter: @coaupdates

Sandbaggers Needed Sat., Nov. 14th, 8a.m. - 4 p.m

2009-11-03T07:58:00.000-08:00

Call to EARTH volunteers! Help all or any part of this physically challenging day! Stack sandbags to protect 650 feet of levee in Auburn.see info below. Remember, when you sign your name on the volunteer list, put "your name/EARTH" after it!

HERE's THE PRESS RELEASE:

We are calling on all volunteers to help out your fellow community members in this time of need. There is a section of the levee that can not be sandbagged by the big trucks, there is no access for them, so we need man(woman)power to help protect the city. The area is at the 8^th ST NE bridge, going for 650 ft North of there, it will take approximately 12,500 sandbags to fill this section.

This operation will be held on November 14^th from 8am-4pm. We will be running in shifts of about 2 hours but you are welcome to stay longer if you want to.

The jobs we need filled are for Reception Center , Site Supervisors, Drivers (must be credentialed volunteer and have driving record with us.), and Sandbaggers. The sandbagging portion will require physical labor, but the good part is that the bags will all be PRE-FILLED!

The city and community really need our help, so please volunteer if you can. Also, if you know of any groups that would be helpful please help us get in contact with them. The only stipulation is that people helping must be at least 14 years old. Again, thank you so much, and please let me know as soon as possible if you can help and which area you would like to help in.

Heather Kitchen

253-876-1992

hkitchen@auburnwa.gov

Want CERT training? {Self-Pay Opportunity - Quick & Dirty - December 4-6}

2009-10-28T14:14:00.001-07:00

Working in disaster relief TOGETHER means we see the big picture. We realize that we, as Pagans working collectively, can make a much more powerful and organized impact than when we simply promote our individual covens or personal interests on our own. We who are solitaries, when we work together with all local covens, show how very amicable and organized we as Pagans truly are.

The more Pagans who get trained in Community Emergency Response, the more members who can respond to more dire situations when they arise. Being trained means you receive volunteer notices directly (and you can then can turn around to help keep our members informed).

EARTH member Sarah Reid (of TERRA fame) learned of a 3-day training opportunity for those willing to self-pay to become a Community Emergency Response Team
member as soon as possible.

For a mere $45 tution, you can earn your CERT credentials December 4-6, 2009: Contact Sarah K. Miller, city of Auburn, at skmiller@auburnwa.gov. That's Sarah K. Miller, Auburn Emergency Management, Attn: Training, 340 E Main St., Suite 201, Auburn, WA 98002. Make checks payable to WRVCCC.

This proposed training opportunity is a "quick and dirty" concentrated version to give you the skills you need to provide First Aid and do collapsed building search and rescue in just one extended weekend.

Love and light,
~ SunTiger

Reminder: Keep your eyes and ears open for volunteer events (in disaster preparation or relief) and notify EARTH at http://paganresponders.blogspot.com/ so we can share that information with our members. Please also keep this network of Pagans abreast of any training opportunities in Ham Radio, emergency response, and first aid.

EARTH is now on FaceBook!

2009-10-28T09:24:00.000-07:00

To network with EARTH via FaceBook, make a friend request! {To find us, search earth@post.com!}

Update On The Volunteer - Sandbagging Opportunities

2009-10-25T10:47:00.000-07:00

Sandbagging volunteer efforts are available in Auburn, Kent, Renton and Tukwila right now. Contact those local Fire Departments or call the CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) coordinator to learn exactly where you can check in to volunteer. Otherwise, feel free to just show up at one of the locations listed below in the press release sent out by the City of Auburn. (Note: the Les Grove location is actually just south of the park in the old YMCA parking lot. It took me a while to find that fill site location because tall evergreen hedges hide the event from the park's view).

When you, as a Pagan, sign in for your volunteer effort, please write your name followed by a dash and the acronym EARTH. (For example, when I signed in to volunteer at the filling sight, I wrote my name as Tami Jayne Jackson/EARTH. This is simply one very easy way to begin giving credit for your volunteer hours to our collective Pagan volunteer efforts.

* Sandbagging provides a legitimate full-body physical workout. My legs are incredibly sore today (but they will stop hurting as soon as the pain goes away) :D

TIPS FOR SANDBAG VOLUNTEERS:
* Those less-abled might volunteer to tie the sandbags closed (wear some sort of thin rubber gloves if you do that as tying the bag-ties truly make the fingers go raw after a while). Those less-abled might also volunteer to greet customers, advising them how to sign in, what pile of empty sandbags to collect and where to go.
* Instead of squatting long-term to tie sandbags closed, grab an already sealed sand-bag and sit upon it. (This will save your knees and be easier on your back.)
* Use proper lifting techniques for hoisting and carrying sandbags
* Never give customers advice on how to load their vehicles. Watch how the weight of the sandbags affects their back tires (some folks try hauling too much weight for their cars and that can cause damage to their vehicle, not to mention affect their driving ability)
* Bring a shovel if you have one (there were a few times when customers needing sandbags showed up without them and the city didn't have enough on site so folks were waiting).
* Pack a lunch and bring water and/or a Gatorade-type drink (or you'll wish you had).

I found that during the 5 hours I volunteered yesterday I was taking turns shoveling sand, holding sandbags open for other shovels, tying sandbags closed and carrying heavy sandbags to load in vehicles. At the start of the day I was carrying two bags at a time. By the end of those five hours I was so tired I only carried one at a time. {Hint: PACE YOURSELF!}

From The City Of Auburn . . . EARTH Members Want To Move Sandbags?

2009-10-23T16:43:00.001-07:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 23, 2009

Contact:

Sarah Miller, Emergency Preparedness Manager

City of Auburn

253-876-1925

Jerry Larson, Pastor

His Ministry

253-315-950

AUBURN , Wash. - October 23, 2009 - In cooperation with the City of Auburn , His Ministry, a local non-profit organization, will be coordinating delivery of sandbags to residents of the city of Auburn who are unable to physically move their own. Volunteers with suitable vehicles are also being sought to deliver the sandbags.

Those requesting sandbag delivery, along with those volunteering to make deliveries, should call His Ministry at 253-315-9570. His Ministry will then coordinate deliveries between residents and drivers.

Bags will continue to be available from the City of Auburn on a set schedule:

Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 12 p.m. until dusk.
- Les Gove Community Campus, 910 Ninth St. SE. Sandbags will be located at the SE corner of the park, accessible from 12th St.
Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at two locations.
- Les Gove Community Campus, 910 Ninth St. SE. Sandbags will be located at the SE corner of the park, accessible from 12th St .
- Fulmer Field, 5th and K St. NE. Sandbags will be located in the parking lot.

Questions can be directed to City of Auburn Emergency Management at 253-876-1925 or to His Ministry at 253-315-9570.

# # #

City of Auburn
25 W Main St.
Auburn , WA 98001

Report On Western Washington Expected Flooding . . .

2009-10-23T14:38:00.001-07:00

Posted by Tami Jackson, EARTH member

Yesterday, the City of Auburn, Washington, hosted a meeting with the White River Valley Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD) for volunteer emergency response organizations like ours. The topic was "How Can You Help: Preparing for the Upcoming Flood Season." Four EARTH members, Sarah, Teri, Jerry and Tami met inside Auburn City Hall, 25 W Main St.

Auburn's Mayor Peter B. Lewis opened the meeting by stating that all those businesses and residents living in the South King County Valley, in Auburn, Kent, Renton and Tukwila, represent "the canary in the mine" for the rest of this Evergreen state. Those residents and businesses will be the ones most likely to suffer significant losses (think abandoned buildings, lost jobs, businesses closing, sanitation issues) given a typical heavy rain season this fall. That's because the Howard Hansen dam is cracked and water will be released if too much pressure arises.

SOMEWHAT SHOCKING NEWS

While volunteers are desperately needed for containment efforts (e.g., volunteer sandbagging is now in place) those sandbags will likely be visible for five years to come. That's because NOTHING IS PLANNED FOR REPAIRING THE DAM in these upcoming five years and five years of valley flooding is now realistically expected!

FIRST THINGS FIRST: HOW TO PREPARE

Local officials are asking us all to gear up for life-changing events. When flooding disasters play out in a community, those volunteer organizations that provide housing for victims need to provide such service for at LEAST three weeks.

At the meeting, EARTH member Tami Jackson met a woman from the Seventh-day Adventist Community Services effort, named Rose, who had been flooded out of her home in Algona last year. To date Rose has STILL not been allowed reentry (due to flood damage). Clearly, given the current dam and heavy rain scenario, many people may become homeless long-term.

Again, the governing officials are urging us all to gear up for significant impact. There are three phases to any flood scenario.

Pre-disaster (where we all are right now - planning and preparing)
Disaster (mass evacuation)
After disaster (when so many businesses close, people lose their jobs, affected residents become homeless, clean-up efforts ensue)

The question all participating rescue volunteers are now asking is "What will it take to support flood victims for the long haul." Certainly services will be required for housing people and pets. After the flood, a need for volunteers willing to shovel mud out of damaged homes will arise. A big concern is the probably lack of building supplies (such as drywall) that is expected to arise after hundreds of thousands in a community begin making the same demands for limited materials.

Auburn's Emergency Preparedness Manager, Sarah K. Miller, urges all groups (like EARTH) who offer support to remain highly accountable to that commitment. Whatever services, materials or support efforts we volunteer -- we MUST provide.

VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION

Christian groups are volunteering to provide housing and shelter for their "own people." That begs this Pagan group to ask: "What resources can we make available for fellow Pagans affected by the predicted floods?"

According to Miller, from the thousands all those whom predictions say will be evacuated, 10% will end up living in shelter-type situations. Sheltering creates a necessity for volunteer-efforts in management. Note: Miller also stated that roughly 7,000 people live in Auburn's flood region. 10,000 live in Kent. 20,000 live in Renton and even more live in Tukwila.

While many private insurance companies are refusing to provide flood insurance, FEMA still offers that service.
Any complaints about a private insurance company that drops a flood plane (business or residential home coverage) can be filed with the Washington State Insurance Commission.
With the Hansen Dam scenario -- a mere 24 hour notice will be provided for evacuation.
Flood victim-pets may go to a shelter but they will have to be crated and placed in a nearby building away from other owners. [Exception: working animals that help the less-abled will be allowed to stay with their owner.]

MORE ON RELIEF EFFORTS THAT WILL BE NEEDED AFTER DISASTER HITS

While the Red Cross provides some mental health care after any given disaster-type scenario, for those living in shelters, much concern was made about the need for faith based groups to help those individuals who fall through the cracks and do not pursue refuge in shelter type scenarios.

Miller expressed a desperate need to offer mental health care to those victims who are NOT members of any particular faith-based organization. [That is where EARTH's agreement to begin launching the CISM effort will come in handy.]

HOW DO WE REACH OUT TO NON-ENGLISH-SPEAKING PEOPLE

Pagan volunteers who speak more than one language will be highly valued as an important resource; on an ongoing basis (for communicating preparation/evacuation information and for helping after disaster strikes to get people the exact care they really need).

CALL FOR MONEY [HELP FOR DISASTER VICTIMS]

Miller stated that donating "stuff" for disaster relief is not usually very effective. Too often "stuff" requires someone to manage and store the goods; then, when the disaster strikes, what was donated is not always appropriate for filling the current need. Volunteer groups are now being asked to consider how they can raise money for disaster relief victims. The Food Bank representative stated that, due to her organizations connections, one dollar donated to them results in five dollars worth of food provided to those in need. Other charitable organizations that accept cash for disaster relief include the Red Cross and Salvation Army.

If individuals want to begin stocking supplies to share after any flood disaster scenario -- Miller suggested they stock cleaning supplies (bleach, disinfectants especially).

10/21/09 Something Pagans Need To Know About Volunteer Emergency Response Efforts

2009-10-23T14:37:00.001-07:00

Almost two years ago, I attended a state-run critical incident response training event over on the Peninsula along with a plethora of Christian chaplains. All of us were offered continuing education credits that qualified us to counsel people in times of deep crisis. An issue of concern arose for me when this government-funded group repeatedly promoted one religion; exclusively. I realized, after hearing many public prayers to a deity that not even the Jews acknowledge, that many citizens in our communities would not feel comforted by having a devout Christian attempting to counsel them; especially not if they were already enduring some serious environmental crisis. (Indigenous cultures, for one example, have historically been grossly oppressed by the Christian communities.)

Naturally, I asked the trainers why there was no representation (on this state level) from other religious communities. There were no Jewish leaders, nobody from the Muslim faith. No Atheists or agnostics. As far as I could tell (and classroom discussion seemed to confirm this) I represented the only alternative religion there.

The Christian chaplains obviously saw no issue with this -- not even after I explained that the communities we live in and serve are very diverse. Disregarding anything I had to say on the topic, the chaplains kept insisting they were open-minded enough to counsel anybody.

Meanwhile, they kept offering up their public prayers and one particularly vocal chaplain cornered me at break time. He told me a story I will never forget. Seems he had met a Wiccan {just once}!

His story droned on to sadly explain that the witch refused to give him entry into her house when he responded to an emergency call that he had heard over the fire station's radio. "I'm sorry you had a negative experience," I admitted, sincerely. Then the chaplain went on to explain that the woman was a total nut-job who had just killed her mother. {That story clearly defined what he thought about Pagans.}

While many different stories of Christian ministers who molest children came to my mind, I bit my tongue and excused myself from divulging such undesirable information. After all, it would not have helped me make friends in that environment. Meanwhile, my experiences were to the point where I realized that I had better start a revolution. That's why I began making contact with the governing powers that be and learned they would welcome outside groups with open arms. I’m hoping, desperately, that we as Pagans can work together as one unit in this regard. To form a phone tree, an email broadcast effort perhaps – just get better connected with one another to show we really do care about our community.

This really is a powerful opportunity to put our Pagan community in the municipal limelight. This Thursday is the first opportunity that’s arisen for showing up as a group. This is why I began sending out announcements to my community a few weeks ago. I'm asking for participation in a collective effort. I hope, if you cannot attend Thursday’s meeting, that you will at least send me your contact information so you can be called and made aware of future opportunities to serve our communities during times of crisis.

Please let me know if you would like to be added to that list. United we will change the way we are seen by local governments. Divided we will falter and fail. Lets network and get better connected. Please feel free to forward this message to any party you feel would benefit from the sharing.