Emergency Preparedness

In 2010 the WHCCA Board of Directors resurrected a volunteer Block Captains program that focuses on within-block communication and neighborhood cohesiveness. Going forward, the WHCCA Board will manage the volunteer group and a board member will serve as official liaison to this group and will facilitate their efforts.

Because emergency preparedness is an important and often neglected activity in any community, the board will also work towards building awareness and work with the city to encourage neighbors to become knowledgeable, trained, and to volunteer for emergency response roles.  The WHCCA board will attempt to maintain a member as liaison with the city and the block captains for issues of emergency preparedness.

WHCCA Emergency Disaster Plan - Actions

List of items assumed to be in each house to meet their own minor first aide needs, and food/water for at least 2 weeks.

  • Fire extinguishers

  • Tylenol for adults (and children if in the household)

  • Toilet paper

  • Paper towels

  • Food

  • Water

WHCCA Emergency Kit

WHCCA board made the emegency kits and block captains (or their delgeagates) store them. Use them in an emergency situation.

  • First aid supplies (bandage, gauze, sanitizer, alchol, gloves)

  • Duct tape, rope, scissors, sharpie

  • Tarps, Emergency blanket

  • Hand crank emergency raido

The kit does not include food and water. Each house still should prepare them as explained above.
 

Overall plan

In case of major disaster affecting our houses.

  • Each block’s residents meet at the Block Captain’s house for assessment and instructions as soon as it is safe. If Block Captain is not home, one of the neighbors needs to step up to organize and coordinate actions that need to be taken.

    • List who has what type of equipment needed for rescue etc.

    • Set up teams as needed

      • Search & Rescue – Pool tools for rescue.

        • Make sure everyone is accounted for and rescue anyone trapped in their house.

      • First Aid – Use first aid supplies from WHCCA emergency kits stored in the Block Captains garages or other locations as designated on the Block Captain Roster.

        • Pool supplies available from homes.

        • Set up Triage to determine seriousness of injuries and treatment needs.

      • Special Needs – Provide comfort/help for elderly and children whose parents are not around or are injured.

        • Identify a house with the least damage to shelter and provide for them.

      • Damage Assessment – which houses are safe/unsafe to stay in and which have functioning utilities.

        • Erect a shelter if necessary, using the tarps with each kit.

      • Communications – between residents and with other blocks – may need to identify runners if communications are out.

      • Safety & Security – Protect neighborhood from intruders/looters around the clock.

  • The WHCCA President (or VP or available Board Member) contact each block captain by phone to establish a meeting time and place, e.g. Lattawood Park Shelter or some other location. If Block Captain cannot be reached, then send a runner(s) to communicate with who has taken charge of each block’s actions.

    • Determinate damage within each block.

    • Determine who has the type of equipment needed to extract someone from their house, first aid etc.

    • Assign resources as needed to the different blocks.

    • Communicate with Bellevue, by phone or runner, our status and needs.