Emergency Preparedness Reminders from Bellevue Police – In the event of a natural disaster such as a serious earthquake, residents need to prepare to be totally on their own without emergency services for at least 3 days – potentially 2 weeks or more.
This is why it is essential that you know what block you live in and who your Block Captain is. These volunteers will coordinate self-sufficiency efforts and know where the Block Emergency Kit is located.
Additionally, neighbors need to be prepared for winter storms and occasional power outages. Keep a supply of candles, flashlights, spare batteries and a battery-operated lantern handy.
WHCCA Emergency Kit
WHCCA board made the emergency kits and block captains (or their delegates) 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.
WHCCA Emergency Disaster 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.
- Search & Rescue – Pool tools for rescue.
- 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.