CAMANO PREPAREDNESS GROUP
Are You Prepared?
Those of us living on Camano know that we live in paradise. Still, even paradise can have its challenges.
Many of us have experienced being stranded, either on the island or unable to return, due to some accident that shuts down the traffic to and from the bridge that is our only access.
Fortunately, the isolation from such events is rare and lasts anywhere from several minutes to perhaps a few hours. What would it be like, however, should our access to the mainland be cut off for a much longer period of time?
Severe weather with dangerous ice could cause the bridges to be shut down for a few days.
A severe accident that blocks the bridge could eliminate our access for a good, long while.
A major earthquake could cut us off for weeks or longer.
How would you fare under such circumstances?
How would you fare if an earthquake also damaged your home and caused injuries to you or someone in your household? Or if said earthquake occurred in the middle of a winter storm?
Ready for Power Being Out?
Stay prepared for Camano Island being isolated
Make sure to have emergency supplies on hand at home and in your vehicle, such as extra batteries, flashlights and food.
Have a battery-powered radio ready to go.
Charge cell phones and mobile devices in case the power goes out.
When the power is out:
Avoid opening and closing refrigerators and freezers more often than necessary. A closed refrigerator will stay cold for up to 12 hours.
Turn off lights and unplug all appliances and sensitive electronic equipment, such as computers, to prevent an overload on your circuits when electric service is restored. Leave one light on to let you know when service returns.
Download the MySnoPUD to track and report outages, check status and get estimated restoration times, or visit Snowhomish PUD Outage Map.
Get additional information on ways you can prepare and more about how power gets restored at: Outage Center – Snohomish County PUD (snopud.com) Snohomish County PUD Outage Map (snopud.com)
Safety first:
Never touch or go within 35 feet of downed power lines because they might be energized. Call Snowhomish PUD at 425-783-1001 or 911 to report problems.
Do not use a charcoal or gas grill to cook indoors. Never use a natural gas range for heating, or charcoal as an indoor heating source. This can cause a buildup of poisonous carbon monoxide gas.
If you choose to use a portable home generator, read the manufacturer’s instructions for the safe operation of the generator. Do not operate generators indoors or in enclosed spaces to avoid the build-up of carbon monoxide.
If you’re using portable heaters, keep them away from furniture, draperies and other flammable materials.
Always use flashlights instead of candles.
CAMANO PREPAREDNESS GROUP 