Get Prepared for Emergencies

September is National Preparedness Month - Take some time to prepare NOW and weather the next storm more comfortably

Oregonians are experiencing more frequent and more extreme wildfires, floods, heat, and winter storms. It’s not a matter of IF anymore, it’s a matter of WHEN the next event happens. In West Linn we have all endured these extreme weather events in recent years and it is time to get better prepared before the next one strikes. The increasing threat of a large Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake in our region also remains a real risk that is worth preparing for. September is National Preparedness Month and we ask that you consider taking some time to prepare yourself, your family and your neighbors (especially those who are elderly or vulnerable) to be able to weather these emergency events more comfortably. Have an emergency plan and enough food, water and necessary supplies for everyone in the household, including pets, to survive for at least two weeks following any large-scale disaster. While this might seem overwhelming, there are many effective low-cost and no-cost actions people can take today to be ready.

Stay Informed:

• Sign up for local emergency alerts for critical information during an event
• Follow the City’s Facebook, Instagram and website for regular updates during emergency events

Make a Plan:

• Develop an emergency plan that covers sheltering, evacuating, communicating and reconnecting.
• Plan for pets and livestock.
• Talk to your neighbors about sharing supplies and who might need extra help, like elderly or disabled neighbors.

Build a Kit:

• Gather two weeks' worth of food, water and critical supplies for each person and pet, including food, water, medication, flashlights, extra batteries, phone chargers and more.
• Visit ready.gov/kit or the American Red Cross for recommended emergency kit items.
• Make copies of important documents you’d need to get your life back on track after a disaster; scan or take photos of this information and store it in a password-protected online drive or on a flash drive in a waterproof container and keep it with your emergency kit.
• Keep your supplies in an easy-to-carry backpack, bucket or bag that you can use at home or take with you in an emergency. Everyone's kit will look different. There’s no one correct way to put together two weeks' worth of supplies since everyone has different needs.

Get Prepared