This beautiful landscape we are lucky to live and work in is not without its unique challenges, including the potential for tsunamis and other natural disasters. That brings us to our “What Would You Do Wednesday?” mini-series of surveys! These short surveys are here to get you thinking about how you might respond during an emergency while providing us with valuable information to improve our disaster preparedness efforts. Every Wednesday until October 4^th, we will launch a new mini-survey. Each week you participate, your name will be entered into a raffle for an 8^th Generation blanket & a $100 gift card. The raffle winner will be announced on October 19^th following the Great Washington Shakeout Statewide Earthquake Drill.

Why Evacuation Orders Are Necessary   Evacuation orders are issued to protect your safety during a disaster, and here’s why:

• Our area is prone to natural hazards, from severe storms to tsunamis. Across the nation, evacuation orders have been issued for incidents like hazardous material spills, natural disasters, and civil unrest.

• Risk Assessment: Authorities carefully assess the risk posed by the disaster. When the threat poses a significant threat to life safety, evacuation or shelter-in-place orders are issued to protect you and your family.

• Unpredictable Nature: Some disasters, like tsunamis, can be unpredictable. Evacuation orders are a proactive measure to reduce harm and protect vital services within the community.

How “What Would You Do Wednesday?” Surveys Help

Our “What Would You Do Wednesday?” mini-series of surveys are designed to engage you and gather valuable insights.

Five Questions or Less: We keep these surveys short and sweet, with just five questions or less each Wednesday. Your input won’t take much time, but it will make a big difference.

Understanding Timing: Your responses help us understand how you might react during an emergency. This information is vital for planning the timing of evacuations to reduce congestion along the route.

Providing Timely Information: By knowing how you might respond, we can provide timely and accurate information to those who need it most, ensuring you receive the guidance you require during a crisis.

Alternative Transportation: Your feedback also helps us ensure that alternative transportation options are available to those in need. We want to make sure everyone in our community can evacuate safely.

Understand What the Community Needs: To provide safe and equitable plans and messaging, we need to understand what barriers exist to identify ways of providing support for those needs during an emergency. Participating in these surveys is not only a chance to reflect on your emergency preparedness but also an opportunity to contribute to the safety of our community. Your insights matter, and they play a vital role in our ongoing efforts to enhance disaster readiness.