GET READY: Regional emergency preparedness sessions

The USGS reports a 6.7 earthquake occurred in Hokkaiddo, Japan on Wednesday, Sept. 5. The National Weather Service says the quake has not produced any tsunami warnings for Oregon or the Pacific Coast.

But officaials said the earthquake is another reminder for Oregonians to be prepared for any such natural disaster.

North Lincoln Fire & Rescue, Lincoln County Emergency Management, NW Natural and the American Red Cross are teaming up to help the public prepare for natural disasters and other emergencies.

Eight “Get Ready” events will be held in Astoria, Camas, Coos Bay, Lincoln City, Oregon City, Salem, The Dalles and Tigard this month. The Lincoln City event is from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m on Sept. 15, at the NLFR St. Claire Station in Taft.

According to a 2017 survey conducted by Portland’s Bureau of Emergency Management, 74 percent of Portlanders believe that a natural disaster is likely in the next ten years. However, similar to other parts of the country, only 52 percent have made an emergency kit for their household.

“We’re offering the basic information and tools needed to get ready for an emergency or natural disaster,” said Daphne Mathew, NW Natural public information officer. “Thinking about widespread damage to the communities where we live and work is unnerving, but preparation is the first step toward survival and eventual recovery.”

Get Ready is free and open to the public. Guests will receive a free lunch, and the first 100 families at each event will receive a starter emergency kit courtesy of NW Natural. Attendees will also have the chance to enter a drawing to win an American Red Cross preparedness kit.

Local fire departments, police departments, and other emergency teams will join the American Red Cross Cascades Region and NW Natural at events on the following dates, times and locations:

Saturday, Sept. 8

Get Ready Astoria – 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Astoria Armory, 1636 Exchange St., Astoria

Get Ready Tigard – 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tigard Street Fair, Main Street, Tigard

Saturday, Sept. 15

Get Ready Lincoln City – 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., 4520 SE Highway 101, Lincoln City

Get Ready Oregon City – 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Danielson Hilltop Mall, 358 Warner Milne Rd., Oregon City

Get Ready Salem – 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Oregon State Capitol, 900 Court Street NE, Salem 

Get Ready The Dalles – 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue, 1400 West 8th Street, The Dalles

Saturday, Sept. 22

Get Ready Camas – 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Parker Street Fire Station 42, 4321 NW Parker St., Camas

Get Ready Coos Bay – 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Coos Bay Fire Station No. 1, 450 Elrod Ave., Coos Bay

Source: https://www.thenewsguard.com/news/get-ready-regional-emergency-preparedness-sessions/article_656ef1d6-b140-11e8-903c-43a502aa2b4c.html