Hello NERO leader,

Please share this update with your NERO group members. THANK YOU for all you do for your neighborhood!

I want to let you know that the Vashon Emergency Operations Center (EOC) team and VashonBePrepared are currently activated to support Vashon during the COVID-19 pandemic, under the direction of Incident Commander VIFR Chief Krimmert. 

Activities include: sharing reliable information with the community, supporting island medical providers, facilitating groups that are organizing to support the community, and looking for ways to help island businesses weather the economic impacts of the pandemic. 

Team members are also communicating to King County Emergency Management with daily situation reports, so the county can more accurately include Vashon’s needs when communicating with Washington state agencies. We are following all guidelines for safety, including holding our meetings via phone and video, not in person.



Stay informed

Sign up for VoV...

Voice of Vashon filmed the March 31 preparedness seminar so you can watch it from home anytime.

Happy Spring! This lovely weather is a reminder that summer block party season is just around the corner. Calendars fill quickly in the mild seasons, but we're eager to help with preparedness activities in your neighborhood, so if you are planning a block party or other neighborhood gathering, and would like any of: a presenter, handouts, visual aids, any other information relevant to your group or neighborhood, please let me know as soon as possible. 



There are numerous Vashon-Maury neighborhoods where folks know each other, but we may not know about you. Please let us know your group's status, and your status as a captain or leader. Is your group still active? (have you gotten together in the past year?) Are you personally still leading your group? Do you have a co-leader/co-captain who would also like to be on the NERO email list? Did you move to a new neighborhood? (Do we have your current address?) Would you like help organizing or reviving your NERO group? Does your neighborhood have specific...

Mark your calendar for this free and informative session

Communication is key

Small classes with limited seats - sign up soon!

VashonAlliedArts.org hosts an important lecturer on earthquakes, coming to Vashon in November.

Best practice: Start small, maybe, but do start.

1) People of mountain villages and island communities may be similarly vulnerable in the event of severe disruption of critical systems and services.
2) Governments and NGOs will be hard-pressed to help, especially in outlying areas.
3) Household and community resilience may make the most difference during rescue, recovery, and rebuilding.

Find me at the NERO table next Saturday.

Twenty-six students completed CERT training; what will they do next?

 

Best practice: train, cross-train, review, practice, drill!

Opportunity for free training from experts in first aid, search and rescue, and other disaster response topics.

(UPDATE: CERT class is now full, but express your interest to get on the list for the next class.)

Best practice: Engaging in community preparedness helps us get better at household preparedness

Best practice: take advantage of good weather to review the basics

Vashon Community Emergency Response Team training opportunity

Best practice: engaging in ongoing, varied and specialized training programs makes participants even more resourceful for supporting their families and neighborhoods

Best practice: keep useful and comfy items in your car, to navigate seasonal surprises

Best practice: communicate periodically via social media or whatever medium suits your group.

Best practice: get informed about local hazards, and how to mitigate them for your home and neighborhood.

Best practice: celebrate milestones together, and reward outstanding accomplishments!

Best practice: laminated map of your NERO, plus colored stickers to designate the status of each household.

Best practice: after an incident, use maps and forms to assess your neighborhood, then call 9-1-1 to report up.

Best practice: have older buildings reviewed by a contractor to make sure they have had seismic (earthquake) retrofits.

Best practice: combine Neighborhood Emergency Response Organizations with Block Watch.

Best practice: meet at least annually with your neighbors, to refresh information and include new residents.

Best practice: invite experts who can help you organize, provide useful tools, and support your efforts.