FREE Disaster Preparedness Classes

There are a couple of great disaster preparedness classes coming up at the Kelso Library this spring!  Join Tricia Hornbeck on April 29th at 6:00 p.m. at the Kelso Library for a class on creating disaster supply kits, sheltering in place, cooking without electricity and more!  Come back on May 6th at 6:00 p.m. to learn all about creating a food storage plan, what to store, how to store it and how to make food your family might actually enjoy even in a time of disaster!

To register, please visit the Kelso Library or call them at 423-8110.

Thrive Away from Home

Another great preparedness class is coming up!  RSVP today for the upcoming "Thrive Away from Home" seminar from disaster preparedness specialist Marcie Maynes.  Topics addressed include:

Car and Office Planning:  What do I do if an emergency or disaster occurs when I am in my car or at work and I can't get home?

Personal Evacuation Procedures:  How can I carry all the supplies I need to thrive during a disaster?  What if I have physical limitations or a disability?

Sanitation:  How can I create a portable privacy shelter?

Family Reunification Planning:  When an emergency occurs, and I am away from home, how do I find or communicate with my family?

Evacuation with Pets:  How do I evacuate with my pets and where can I go?  What if I can't get home to care for them?

All of these questions will be addressed, as well as a bunch more fantastic and useful information.  Marcie's classes are always fun and informative and this one is even FREE!  The class will be held on March 7th at the PUD Auditorium in Longview (961 12th Avenue) from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Join us for prizes, refreshments and more information than you can shake a stick at.  (I never tire of that mental image).  Please RSVP as space is limited.  Email DEM@co.cowlitz.wa.us or call us at 577-3130.

Map Your Neighborhood

If there was a major earthquake at 3:00 a.m. tomorrow morning (HYPOTHETICALLY, if there really is one tomorrow I apologize in advance) who would be the first people to help you if you needed it?  I'd say it's a pretty safe bet that your neighbors will be the first ones who are able to assist you should you need some help. 

Why not take a little time now to help get your neighbors prepared for disaster?  Working together as a team and contributing as an individual helps develop a stronger community.

The good news is there is already a successful program in place to help you lead a neighborhood meeting, including handouts, guides and a DVD so you don't even have to actually speak to anyone if that's not your thing. 

Come to the Map Your Neighborhood Training Class and learn all about it.  This class is free and will teach you:

• 9 steps to take immediately following a disaster
• How to develop a neighborhood skills and equipment inventory
• How to work together as a team to evaluate your neighborhood after a disaster
• And lots more

The class will be held on February 21st at the General Meeting Room (3rd Floor) in the Cowlitz County Administration Building at 207 N. 4th Avenue in Kelso.  There will be one offering from Noon to 1:00 p.m. and another from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

To RSVP email Jennifer Engkraf at EngkrafJ@co.cowlitz.wa.us or call 577-3130. 

Community Meeting Notice

You are invited to a Community Meeting with Sheriff Mark Nelson.  Topics to discuss include:

• Review of Sheriff's Office current status
• Community Safety
• Emergency Preparedness
• Law Enforcement in West Longview
• Mutual Aid/Annexation
• Question and Answer session

The meeting will be held at Mt. Solo Middle School on February 25th from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.  If you have questions, please contact Samantha Thompson at (360) 577-3092.

3.6 magnitude EQ in Clark County

A moderate earthquake shook up Clark County at 5:30 p.m. today.  Here's KGW's write-up: http://www.katu.com/news/Moderate-earthquake-felt-in-SW-Wash-189116931.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter.

Soooo.....are you interested in learning more about earthquake preparedness?  Lucky for you there is an amazing opportunity coming your way on February 7th at 6:30 p.m. at the PUD Auditorium in Longview (961 12th Avenue).  Come listen to earthquake expert James Roddey talk about how to be prepared and what our area is facing with regard to earthquake threats.

If you are interested in attending, PLEASE RSVP as space is limited.  Email DEM@co.cowlitz.wa.us to RSVP.

Communications Academy 2013

Are you a HAM radio operator?  Do you want to be?  The 2013 Communications Academy is open to anyone with an interest in emergency communications, volunteer or professional. 

The academy will be held on April 13th and 14th at the South Seattle Community College Campus in Seattle.  To read more about it click here:  http://www.commacademy.org/

So You Survived the Mayan Apocalypse...Now What?

Come join us for a GREAT presentation about preparing for disasters, specifically earthquakes, from speaker James Roddey.  Roddey is an award winning author, director and natural hazards expert.  He has discussed natural disasters and preparedness on CNN, The CBS Evening News, NPR and more.  He is currently the Director of ReadySetPrepare, which offers consultation services and motivational presentations on building resilient communities, and disaster readiness for businesses and families.

Cowlitz County DEM has booked Mr. Roddey for a presentation on February 7th from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the PUD Auditorium (961 12th Avenue in Longview).  Admission is FREE!  There will be door prizes, information booths and tons of great information.

Space is limited, so RSVP's are appreciated.  For more information or to reserve your seat, please email Jennifer Engkraf at EngkrafJ@co.cowlitz.wa.us. 

Ham Exam

Note: Walk-ins No Longer Allowed - Pre-Registration Required (See Details Below)
• LCARA Clubhouse: 966 Lone Oak Rd., Longview WA
• 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
• Exam Fee: $15.00 (Cash Only!)
• First-time license or upgrades: Technician, General and Extra class exams will be given.
• Bring original and photocopy of radio license, original and photocopies of pending CSCEs, picture ID, and a calculator
• Pre-registration required. Contact Judi, K7HRW, at robinsaj@comcast.net for information or to register.
• Pre-exam study online: http://www.qrz.com/
(You have to sign up for a free account to access the practice exams.)
• Free Refreshments!

Skywarn Weather Spotter Training

Don't forget, there will be a FREE Skywarn Weather Spotter Training on November 15th. The National Weather Services teaches this class periodically to people with an interest in severe weather spotting. The Skywarn program is voluntary, you will be trained on weather events similar to those listed in the Severe Weather Spotter Guide, and you may have the opportunity to call in several times a month depending on the weather pattern in your area.

The National Weather Service may also call you for "ground truth" as to what is actually happening near your house. Most likely their call would be to confirm an element of potentially severe thunderstorms, like large hail, or damaging wind. Other calls may be to verify heavy snowfall or peak wind speed associated with large winter storms.

The class will be held in Kelso on Tuesday, November 15th from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Cowlitz County Search & Rescue Rizad Building at 1800 Western Lane.
To register for the Cowlitz County class, please call 577-3130 or email DEM@co.cowlitz.wa.us.

Flood Fight Class

From our friends at CRESA:
On Tuesday, November 1, there will be two unique opportunities to learn or refresh your skills on being prepared to actively fight floods in Clark County. Les Miller, from the Army Corps of Engineers, will be providing classroom and hands-on instruction on how to fill, haul and properly place sandbags. Classes will be held from 2-4 pm and 6-8 pm at the Clark County Public Works facility at 4700 NE 78th ST, Vancouver, WA 98665.

This class is good for any community member, volunteer or first responder. If you plan to attend this class, we encourage you to dress in appropriate clothing for the weather, including work gloves and good footwear as you will be outside for portions of this class. It is also helpful to bring your own shovel. This event will be held RAIN or SHINE and there is no need to pre-register. Just show up and learn how to help yourself or help someone else.

Psychological First Aid II Class

The second installment of the Psychological First Aid class will be held Thursday, November 3rd from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the General Meeting Room (3rd Floor) of the Cowlitz County Administration Bldg (207 N. 4th Avenue in Kelso).

You need to have taken either Psychological First Aid Part I or CERT Disaster Psychology as a prerequisite for this class.

If you are interested, please call us at 577-3130 or email DEM@co.cowlitz.wa.us to sign up.

CERT classes coming up!

Are you interested in FREE disaster preparedness and response training? Of course you are. Cowlitz County DEM will be holding our next CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) training the first three Saturdays in June at the fire station on 415 Todd Road in Kalama. This is very thorough, very intense training and when you’ve completed it, you will be trained in disaster first aid, terrorism awareness, fire suppression and much more, all at NO COST! After completion of the training, you can choose to become an emergency worker and help our community following a disaster.

The classes will be held in Kalama at the fire station at 415 Todd Rd from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on the first 3 Saturdays in June. If you are interested in attending you MUST register with our office. Please call 577-3130 or email DEM@co.cowlitz.wa.us to get signed up.

Map Your Neighborhood

Map Your Neighborhood is a simple program that greatly increases your safety immediately following a disaster. “Map Your Neighborhood” (MYN) is a program designed to help neighborhoods prepare for disasters.

A single disaster causes many individual emergencies at one time. Unfortunately, the police or fire department may not be able to respond to your call for help in a timely manner. Fire departments are mandated to perform Damage Assessments of their entire districts and then to respond to the situations where crews can do the greatest good for the greatest number of people.

Professional emergency response to your situation may be delayed for hours, even days. Of necessity, you and your neighbors become the first responders to your emergencies.

Preparing your neighborhood is vital. Neighbors that are prepared are more effective in their response to a disaster and have an increased capacity to be self-sufficient for the first 72 hours after a disaster. Neighborhoods that are prepared for emergencies and disaster situations save lives, reduce the severity of injuries and trauma, and reduce property damage. In addition, working together as a team and contributing as an individual develops stronger communities.

There will be a FREE Map Your Neighborhood class offered on March 4th from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the LifeWorks Building at 906 New York Avenue in Longview. You will receive all the information and materials to help get your neighborhood prepared for a disaster. Participants will learn:

* The 9 steps to take immediately following a disaster
* How to develop invitations and an agenda for a neighborhood meeting
* How to develop a neighborhood skills and equipment inventory
* How to map your neighborhood and identify areas of concern
* Plus much, much more!

To take advantage of this FREE learning opportunity, please email DEM@co.cowlitz.wa.us or call Jennifer at 577-3130.

Wilderness First Aid Basics

March 2nd there will be a FREE Wilderness First Aid Basics class offered at REI in Hillsboro. For all the details, click here. While this class is geared toward backpackers, hunters and other outdoor enthusiasts, first aid skills are good for everyone to know. Even if you don't see yourself ever trudging around the woods on purpose, first aid skills can be used in a variety of situations, especially following a disaster when first responder resources are overwhelmed. And, as the Schoolhouse Rock theme song says, "It's great to learn, 'cause knowledge is power!"

Prepare to Be Your Own Hero

The Prepare to Be Your Own Hero class scheduled for tonight was so popular that it is now full! If you wanted to take this class but procrastinated in signing up, you are in luck. Another class will be held next Tuesday, February 9th at 6:00 p.m. at the Todd Road Fire Station (415 Todd Road) in Kalama. I anticipate this class will fill up quickly also, so PLEASE call 577-3130 or email DEM@co.cowlitz.wa.us to register. For more information on what the class entails, click here. Take advantage of this free learning opportunity sponsored by your very own Department of Emergency Management.

Indoor Air Pollution Uncovered

Could the indoor air-quality of your home use a breath of fresh air? There will be a FREE two-day training presented by Cowlitz County Healthy Homes on how to improve indoor air quality and how to perform in-home assessments. According to the latest statistics from the Health Department, Cowlitz County has the highest rate of asthma in the state of Washington and is among the highest in the nation. This article from The Daily News (May 2009) goes into more detail about the variables that can cause asthma and why Cowlitz County residents are more at risk. Many of the asthma cases in this county, particularly in children, could be prevented by learning more about indoor air quality. The Indoor Air Pollution Uncovered free training will be held at the Cowlitz County Health Department at 1952 9th Avenue in Longview on Thursday, March 4th from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Friday, March 5th from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Training topics include:

• Asthma
• Secondhand Smoke
• Dust Mites & Track-In
• Lead
• Asbestos
• Pets/Dander
• Moisture & Mold Ventilation
• Household Chemicals
• Pest Control
• Lawn and Garden Care

Who should attend:

• Community Members
• Landlords
• Tenants
• Homeowners (especially those who own older homes)
• Medical Staff
• Environmental Health Professionals
• Potential Program Volunteers
• Students

Registration is required to participate and lunch is provided both days by Subway. For more information or to register contact Cowlitz County Healthy Homes at (360) 414-5581 or email HealthyHomesCowlitz@gmail.com.

Community Emergency Response Team Training

Do you like learning new skills? Are you interested in becoming more prepared for emergencies? Do you like cookies? If you answered yes to any one of these, you might be interested in attending the upcoming Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training. CERT is about readiness, people helping people, rescuer safety, and doing the greatest good for the greatest number. CERT is a positive and realistic approach to emergency and disaster situations where citizens will initially be on their own and their actions can make a difference. Through training, citizens can manage utilities and put out small fires; provide basic first aid, search for and rescue victims and organize themselves and spontaneous volunteers to be effective in the face of disaster. It is a 22 hour course, taught over the course of a month. Participants learn the basics of disaster preparedness, disaster psychology, light search and rescue, terrorism awareness, fire suppression, disaster medical operations and much more. Graduates can choose to become a volunteer for the Department of Emergency Management and help out in times of disaster. Classes are every Saturday in February and are provided at no cost. If you would like more information, a class schedule or an application, please email our office at dem@co.cowlitz.wa.us or give us a call at 577-3130. Applications must be returned to our office no later than January 20th.

Cooking in the Dark, An Additional Class

Response to the "Cooking in the Dark" classes have been overwhelming and we are now full! I have added a third class on December 1st, 6:00 pm, General Meeting Room of the Cowlitz County Administration Building (third floor), 207 N. 4th Ave. If you are interested in this hands-on learning opportunity and have not signed up yet, please send me an email at DEM@co.cowlitz.wa.us or call the office at 577-3130 to sign up.

How Will You Cook When the Lights Go Out?

Rough winter weather is on its way and with it, comes the threat of a long-term power outage. The Department of Emergency Management is excited to offer an exciting new class called Cooking in the Dark. This class offers a hands-on chance to learn how to plan for, and prepare, two-weeks worth of meals with NO electricity.

You will learn:
· How to prepare food without power for up to two weeks
· How long food can last in a fridge or freezer following power outage
· Proper long-term water storage
· What non-food items are necessary for survival

The class will be held on November 19th at 6:00 p.m. at the Cowlitz County Training Center, 1942 1st Avenue, Longview (building just south of the Hall of Justice). Marcie Maynes of Simple-Safety will teach you the basics of power outage survival and will be assisting you in preparing actual recipes, so come hungry and leave full of ideas! Prepare to be your own hero! If you are interested in attending this FREE class, please click here to send an email to register.

Child Care Providers as First Responders Class

Are you a teacher, daycare worker, babysitter or parent? If so, this FREE class is for YOU!

In an emergency situation, fire, police, or medical personnel may not get to your facility/home for several hours or even days. Childcare providers will be the first to respond to the needs of themselves and their children. Prior planning and organization is the key to ensuring a calm and safe environment for both staff and child.

JUNE 16TH, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Service Employees International Union Hall, 536 Oregon Way, Longview. To register, please email Jennifer at EngkrafJ@co.cowlitz.wa.us or call 577-3130.

Childcare Providers as First Responders is instructed by Marcie Maynes, teacher and preparedness expert. This 2 hour class will cover the following topics:

• Potential Disasters in the Pacific Northwest


• Evacuation Procedures: Communicating with parents, Evacuating with small children, Evacuation supplies needed


• Shelter-in-Place Procedures: Sealing off facility in case of chemical or biological pollutants, Electricity goes out, Shelter-in-Place supplies needed


• Creating a basic emergency plan for your facility


• Collaborative time with other child providers to discuss effective emergency response porcedures

There will be drawings for emergency kits and other emergency supplies for your facitility/home.