East Ridge Elementary PTA’s Emergency Preparedness Committee has many goals that we strive to achieve on a yearly basis. Our main role and goal is public awareness for the parents, students and staff in our school community. We also strive to help the school acquire, maintain and replace much needed supplies to be used during a disaster.
Over the last two years, with the help of fabulous volunteers and the support of the ERE staff, the Emergency Preparedness committee have retrofitted East Ridge’s emergency container with braces to secure shelving units during an earthquake. We have acquired food and water, replaced dated batteries and inventoried all of our first aid supplies, along with the classroom backpacks. We have purchased tools and equipment for use during an emergency. Our “Sheltering in Place” supplies have been customized and organized for each classroom. Our job is continual as we strive to purchase yearly food and water, maintain a current list of supplies needed, organize supplies, update forms and information and continue to spread the word about emergency preparedness.
School Emergency Survey Form
Thank you to all who have filled them out and returned them to the school. The important information from these surveys will be used by the staff during an actual emergency. Every person who fills out a survey must also be cleared to be on campus, please be sure you have a current Washington State Patrol form on file. These patrol forms are only valid for 2 years. If you are not sure about your status, please call the front office. You will NOT be called in an emergency if your WSP form is not valid.
“Go-Kit” For Your Car or Work – Emergency Checklist
Be Prepared!
Want to be prepared when you’re away from home? Have you ever thought about what you would do if the “big one” hit while you were at the grocery store, a doctor’s appointment or at work? What if the roads were blocked and you had to walk home from downtown Woodinville? You don’t want to have to hike 5 miles in dress shoes or be caught without a raincoat in December. Be prepared by creating a “Go-Kit” for your car or office desk. All it takes is a backpack and a few essential items.
Packing List
- Backpack – Store all of the supplies inside, then you can take food and water with you on your hike home.
- Pair of comfortable old sneakers and a pair of socks. Instead of throwing them away, throw them in the car.
- Rain poncho/jacket
- Space blanket
- Bottled water – replace every 6 months
- Snack Bars – something with protein like a Power Bar or Clif Bar works well (replace every 6 months). Or you can purchase Millennium Bars on-line (www.emprep.com). They last up to 5 years. East Ridge uses these.
I also keep a jar of peanut butter in my car.
- Flashlight – put in fresh batteries every 1-2 years (at the beginning of the school year?).
- Wet Wipes or Hand Sanitizer
- First Aid Kit
- Whistle
- $20 in small bills and coin
- Contact information for local and out-of-state phone numbers
Additional Suggested Items
- Old driver’s license, for claiming your child from school
- Leather work gloves – in case you need to help extricate someone
- Particle mask – earthquakes can kick up a lot of dust inside a building
- Head lamp – your hands may be holding children’s hands
- Orange safety vest
- Safety goggles
Compliments of: Emergency Prep Committee, East Ridge PTA
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Questions about the Emergency Preparedness Committee: Margaret Hughes, emergencyprep@erpta.org