Community Corner

At Sammamish Readiness Fair, Residents Reminded: Being Prepared, Especially on a Plateau, is Good

Residents visited the fair on Saturday to learn about having enough water and supplies in case of an emergency or disaster.

The brightly-colored emergency bags loaded with supplies were one sign of the day's topic. So, too, were the tables with flashlights and tools.

Water containers were apparent, as were questions from dozens of Sammamish residents.

About 200 people were expected at Saturday's Sammamish Readiness Fair held at . About 20 to 25 vendors, including the American Red Cross and companies selling supplies, set up tables to give out information to residents about how to be ready should a natural disaster or emergency strike.

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They also were doing this, representatives said, at the right time: Not only is April "Disaster Preparedness Month" in the state but there was no major emergency or disaster in the city.

The Sammamish Citizen Corps, a volunteer group that encourages residents to be ready, was a key organizer of the event. "It's about people being more self reliant," Kent Kiernan, the group's president, said.

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Those words are fitting for Sammamish, given that the city sits on a Plateau and Lake Sammamish. Trees tower in some areas and the city has a mix or more rural areas and recent housing developments.

Residents are attracted to the city because of the public schools, natural beauty, spacious houses and proximity to Microsoft and Seattle.

But Mother Nature can be powerful. In recent years, snowstorms have paralyzed the Seattle area and windstorms have toppled trees, which knocked out electricity.

The past decade also has seen an increase in terrorist threats against the United States. 

"If we have a threat of a storm, it's amazing how fast stores can run out of food," Kiernan said. "In a disaster, resources are limited."

In other words, it's good to be prepared when shelves are getting bare and demand for emergency services is high. Kiernan encouraged residents to have medical supplies, food and pet food, if you have animals.

Having supplies to live on your own for three to five days is a good idea, Kiernan said. Some at the fair talked about having enough food and water for a week.

In one session, residents were reminded to have a pair of sturdy shoes or boots stored under their bed, in case broken glass or other sharp objects are on the floor after a disaster. Having a hard hat also is useful.

In addition to having enough water for each member of the family for at least three days, Janet Sailer of the Sammamish Plateau Water and Sewer District encouraged residents to know where the main water valve is located in their home.

In an emergency or disaster, the water that gets pumped to a house might need to be turned off.

For more information on being prepared and general advice, visit the websites for the Sammamish Citizen Corps3Days3Ways, the state Military Department's Emergency Management Division, Sammamish Plateau Water and Sewer District and the American Red Cross.

Other information can be found at the state Department of HealthFederal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

The Sammamish Citizen Corps holds regular meetings every first Wednesday of the month at . The station is located at 1851 228th Ave. NE. The meetings start at 7 p.m.  


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