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How to prepare for winter electrical outages

11/11/2025

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Winter storms can bring wind, ice, snow and even power outages. How do you get prepared, especially if you rely on electricity for medical needs or work from home? In the Beaverton and Portland Metro Area, Portland General Electric has some tips and a checklist. Check out their Prepare Your Home page for more information. You can also download the PGE checklist. 
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Click to open the checklist
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Where to put the poo if the toilets don't flush

3/15/2025

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Cold weather often sets the stage for broken pipes, and when pipes don't work, you may have an extended interruption of sewage service. This scenario happened recently to Trish Reading, one of our volunteers. She set up her handy two-bucket emergency toilet system in her bathroom to get some immediate relief. Then she got to thinking, what do I doo with the poo? Lincoln Thomas, our Cedar Hills Ready! Newsletter editor, searched for answers. 
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Click the image for more info on Sanitation & Hygiene
Why two buckets? 
The two-bucket emergency toilet system provides a way to separate pee and poo during an emergency. Separating poo and pee reduces the odors, so your environment is much more pleasant. More importantly, keeping pee and poo separate makes disposal easier. Most of the volume of your waste is in urine, and urine is not toxic, at least not right away, so it is easier to safely dispose of pee into the environment. On the other hand, poo contains microorganisms that can cause dysentery, cholera and a whole host of dangerous diseases. For that reason, you need to keep poo separate and dispose of it carefully.
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Evacuation: Can you avoid gridlock?

2/12/2025

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Despite being off-season, LA's recent wildfires were extremely destructive, killing 29 people, destroying over 18,000 structures, and prompting the evacuation of more than 200,000 people. By these isolated metrics, the wildfires surpassed entire fire seasons in Oregon (including 2024 & 2020). But of course, damage to people tends to be higher when disaster strikes population centers. The similarly urban Maui fires of 2023 remain the deadliest in our nation's modern history, with over 100 fatalities.
One major challenge during LA's wildfires was evacuation capacity. As in the Maui and Paradise fires, limited escape routes caused gridlock, often forcing evacuees to abandon vehicles and flee on foot. Long-term solutions to this challenge are tricky. Perhaps a first step is to simply check this map to see if your community has limited evacuation capacity. Create an emergency evacuation plan that includes multiple routes, and practice those routes when going about your regular business in town. Check out our Evacuation and Assembly webpage and our Family Emergency Planning webpage for more details on next steps. 
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Click to learn if your community has limited evacuation capacity
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Click to learn more about Oregon's evacuation levels and how to prepare for an evacuation
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Click to download our Family Emergency Plan worksheet
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Take Steps to Stay Safe in Extreme Heat

7/7/2024

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When outside temperatures are extreme, the danger increases for heart attacks, strokes, and kidney failure. Older adults, young children and people with mental illness and chronic diseases are at high risk. Pregnant people should take extra care to stay cool and hydrated in hot weather.
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Preparedness for Older Adults

2/18/2024

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     One of the cool things about being involved in Neighbors Ready! is meeting and talking to lots of inspiring people and learning from their experiences. Even people new in their preparedness journey can share important information about to how to get prepared.
     Case in point: Yesterday, I had the opportunity to talk with Sherrye Steffens. Sherrye had lived in Hawaii for over 40 years; currently, she lives in a retirement community, an HOA in King City, Oregon, with 1,700 residents who are over 55 years old, some with disabilities. With news of the August 2023 Hawaii wildfires that killed over 100 people and destroyed 2,207 buildings, Sherrye realized that her current home and community was vulnerable to disasters. She is determined to help educate and help her community to get prepared. 
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Click here to open the Disaster Preparedness Guide for Older Adults by FEMA
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Go Bag Presentation Downloads

1/28/2024

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When you have to leave in a hurry, a go bag can be a life saver! If  you missed the Go Bag presentation on Sunday, Jan 28th, 2024, you can find the documents and downloads in this blog post. Also, find our detailed information and videos on our our Go Bag page. For information on Alerts, check out our Stay Informed page. 
Check out these references from the presentation: 
  • Slide printout for student notes
  • Full slide deck with speaker notes 
  • Register for Alerts
  • Build Your Kits checklist from the "Get Prepared Now!" booklet (pg 8-9)
  • Visual Checklist for you Disaster Supply Kit
  • Get Prepared Now! booklet (2020 edition)​
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Click to open this checklist
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Click to go to the Registration page
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Click to open the "Get Prepared Now" booklet
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Results from FEMA's 2023 National Household Survey on Disaster Preparedness

1/6/2024

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FEMA has released the results of the 2023 National Household Survey on Disaster Preparedness. To review the survey results, download the summary presentation.
​Since 2013, FEMA has conducted the National Household Survey on Disaster Preparedness. This survey of people from across the United States gauges the nation’s disaster preparedness actions, attitudes, and motivations. The 2023 survey conducted from February 1 through March 14, 2023 included over 7,600 responses. Results from the 2023 survey indicate that slightly more than half (51%) of Americans believe they are prepared for a disaster and 57% took three or more actions to prepare for a disaster within the last year. The most common actions people took to prepare for a disaster were assembling or updating disaster supplies (48%) and making a plan (37%); the least common actions were planning with neighbors (12%) and getting involved in their community (14%).
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From the 2023 National Household Survey on Disaster Preparedness, by FEMA
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CDC All-Hazards Preparedness Guide

10/24/2023

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Check out this All-Hazards Preparedness Guide from the CDC. It covers basic information about getting prepared for a wide variety of situations, including: 
  • Shelter-in-Place
  • Advice for those with special needs
  • Bioterrorism
  • Chemical emergencies
  • Earthquakes
  • Extreme heat
  • Hurricanes
  • Landslides and mudslides
  • Pandemic Influenza
  • Tornados
  • And more. 
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Click to open.
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Which Beaverton schools are safe during an earthquake?

3/11/2023

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In the mid-1990s the Beaverton School District (BSD) ​conducted a district-wide investigation of the seismic stability of its schools and subsequently began a targeted program to seismically upgrade and improve them. 
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Click to go to BSD's Emergency Preparedness Webpage
It's Earthquake Preparedness webpage states, "Because of our community's generous support of the 2014 and 2020 Bonds, the district has built several new schools and seismically upgraded others." These bonds provided the District a unique opportunity to not only address daily operational needs, but also respond to the findings of The Oregon Resilience Plan by constructing disaster resilient schools that are also capable of supporting their surrounding communities as emergency shelters. ​
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What to do when the next megaquake happens

3/10/2023

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Most of us have been taught that in an earthquake, we should drop, cover, and hold on. Chris Goldfinger, Professor of Marine Geology and Oregon State University (OSU), challenges this advice in a PBS program that aired on Oct 18, 2022. He suggests your response could vary depending on how much warning you have before the violent shaking starts and what type of building you are in when the quake hits. Continue reading to learn more and watch the 12-minute video. 
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Chris Goldfinger offers new perspectives on what to do when a megaquake happens
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Keeping kids safe in a medical emergency

1/1/2023

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Link to Hero Kids RegistryClick to register for HERO kids
​​Every moment counts in a medical emergency. Make sure first responders have critical information about your kids, even if you aren't there. Take advantage of a free, confidential service, sponsored by OHSU. 
HERO Kids Registry is a voluntary, no-cost system that lets any Oregon family share critical information about their child’s health before an emergency. The information can be quickly accessed by emergency medical services (EMS) and hospital emergency department (ED) providers, so they have the information they need when they need it. 
​By registering with HERO Kids, you give EMS and ED providers a head start on understanding your child's medical history, unique needs and individualized supports. For example, it helps emergency responders to know if a young patient is non-verbal.
HERO Kids is for any Oregon child or young adult (through age 26). It is especially useful for young people with complicated or chronic health conditions, and for those who experience developmental disabilities or mental health conditions. Learn more and register your kids at the 
OHSU Hero Kids Registry. 

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2 Weeks Ready: Neighbors Helping Neighbors

12/16/2022

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Once a disaster strikes, the time to prepare has passed. The 2 Weeks Ready program recommends people have an emergency plan and enough food, water and supplies to survive on their own for at least two weeks following any large-scale disaster. This program also encourages people to get to know their neighbors and plan together. Check out this brochure for some great ideas and tips on activities to do with your neighbors. This program is being developed the Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM).  
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Life Saving Holiday Gift Ideas

12/3/2022

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Are you wondering about some creative gift ideas that could keep your loved ones safe? The Holiday Edition of the quarterly newsletter from the Seattle Emergency Communications Hubs' December Newsletter has some amazing holiday gifting ideas. Check it out! 
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Click the image above to view the full newsletter article.

Author

Stan Houseman, the Master of Disaster and a QuakeUp! Founder submitted this topic to Cedar Hills Ready!
Original newsletter written by Seattle Emergency Communications Hubs. 

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Get Home Safe: Severe Weather Travel Tips

11/24/2022

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Its Thanksgiving week, and many of us are traveling to enjoy family or friends during the holiday season. Bill and I are at the Oregon coast, watching a storm roll in. It's wild and beautiful: the wind catches the white tops of waves and sideways rain pelts our umbrellas. If you are planning a trip during severe weather this season, consider first reading this article from Portland Bureau of Transportation for tips on how to make your trip safe. This article includes tips for planning ahead, using multiple forms of transportation, and what to do if you get stranded in your vehicle. You can download fliers on the website, translated into multiple languages. Click the two sample fliers below. More translations are available on this website. 
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Click the image above for the English version of this flier.
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Click the image above for the Spanish version.

Author

Karen Ronning-Hall, Disaster Preparedness Evangelist, living in beautiful Portland, Oregon, with hubby Bill, daughter Geneva, Bean dog, Thumper kitty, and Terry the turtle.  

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Wildfires increase risk of floods

10/27/2022

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Click this image to go to: https://www.floodsmart.gov/wildfires
FEMA News Release
​
Oct 27th, 2022, FEMA News Desk (425) 487-4610
Purchase Flood Insurance to Protect What You’ve Built
BOTHELL, Wash. – If you do not carry National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) insurance, now is the time to buy it. Wildfire season is slowing down, and once the fires are out, people and communities are at risk for another threat, flooding.  Wildfires leave the ground charred and unable to absorb water. This creates a flash flooding potential for years to come, even in areas that rarely experienced flooding in the past. Sometimes these flash floods can pick up ash and large debris, turning into mudflows that are highly destructive.
Unlike many causes of damage, flooding and mudflows are generally not covered by a homeowners’ policy. An uninsured flood loss can eat into your life’s savings. Floods are the most common and expensive natural disaster in the U.S.  Just an inch of water in an average-sized home can cause $25,000 in damage. A NFIP policy protects against such losses and can ensure that a flood doesn’t bring financial ruin.
Flood insurance is easy to get, the only requirement is that you live in an NFIP participating community. These include cities, counties and other jurisdictions that manage development. You don’t need to live in a floodplain to purchase a policy. If you live outside a floodplain, insurance will likely cost less than for those living in a higher risk area.
Buyers should be aware of the 30-day waiting period for an NFIP policy to go into effect. It is important to purchase a policy now to protect your property against the continuing threat of flooding. You can usually purchase flood insurance from your current agent. If that isn’t possible, NFIP representatives can help you find one.
As with any insurance, be sure to talk with your agent about the specifics of your policy. Find out more about your risk and flood insurance at www.floodsmart.gov. To purchase flood insurance or find an agent, call 1-800-427-4661.
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Author

Brett Holt, Private Sector Liaison | External Affairs Division | Region 10
Follow FEMA Region 10 on Twitter and LinkedIn for the latest updates and visit FEMA.gov for more information.
 FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters.Write something about yourself. 

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Beaverton Emergency Preparedness Fair

10/8/2022

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On Saturday, Oct 8th, at the Beaverton Library, Cedar Hills Ready! and QuakeUp! volunteers participated in the Beaverton Emergency Preparedness Fair hosted by Sexton Mountain, Highland, and West Beaverton Neighborhood Association Committees (NACs). We helped over 600 neighbors with information and tips on how to get prepared. Our volunteers set up five booths covering the following topics: water resiliency, go bags, home utilities in an emergency, organizing preparedness supplies in apartments and small spaces, and preparing community caches in a barrel. We thank our volunteers, Beaverton NACs volunteers, and the City of Beaverton who made this event a success! 
If you missed the fair, you can find information on the topics we covered on this website. 
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