Deadly tornadoes remind us to prepare for disasters at home

While tornadoes are rare in the Pacific Northwest, most experts suggest we could see similar devastation to what we’re seeing in Oklahoma from the major earthquake that will hit our region some day.

It highlights the importance of being well-prepared to not only survive the emergency but help those in your immediate area.

How many of you have a disaster kit in your home? Do you have one in your car? The three ways, three days campaign has been underway for years.

As we saw in Oklahoma Monday, first responders can only do so much. They can only be in so many places.

It’s essential we all have the ability to survive on our own, without outside help, for a couple of days, and you should consider CERT training, to learn how to help those in your neighborhood or office or school while waiting for help. CERT stands for Community Emergency Response Team. There are 64 CERT programs in Washington where you can get training. Classes get started all the time.

Harry Small is a disaster preparedness expert. “Their job is to organize their neighbors into a workable work-force to protect and take care of their backyard, their community or their building,” he said.

CERT training can also help you deal with the psychological trauma you and your neighbors could face. “Let’s say for example that somebody has lost a family member,” Small said. “There’s really nothing you can say. Nothing is going to mitigate that for them. What people need is support. Sometimes putting an arm around them and just being supportive and listening and seeing that their needs are met, that’s what’s important.”

Being self-sufficient, experts say, can go a long way to surviving a disaster and saving those around you.