How does Hoquiam cope with the staggering costs of responding to and recovering from an emergency disaster situation? How do we coordinate and delegate responsibilities in the event of a disaster? How do citizens keep informed and remain vigilant in protecting their family and community from forces that threaten their safekeeping?
The answer - Emergency Management.
The City of Hoquiam has an emergency preparedness plan that covers everything from a downtown plane crash to erupting volcanoes and earthquakes. The city is well prepared for floods, fire emergencies and tidal waves.
A tsunami is a series of waves
most commonly caused by an
earthquake beneath the sea floor.
As tsunamis enter shallow water
near land, they increase in height
and can cause great loss of life
and property damage where they
come ashore.
When you feel an earthquake:
Protect yourself-drop, cover, hold
until the earthquake is over
Grab your three-day emergency kit
Move quickly inland to high ground
and away from low-lying coastal areas
Evacuate on foot if at all possible
because of potential road damage and
traffic jams
Do not pack or delay
Do not return to the shore
Listen to NOAA Weather Radio or
your local radio station for information
on shelter locations and emergency
broadcasts
Be alert for aftershocks
Recent research suggests that
tsunamis have struck the Washington
coast on a regular basis.
They can occur at any time of the
day or night, under any and all
weather conditions, and in all
seasons. Beaches open to the
ocean, bay entrances, tidal flats,
and coastal rivers are especially
vulnerable to tsunamis.
