Reports by teams
The Personal Preparedness Team had a meeting where they shared various lists of suggestions for personal to-go bags. These lists are now available on the HOA website. There was also a discussion of where to store your to go bags. The garage being obvious, but also perhaps the most vulnerable structure. A possibility is to have more than one bag and store them in two different places.
The Water and Utility Team has posted on the HOA website links to how to turn off your water, propane, and electricity after a disaster.
The Communication Team noted there are several pairs of walkie- talkies available for communicating while assessing our HOA after a disaster. We are lucky to have Dave, who is a ham radio operator and owns one, who will be able to communicate with emergency services if all else is down.
Some suggested that the common area next to the shed would be an appropriate place to meet during an emergency and set up a communication area.
This lead to a conversation regarding the possibility of the Preparedness Group using the shed, pending HOA approval. After much discussion, it was thought it might be a good place to store non-perishables, such as sanitation buckets, tables, blankets, a white board to share information, duct tape, cardboard pet carriers, etc.
If this use is sanctioned by the HOA, volunteers will be needed at the February meeting to clean out the shed. Some members of the HOA board suggested a possible brief presentation to the board at the Nov 8th meeting. Maybe 10 or 15 minutes.
Ivy gave a demonstration of sanitation buckets and necessary supplies for them. Toilet seat lids for these buckets are available at Wal Mart.
Ivy mentioned that there are more members needed to fulfill teams. Jan volunteered for the Pet team, to education pet owners regarding pet needs during emergencies. We still need people for the Recon Team and the Care team. Please check page 13 of your Clallam Ready Guide for descriptions of these teams and see if you would be interested in one . Contact Ivy if you are ready to help.
The meeting concluded with a commitment to the next quarterly meeting to be held in February at a date to be determined.
October Committee Meeting
The minutes of the October preparedness meeting are here.
Utility Safety
- PDF on Water Tank Input Valve Shutoff
- How to Drain Your Hot Water Heater
- How to Shut Off a Propane Tank
- How to Shut Off Water
- How to Shut Off Electricity
Disaster Preparedness Quick To Do List
- Gather a 30 day food supply (Costco, Walmart, canned food)
- Obtain water sources (water barrels, 5 gallon containers, Life Straws)
- Prepare "Go" bags for home and car
- Secure vital documents on USB drives, waterproof containers, fireproof safe, safety deposit boxes
- Conduct hazard assessment in your home and surrounding areas and identify any risks
- Create a cache of food, water, medication, extra bedding portable shelter, plastic sheeting
- Sign up for alerts:
- CCEM: Everbridge , text 87844 to join
- FEMA: Text prepare to 43362
- NOAA: WEA (wireless weather alerts) connection in cell settings
- Obtain alternate sources for heating and cooking
- Learn utility shut off procedures. Have tools nearby
- Learn how to use a fire extinguisher
- Obtain fire blankets
Neighborhood Meeting
Here are the meeting minutes from the first neighborhood emergency preparedness planning meeting.
Utility Safety
- PDF on Water Tank Input Valve Shutoff
- How to Drain Your Hot Water Heater
- How to Shut Off a Propane Tank
- How to Shut Off Water
- How to Shut Off Electricity
Disaster Preparedness Quick To Do List
- Gather a 30 day food supply (Costco, Walmart, canned food)
- Obtain water sources (water barrels, 5 gallon containers, Life Straws)
- Prepare "Go" bags for home and car
- Secure vital documents on USB drives, waterproof containers, fireproof safe, safety deposit boxes
- Conduct hazard assessment in your home and surrounding areas and identify any risks
- Create a cache of food, water, medication, extra bedding portable shelter, plastic sheeting
- Sign up for alerts:
- CCEM: Everbridge , text 87844 to join
- FEMA: Text prepare to 43362
- NOAA: WEA (wireless weather alerts) connection in cell settings
- Obtain alternate sources for heating and cooking
- Learn utility shut off procedures. Have tools nearby
- Learn how to use a fire extinguisher
- Obtain fire blankets
Neighborhood Meeting
Here are the meeting minutes from the first neighborhood emergency preparedness planning meeting.
Emergency Preparedness Meeting Minutes
A group of neighbors has begun meeting and organizing activities around emergency preparedness in our neighborhood. An initial meeting was held on July 23, 2025. Seventeen neighbors attended, and another nine neighbors expressed interest but were unable to attend. This is a summary of that meeting.
Participants handed in forms listing skills and equipment they could make available during a crisis. The meeting organizers will collate these to get an overall picture of the capabilities in our neighborhood, and where we might need to fill in some blanks.
Topics discussed included:
- Fires, earthquakes, and other emergencies
- Putting together “to-go” bags of items needed in an evacuation
- How to keep personal information in a “to-go” bag safe
- Issues with ensuring adequate supplies of water
- Assistance to neighbors who may not be as prepared during an emergency
The group also discussed using the common area space as a gathering place for a crisis. Attendees agreed this was a good idea. The group considered using the shed as storage for first aid, water, and other supplies, but this discussion was tabled for a future meeting. The group plans to develop a detailed proposal for use of the shed that can be submitted to the HOA Board.
Two teams were formed, Communication and Personal Preparedness.
The goal of the Communication Team is to review options for communication before, during and after a crisis. Our HOA web site can be used as one source of information, although it is not likely to be available during an emergency. We will try to post the monthly Preparedness Guide published by Clallam County Emergency Management on the site, and will look into sending out text notifications when there is new information available.
The goal of the Personal Preparedness Team is to review recommendations for to-go bags and make suggestions as to quality and where to purchase.
Additional teams may be formed in the future to address other areas.
It was suggested that residents who live alone may want to form a coalition to help each other.
All agreed that we should meet quarterly.
A neighbor volunteered to make a text group that would be solely used for sending important preparedness information. Everyone present gave consent to be included in the text group.
The meeting adjourned at 3:30.