Individual Disaster Preparedness
Have water and food for at least 1 month at home, but a 3 month supply is preferable.
Water sources
- Home ponds
- Water barrels
- Emergency drinking water pouches
- Life straw
- Hot water heater
- Fill bath tub with water
To store water in water barrels, disinfect barrels with bleach and then add “Rx clear” mega shock,(73% Calcium Hypochlorite), Follow directions for use. Keeps drinking water safe for up to 10 years.
Emergency food
- Easy open cans of high calorie food, coffee, tea, milk, chocolate, alcohol, beans rice
- Long term food such as “Readywise” emergency food supply (lasts25 years). available at Costco but also Walmart has a whole section for long term emergency food supply. Things like cheese, eggs, mashed pototatoes and all kinds of food. Keep a large container with the emergency food easily accessible in your house
Other Supplies
- Small propane stove, or portable camping stove
- Matches or lighter
- Extra pet food
- Medical supplies
- Small propane heaters
- Generator
- Large rolls of heavy duty plastic, to cover windows in case windows are broken. will keep cold air and rain out of house
- Flashlights
- Battery back up charger for phone
- Water purification tablets
- Battery powered or hand crank radio
- Extra batteries
- Whistle
- Garbage bags
- Duct tape
- Manual can opener
- Cash
Go Back Bag
Have a “to go back bag” packed at home with emergency food and water for at least 3 days
- Medical supplies
- Water
- Blankets
- Extra clothes
- Closed shoes (sneakers)
- Hats, gloves, jacket
- Hand warmers
- Blankets
- Portable camping stove
- Matches or lighter
- Water purification tablets
- Flashlight
- Battery back up charger for phone
- Survival blanket
- Battery powered or hand crank radio
- Extra batteries
- Whistle
- Garbage bags
- Duct tape
- Manual can opener
- Cash
- Pet supplies including a pet carrier
Go Home Bag
Have a “go home bag” packed in your car. In case you are away and need to get home. This should be in a backpack form to make it easier to walk home. The Go Home bag should be waterproof, and should contain
- Emergency water pouches
- Food for at least a day
- Walking shoes
- Warm outer clothing
- Hand warmers
- Portable camping stove
- Lighter or waterproof matches
- Flashlights
- Battery back up charger for phone
- Multi tool
- First aid kit
- Water purification tablets
- Survival blanket
- Battery powered or hand crank radio
- Extra batteries
- Whistle
- Garbage bags
- Duct tape
- Manual can opener
- Cash
- Pet supplies
Emergency Preparedness Committee Mission Statement
The mission of the HPOA Emergency Preparedness Committee is to:
Encourage
Inform
Bring Together
the members of our HOA community to prepare for any emergencies such as fires, earthquakes, floods, outages, or other emergencies.
The committee's goals are to encourage every household to be as self-sufficient as possible in the event of an emergency.
The committee will inform by providing literature, connections to various sources, and educational opportunities.
Through emergency preparedness meetings, potlucks, events including guest speakers, the committee will endeavor to bring together our community.
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
Educate yourself:
- 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
Minutes of Home Estates Quarterly Emergency Preparedness Meeting
October 22, 2025 3 pm. - 9 people
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.
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.
Discussion
There was a discussion about the importance of drinking water and the availability of large storage tanks. Contact Ivy if you are interested.
Ivy and Shatoiya will collate the household reports to prepare an organized spreadsheet.
There is a meeting of the Sequim area emergency preparedness groups set for this Saturday, the 25th at 3 PM at the Dungeness Community Church on Sequim-Dungeness Way. Ivy, Steve, Shatoiya, Rick and Jan are planning to attend. Others are welcome if they wish.
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.
Wrapup
The prevailing thought at the end of the meeting is that there is work to do, however a little work now will put us all in good place to face whatever calamity might befall us. We all agreed that this work is mainly about building community. Getting to know each other, sharing our many gifts, and building a strong trust will help us through whatever may come our way.
The meeting concluded with a commitment to the next quarterly meeting to be held in February at a date to be determined.
The meeting concluded with a commitment to the next quarterly meeting to be held in February at a date to be determined.
Emergency Preparedness
Emergency Preparedness Committee
At the request of volunteers from the neighborhood, the Board has established an Emergency Preparedness Committee.
Preparedness Meeting Minutes
This includes general neighborhood meetings and Emergency Preparedness Committee meetings.
Documents
- Prepare In A Year guide
- Utility Safety
- Preparedness Quick To-Do List
- Individual Disaster Preparedness
Other Resources
- Clallam County Preparedness Site
- City of Sequim Preparedness Site
- Washington State Emergency Management Division