Author: Michael Gruskin

UW Tests New Earthquake Early Warning System

UW Tests New Earthquake Early Warning System

Posted by | Feb 12, 2015 | , |

Washington and Oregon will be covered by software program which opens testers’ computers and shows the earthquake epicenter, its magnitude, and the time before shaking. The trials will run about a year. The trial group includes Boeing, Microsoft, Sound Transit, Providence Hospital and other hospitals, transportation agencies, utilities and emergency managers. They are meeting Feb 12th to implement the trial. In Japan, similar earthquake alerts have been used to slow bullet trains to prevent derailment, trigger automated earthquake and tsunami alarms in schools, and shut down expensive manufacturing equipment to avoid damage due to shaking. Some 240 seismometers are...

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For Finn Hill Backyard Chicken Coops

For Finn Hill Backyard Chicken Coops

Posted by | Jan 25, 2015 | |

Washington Poultry Quarantine The Washington State Dept. of Agriculture has set an emergency quarantine to protect the commercial poultry industry, small poultry farms and poultry fanciers in Washington State from Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, movement restrictions are being placed on poultry and poultry products from areas in Benton and Franklin County. Backyard flocks of chickens, turkeys, ducks and guinea fowl were found to have avian influenza in the area. More than 700 birds have died or been euthanized. The quarantine could be in effect for up to eight months. Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) has recently been found in...

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Prone to Earthquake? Slide? Liquification?

Posted by | Jan 9, 2015 | , |

King County now provides hazard maps and data for flood, dam failure, earthquake, liquefaction, lahar, severe weather, wildfire, and landslide. Click here to view Hazard Maps on King County’s website. The good news is that we are safe from most of these problems but there are landslide areas on Finn Hill and precautions should be taken. The map is based on a variety of criteria including any area with a combination of greater than 15% slope, impermeable soils with frequent bands of granular soil, and springs or groundwater seepage. Historic and geologic evidence of movement or debris. Lots of rain can make many areas slide but these are are of higher...

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Make Winter Luck

Posted by | Dec 29, 2014 | , |

Someone once said “Luck is the precipitation of good preparation.” The King County Office of Emergency Management has a three step plan for creating your own luck: Make a Plan Build A Kit Get Involved and Stay Informed. Plan Make a plan to communicate by designating an out-of-area contact that everyone in your family will communicate with if separated. Make a plan for alternate ways home if roads are blocked or closed due to ice, snow, downed trees, and downed power lines. Take a look at the snow priority maps of the areas you travel through. In Kirkland it’s at: SnowRoutes.pdf. In Bellevue it’s at: SnowRoute_11x17.pdf. Build Kits Buy two big plastic boxes with lids. Keep one in the car and one at home in a place like a garage. Fill the home box with a minimum 3-day supply, ideally enough for 7-10 days. It can be your camping gear with sleeping bags, non-perishable food, can opener, lighter, candle, towels, toilet paper, water, your camping stove, flashlight and batteries. Camping and military surplus stores are good sources. In the car have similar things with a hand shovel and sand or kitty litter, jumper cables, can of instant tire inflator, and warm hat and gloves. A “Come-Along” can move trees or other obstacles from your path. A complete list is at www.takewinterbystorm.org. Get Involved and Stay Informed Find a trusted...

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