Broadview and Other Emergency Communication Hubs Prepare for a Drill on May 17
Saturday February 22, marked the third anniversary of the Christchurch New Zealand earthquake. Volunteers throughout Seattle continue to prepare should some disaster occur in this area.
On May 17, between 9:00 am and noon, community groups and emergency volunteers from throughout Seattle will be participating in a disaster drill to test neighborhood emergency preparedness.
The groups, known as the Seattle Emergency Communications Hubs, will join the City’s Auxiliary Communications Service (ACS) ham volunteers to simulate a volcanic explosion and it’s impact on Seattle, especially if the wind blows ash towards Seattle and resulting lahars (mud flows) impact infrastructure. “It’s all about neighbors helping neighbors” said Carl Leon, one of the drill organizers. “We set up neighborhood hubs where people can come to get information and share resources or skills to help those who have been affected.”
The ACS volunteers will practice sending situation reports of conditions in each neighborhood from the Hubs into the City’s EmergencyOperationsCenter. In a real event, that information could be used by City response planners to assess conditions throughout the city and develop response plans.
Participating Hub locations include Broadview, Capitol Hill, KirkePark, LakeCity, LoyalHeights, Magnolia, Maple Leaf, Queen Anne, RainierBeach, Shilshole, and West Seattle. All Hub locations will welcome visitors and people who would like to learn and participate in the Hubs.
For more information about becoming a Hub volunteer, contact Cindi Barker, cbarker@qwest.net, 206-933-6968.
For information about becoming a Ham radio operator or member of ACS, contact Carl Leon at
Websites for more information about neighborhood Hubs and ACS:
Seattle Emergency Communications Hubs: http://seattlehubs.org
Seattle Auxiliary Communications Services: http://www.seattleacs.com
