Emergency Preparedness

What is Emergency Preparedness?

Emergency preparedness refers to the practice and creation of a plan to ensure a safe, swift, and effective response in any emergency situation. Emergencies can happen at any time. Being prepared helps empower you and others to mitigate the impacts of unexpected events. Not every emergency looks the same, but preparation principles apply across all situations.

Examples of Types of Emergencies

  • Earthquakes
  • Home and wildland Fires
  • Severe Weather (windstorms, flooding, heavy rain)
  • Power Outages
  • Hazardous Materials Incidents
  • Carbon Monoxide Emergencies
  • Medical Emergencies
  • Extreme Heath or Cold
  • Evacuations and Shelter-in-place Situations

Create a Household Emergency Plan

Having a plan in a place helps your household act quickly and safely during an emergency.

When creating your emergency plan, be sure to:

Identify two ways out of your home and neighborhood if evacuation is needed

  • Choose a safe meeting place outside your home
  • Establish an out-of-area emergency contact
  • Plan for pets and livestock
  • Consider the needs of children, older adults, and individuals with disabilities

Review and update your plan whenever your household changes, and practice it regularly so everyone knows what to do. There are also various ways you can help prepare your children in times of threats and hazards. Visit the Kitsap County Department of Emergency Management: Preparedness for Children’s webpage to learn more.

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Build Emergency Supply Kits

Emergency supply kits help you stay safe and self-sufficient during the first hours or days of an emergency. Do you have an emergency supply kit ready? It is ideal to have 2 kits: one for your home and one for your vehicle in case you are ever away from home.

Your home kit should include at least three days of supplies enough for everyone in your household. Items in your kit may include water, non-perishable food, flashlights, extra batteries, basic first aid kid, essential medications, and more.

Visit the Read.gov (an official website managed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security) for a comprehensive packing list and additional resources to help prepare you for all types of disasters.

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Prepare for Specific Hazards

Earthquake Preparedness

Kitsap County is part of the Puget Sound seismic region, meaning earthquakes are a real and ongoing risk for our South Kitsap community. Earthquakes can bring mild to violent shaking and can occur anytime, anywhere. Prepare by securing heavy furniture, practicing Drop, Cover, and Hold On, and knowing safe places in each room. After shaking stops, check for injuries and hazards before leaving your home.

The video below is a quick 2-minute guide on how you can help protect yourself, your family, and your property before, during, and after an earthquake.

Play Video

Severe Weather & Power Outages

Severe weather in the Pacific Northwest — including windstorms, heavy rain, snow, and extreme cold — can lead to power outages, hazardous travel conditions, and disruptions to daily life. Preparing ahead helps you stay safe and comfortable when these events occur.

Have emergency supplies ready, including flashlights, batteries, warm clothing, and backup power for essential devices. Keep refrigerators and freezers closed during outages, use generators and alternative heat sources safely, and never use outdoor equipment indoors. Stay informed through local alerts and be prepared for outages that may last several hours or longer.

During power outages, you can visit the Puget Sound Energy website to report and outage or to view the Outage Map with repair statuses and estimate restoration times.

Stay Informed: Emergency Alerts & Notifications

Visit our Stay Alert page to learn more on how to stay informed through notifications during times of emergencies in your local area.

You can also visit the Northwest Coordination Center (NWCC) website to see up-to-date information on wildfires and emergency response activity across the Pacific Northwest. NWCC is managed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management’s Oregon/Washington State office and serves as a central resource for fire conditions, incident updates, and coordination efforts that help protect communities and support first responders.

Useful Resources & Links

Do you have an emergency supply kit ready? It’s ideal to have two kits – one for your home and one that stays in your car.

Download this checklist for easy planning

Emergency Supply List