The Emergency Preparedness Committee (EPC) was created in 2021 as an ad hoc committee of the Ludlow Maintenance Commission (LMC). In January of 2022, it became a regular standing committee. It is made up entirely of volunteers appointed by LMC Board of Trustees.

Our mission is to provide the residents of North Port Ludlow with important information that can assist them in preparing for a disaster or emergency and in dealing with it effectively in the event one occurs.

Initially, information will be provided in the form of printed materials, but in the future, we hope to also sponsor in person and video programs. In addition, most of our material is available on this Emergency Preparedness website.

Please note: The EPC is NOT an emergency response organization. It has no defined responsibilities during any emergency or disaster.

The Emergency Preparedness Information Packet contains critical information that can assist you in preparing for a disaster or emergency and in dealing with it in the event one occurs. It is intended for every house and condominium unit that is part of the LMC. The packet will be hand delivered by volunteers to homes in August of 2022, if someone is at home to receive it. (Nothing will be left if nobody is home.)  Those who do not get this personal delivery can claim their copy at the Beach Club after August 22, 2022. If possible, you should also download the information to your own computer.

The packet contains:

• Jefferson County’s “THINK, PLAN, DO!” manual, a comprehensive guide to preparing for emergencies and disasters;

• Emergency Alerts and General Emergency Information Resources, a list of where to get alerts and find critical information via your smartphone, radio and television, weather radio, e-mail, internet, two-way radios, and audible alarms; 

• Two Emergency Status Cards, one “HELP” and one “OK,” which in the event of a disaster, are for you to post in a location on your home that is highly visible from the street, letting others know your situation, as described in “THINK PLAN DO!” and

• A hanging bag that enables you to hang the packet on a hook, doorknob, or clothes hanger so that it is readily accessible.

Note:  While the first three items can be found in digital form on this Emergency Preparedness tab on the LMC website [HELP/OK], it is important to keep these printed copies handy because the website may not be accessible in the event of a power or internet outage.

Several steps to help you begin:

• Take the time to review the information provided (in the Emergency Preparedness Information Packet and located on the LMC website). 

The packet contains:  

- Jefferson County’s “THINK, PLAN, DO!” manual, a comprehensive guide to preparing for emergencies and disasters;

- Emergency Alerts and General Emergency Information Resources, a list of where to get alerts and find critical information via your smartphone, radio and television, weather radio, e-mail, internet, two-way radios, and audible alarms; 

- Two Emergency Status Cards, one “HELP” and one “OK,” which in the event of a disaster, are for you to post in a location on your home that is highly visible from the street, letting others know your situation, as described in “THINK PLAN DO!” and

- A hanging bag that enables you to hang the packet on a hook, doorknob, or clothes hanger so that it is readily accessible.

• Ensure you have the above resources in hard copy format, close at hand in an easily accessible location. 

NOTE: While the first three items can be found in digital form on this Emergency Preparedness tab on the LMC Website [HELP/OK], it is important to keep printed copies handy because the website may not be accessible in the event of a power or internet outage. If possible, you should also download the information to your own computer. 

• Enter important Emergency Phone Numbers in your cell phone and your computer address book. 

NOTE:  having a solar charger for your electronic devices may be useful.

• Sign up for the listed Alerts and Notifications on your Smartphones and Computers

• Get to know your neighbors!

Time is on our side so begin taking small steps today to be prepared. Being ready will help mitigate impact to you, your family and home. But remember: “when disaster strikes, the time to prepare has passed."

Although the EPC is here to provide you with information and tools to help you prepare yourself, your family, and your home, YOU are at the center of these emergency preparedness efforts.

In the event of a major disaster, area resources (i.e., Port Ludlow Fire & Rescue Department, Jefferson County Sheriff, neighborhood Block Captains, etc.) will be stretched to the max and may not be available for even the most critical needs. As a result, we could be on our own for an extended period and therefore must plan to help ourselves and our neighbors.

No one else knows your needs. So, the more prepared and self-sufficient you are, the more it helps you and all of us.

NOTE:  The VOLUNTEER Block Captain program is a program of the Port Ludlow Village Council (PLVC). More information on this program may be found here:

http://www.plvc.org/plvc-committees/emergency-management

Not every neighborhood block has a captain; however, here is the latest list of North Bay Block Captains as published by the PLVC:

http://www.plarchive.org/block-captain-list-north-bay/

Obviously, an emergency or disaster could happen while you are in Port Ludlow. Whether or not you are physically present in North Bay during an emergency, your home may be impacted. Therefore, it is critical that both full and part time North Bay residents are actively preparing for an emergency in our area. Everyone should be prepared to help themselves, loved ones and immediate neighbors if one is able.

Although you may not be on site, it is possible that guests or family members of yours are visiting your North Bay home when the disaster occurs. It is also possible that you are renting your property to others and therefore, whether you are on site or not, it is important to have the Emergency Preparedness Information Packet in hard copy format, close at hand in an easily accessible location at your North Bay home, and that your home is prepared. 

Note:  Most of the information in the Emergency Preparedness Information Packet is equally applicable to your other residences.

Like all Jefferson County areas, we experience occasional severe weather events and are potentially affected by earthquake, wildfire, and tsunami hazards.

Recent Jefferson County research has found that windstorm damage and power outages have historically been the most common emergency events to occur in our area; however, other emergencies/disasters that could impact our area:

• snow and prolonged freezing weather

• extended power and other utility outages lasting days or weeks from local or regional disruptions (i.e., electricity, water, sewer, internet, cell phone, unavailable propane/oil deliveries) flooding and landslides/mudslides

• wildfire (risk of occurrence is increasing with climate change)

• earthquake (due to high seismic potential in the Puget Sound and West Coast regions)

• tsunami (risk due to local earthquake or distant geologic/volcanic event)

• excessive prolonged heat wave

• terrorism or civil disturbance including active shooter

• epidemic/pandemic

• Hood Canal Bridge damage and/or long-term closure leading to supply chain disruptions including but not limited to medicine, food, water, and household supply shortages

Local, area wide and remote emergencies/disasters may directly or indirectly impact you and your household. Additional related information, resources and details may be accessed on this Emergency Preparedness website including state, county, and federal sites.

• Warnings - Some emergencies may come with early warnings, e.g., extraordinary weather events, some tsunamis. But many emergencies come with no warning. Some warning services require that you sign-up.

- NIXLE Emergency Text & Email – You should immediately download and set-up NIXLE from your App Store on every smartphone and connected smart device in your household.  This site receives alerts from your local emergency agencies.  Click on the phone icon on the right side of the page to subscribe to text alerts and emails about emergencies affecting Jefferson County as they happen.   

- KPTZ Radio 91.9 FM – Primary Local Emergency Radio.  Go to

 www.kptz.org  to Live Stream KPTZ.   

- Audible warnings – These may come from Sheriff or Emergency Department vehicle loudspeakers as they make their way through impacted neighborhoods. 

- Tsunami warnings - There was once a Tsunami Siren in Port Ludlow, but it is now inoperative.

Note:  You should become familiar with how to get and understand warnings by reviewing the Emergency Alerts and General Emergency Information Resources reference guide. 

• Evacuations - Some emergencies may require immediate evacuation from your home, e.g., tsunamis require those of us at lower elevations (including the Beach Club, Bay Club, Inn, and Marina) to move to higher ground, whereas wildfires may require you evacuate the neighborhood to get much further away. Your own personal evacuation planning must be done well in advance, keeping in mind that visibility may be compromised, and roads clogged or impassible. Also keep in mind that the most physically capable individuals in the household may not be home, leaving others to do this on their own. You may want to coordinate with neighbors in your planning if special assistance may be needed.

• Community Evacuation Centers - The Beach Club and Port Ludlow Community Church have some capability to be an evacuation center except in the case of a tsunami. In the future, these may be equipped and stocked for emergencies, but are not currently. Nevertheless, they may still function as temporary gathering places.

While some community shelter facilities and resources may be available for those whose homes are damaged, the preferred preparation is to make “shelter in place” in our own home a practical solution as much as possible. 

The Beach Club or the Port Ludlow Community Church can serve as gathering places and shelters, assuming that they are not themselves damaged and unsafe. However, neither building is “specially built” as an emergency facility, and both are currently on regular commercial electricity and are vulnerable to power outages. It is hoped that in the future each will have an emergency power generator and stored emergency food and medical supplies so that these two facilities can better serve the community as true shelter/emergency facilities. 

Note:  Please refer to the North Port Ludlow EPC Emergency Alerts and General Emergency Information Resources reference guide.

We live in a remote area with limited access/ingress and egress routes, and limited emergency services. We do have wonderful Port Ludlow Fire & Rescue Department, Jefferson County Sheriff, and neighborhood volunteer Block Captains, etc.; however, in the event of a major disaster these resources will be stretched to the limit and may not be available for even the most critical needs. Therefore, we could be on our own for an extended period and therefore must plan to help ourselves. 

Remember, time is on our side so begin taking small steps today to be prepared. Being ready will help mitigate impact to you, your family and home. 

Here is the latest list of North Bay VOLUNTEER Block Captains as published by the PLVC:

http://www.plarchive.org/block-captain-list-north-bay/

Block Captains (BCs) are VOLUNTEERS who have a limited communication responsibility, and not every neighborhood has an active, trained BC. Moreover, in the event of an emergency or disaster, the BC is just as likely as any other resident to be away from Port Ludlow or to be themselves negatively impacted. The BC or their family may be injured or in need of assistance themselves and therefore unable to respond. 

It is critical that you begin to personally prepare for an emergency or disaster now. In the event of a disaster, each of us is primarily responsible for helping ourselves and then our immediate neighbors and neighborhood if possible. 

Remember, time is on our side so begin taking small steps today to be prepared. Being ready will help mitigate impact to you, your family and home. 

Emergency preparedness information, updates and notifications of community events will be posted on this Emergency Preparedness Tab on the LMC website.

If these FAQs do not answer your questions regarding North Bay resident emergency preparedness, you may e-mail the EPC at:

[email protected]

Thank you for your interest! Please contact the EPC via email at:

[email protected]