Welcome To Issaquah Citizen Corps Homepage

The Issaquah Citizen Corps is comprised of your neighbors and other volunteers that live and work in the Issaquah area interested in being better prepared for disasters and emergencies; whether they be natural or man-made. The Issaquah Citizen Corps sponsors several different programs that any resident of Issaquah may participate in to further their level or preparedness. It is the mission of the Issaquah Citizen Corps to promote the awareness of, increase the preparedness for and assist in the response to a disaster. This is done through education like the CERT program, Map Your Neighborhood and training exercises in cooperation with the community's first responders.

As organized by the Department of Homeland Security and sponsored by the City of Issaquah, the Issaquah Citizen Corps works to provide preparedness education as outlined by DHS Citizen Corps.

Coping with the snow....

The Pacific Northwest does not receive a lot of snow (unless you are up in the Cascade Mountains), but when it does receive a dumping of snow it can become incapacitating to the area. Many people found out too late that they are unprepared for the snow because they did not plan ahead--especially in the instant gratification society that we live in. So here are a few things that can help you prepare for future snowfalls. If you were not prepared for the latest snowfall, then keep this list handy to be prepared for the next snowfall. If you were prepared, then sit back and enjoy the winter wonderland.

• Unless you really have to drive on the streets (life and death circumstances; having to go get that Denny's GrandSlam breakfast is not life and death) stay at home. Make sure you pack snow chains, snow brush, hats, gloves, water and snacks in the car if you truly need to be out and about. If we lived in an area that received snow regularly, then other drivers would be able to cope with snow and ice. The roads would be cleared regularly also. It is just not worth taking the chance.
• Be expecting a power outage. There is always the possibility of a power outage because of falling branches or just the weight of the snow on power lines. Have a couple of board games to keep kids entertained and plenty of flashlights near by. Candles are not a good option with kids around. Too much potential for a fire and now you are out in the snow without adequate protection.
• Have a couple of extra blankets and sweaters. If the power does go out, your house will slowly get chilly. Having a little bit more to put on and keep warm makes it much more comfortable. Treat yourself! Put on a very heavy pile SmartWool socks. Your toes will love you for it.
• As Fall is coming to a close refresh your emergency supply of food. This is the food that you should keep year round for any emergency that pops up (like the windstorms in the Fall). Plan on being able to make meals without electricity. If you have a small camp stove or a barbecue on the back porch, then you will be able to boil water and do some cooking. Many of the times you can find portable stoves at Asian Markets for the $20-40 price range. Be sure to stock up on many of the staples that last like rice, crackers, granola bars, beef jerky, and just about any freeze dried food. Keep lots of water available.
• Battery powered AM-FM radio. This may be the only way that you are able to get any news. It can be of great benefit to have a radio that receives the NOAA weather broadcast. At least you will know what kind of weather to expect and how long it will be around.
• You remember back at the end of September when ACE Hardware started to get snow shovels and you just laughed at them for getting them so early. You should have picked up then because now everyone is out of them. If you did happen to pick one up, then get out and keep your driveway and walkways clear. This allows you to keep ahead of the snow without having too much to move when the snow ends and it helps keep people from falling and hurting themselves. Another benefit is that because you are outside working it warms you up and keeps the blood flowing.

There are plenty of other things that you can do to prepare for winter storms. At the very least you can be prepared with the above list of items. Now start using your imagination to put yourself in the middle of a snowfall and figure out what other things would make you comfortable and more pleasant to get through a couple of days of snow.