Be ready for anything: Know your West Seattle Communication Hub


View West Seattle Emergency Communication Hubs in a larger map

Watching/reading/listening to news of the Chile quake and the Hawaii tsunami alert – we are NOT under a warning here – you might be inspired to doublecheck to be sure you’re ready for what everyone hopes will never happen. So we’re reminding you about the ONE West Seattle-specific link that not only is laden with the traditional preparedness information, but also shows you where you’d be able to go to get information and help, if you couldn’t find out what was going on any other way: the Emergency Communication Hubs mapped at West Seattle – Be Prepared. Because of a two-year volunteer effort, our area is way ahead of most other Seattle neighborhoods in terms of this kind of preparation, and the volunteer effort includes this great site. The Hubs are part of it – nine sites around the peninsula where volunteers will set up gathering places/information clearinghouses – click on your nearest one on the Google Map above, then find out the full details at this page on the official site. Bookmark the site on your home and work computers – plus your smartphone if you have one – and also remember that you can find the link in the WSB sidebar (look for the mini-graphic of the Hubs map). You also can pick up postcards with the hub map at the Junction and Delridge Neighborhood Service Centers (more on that here).

8 Replies to "Be ready for anything: Know your West Seattle Communication Hub"

  • star55 February 27, 2010 (9:58 am)

    Thanks, I have not been really involved, this makes me think I should be.

  • WSB February 27, 2010 (10:22 am)

    There’s a GREAT group of people working on this — and the more help the merrier. You can also join a related Facebook group:
    http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=300892977134

  • Chris February 27, 2010 (11:31 am)

    Thanks for this! I didn’t know about it. I added it to my maps on Google and now can look at it on my mobile device in the event of an emergency.

    I’m wondering if the West Seattle Emergency Hubs map will be updated (when/if possible) in the event of the emergency with current and relevent info like they did for Southern California Fires in recent years? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7y4MlYNBTI&feature=player_embedded Would be very interesting/nice/helpful feature to have.

    • WSB February 27, 2010 (11:41 am)

      We are involved with the group in our role as a real-time news/information provider for the West Seattle peninsula so will be working with them in whatever ways are possible if the unthinkable happens. Regarding radio, there also is a radio network associated with this, and they do periodic tests (which we have covered in the past). Probably time for us to do a more detailed story about all these efforts, but in the short run, we just wanted to put this up so at least for starters you can explore the excellent WSBP site – Tracy

  • Living in West Seattle Since 1985 February 27, 2010 (12:05 pm)

    Good reminder . . . think of Hawaii right now.

  • homedk February 27, 2010 (12:08 pm)

    As Tracy says, a lot will depend on the nature of the emergency & whether communications are completely down or only partially. As one of the folks working on this, I want to mention that our goal will be to keep the website & maps updated.

    It’s possible that the hub locations may need to be adjusted somewhat (due to dangerous conditions or other factors), but even if we can’t update our online maps or communicate that via WSB, we will have signs & potentially other methods to communicate that.

    • WSB February 27, 2010 (12:51 pm)

      And I should add that, having come from broadcast news and been continuously involved in disaster/contingency planning at multiple stations, we have done the same for WSB – making sure we have multiple paths to Internet access (fixed and mobile), multiple backup sites, alternate power sources, hardware redundancies, servers outside the area – so that, provided it isn’t a massively catastrophic situation where EVERYTHING is down, we will have the maximum possible chance of staying in the information-providing business. Though the 2008 “Snowpocalypse” wasn’t exactly a true death-and-destruction disaster, we did provide, procure and coordinate 24-hour coverage, which was a little bit of a test run. And if everything IS down, we will pitch in via radio, physically distributing information, whatever is needed. Our 24/7 mission is something we take very seriously, and it’s great to have community partners both formal and informal (if you’ve ever called in a breaking news tip, you’re a partner!) to help – TR

  • Holli February 27, 2010 (3:37 pm)

    Really wonderful to know about this resource, so tragic for Hawaii and Chile…

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