On Sunday afternoon, June 11, Seattle volunteers will participate in !PowerDown 2023”, a disaster drill to test neighborhood preparedness for an electrical grid failure lasting multiple days. Emergency Communication Hubs will work with the City”s Auxiliary Communications Service (ACS) to simulate and respond to a city-wide power outage with no immediate estimates for restoration.

“A massive power outage will shake us in ways that will surprise us. We will relearn the importance of neighbors and community,” said Emergency Hubs co-leader Ann Forrest, one of the drill organizers. “Emergency Communication Hubs are organized neighbors who practice supporting their community after a distressing event. They gather to share
information – and resources or skills – to help our neighbors get their basic needs met.”

The amateur radio operators of the Auxiliary Communications Service, operating from Hubs as well as other designated locations around the City, will test their ability to use their own power sources while sending situation reports of conditions in each neighborhood into the City”s Emergency Operations Center. In a real event, that information could be used by City response planners to assess conditions throughout the city and develop response plans.

“For decades, amateur radio volunteers have stepped in during adverse conditions to help communities meet the moment during disasters,” said Catherine Middleton-Hardie, Deputy Director of Seattle ACS. “Our volunteers drill regularly to facilitate reliable off grid voice and data transmission across the City, using our own equipment and training.”

Failure of our electrical grid not only results in loss of electrical power but would also likely impact our water and sewer capacity, as many of the systems we rely on are closely interconnected. The simulated messages being sent and received by the volunteers cover a variety of conditions requiring varied responses.

At the Hub sites shown below, the public is invited to observe or participate with the Hubs, and get information on how to develop their own plans to endure an extended outage.

Participating Hub locations include:
Hub Address (these two in our area)

Hope Lutheran
4456 42nd Ave SW

South Park
8201 10th Ave S

All Hub locations encourage visitors – in fact, public participation is essential to test the system the Hubs have in place. The public will learn about community preparedness and how to make their own households more resilient.

Date and Time: Sunday, June 11, 2023 from 1:30 to 4:00 pm
For more information, about Seattle Emergency Hubs, visit seattleemergencyhubs.org; for questions, contact Ann Forrest at Info@SeattleEmergencyHubs.org or call (904) 701-4827