Immediate Actions

• Expect aftershocks: Each time you feel one, Drop, Cover, and Hold On.
• Check for injuries: Tend to yourself first, then help others.
• Check for gas leaks: If you smell gas, shut off the main valve.
• Listen to the radio: Use a battery-operated radio for emergency updates.

Next Steps

• Floor Captains will visit: They will check to see who needs medical attention, gas and water leaks and
  to hand out a unit checklist of things to know and do.
  We know you will have lots of question, but floor captains need to check on everyone
  and report emergencies to our incident command so additional help can be dispatched.
  Allow their first visit to be brief. They will make periodic visits to all units.
  Not all floors have floor captains, so it may take some time before they visit you.
• If you need medical attention: After a major quake, help from the city will be very slow: perhaps days away.
  Our volunteers have no formal medical training. They may be able to help with cuts or apply a tourniquet. Some medical supplies are on each floor.
  If you can, a triage area will be set up in the community room, but this will take hours to be ready.
  Depending on the injury and the passability of streets, you may want to go to Legacy Hospital at 23rd and Marshall.
• Check in with loved ones: If cell service is available, texting is your best option to contact loved ones.
  Contact someone outside the disaster area and ask them to let others know you are OK.
• Evacuating the building: The building is designed to survive a 9.0 Cascadia Subduction zone quake.
  This means the building's floors should still be standing erect, but there can be extensive damage to walls, ceilings and infrastructure.
  Initially, we suggest sheltering-in-place because falling debris can be a lethal hazard outside.
  Only city emergency officials can order an evacuation. We will not.
  If you decide to evacuate and have no destination in mind,
  the Emergency Committee suggests that you go to the North Parks blocks between Flanders and Glisan.
  You can camp out there and if enough residents go there, it can be a supportive community until city and FEMA help arrives.
• We will definitely need your help: There aren't enough volunteers for all that needs to be done after a quake.
  If you are willing and able, please consider volunteering to help. Most of what needs to be done just needs many hands.
  Tell your floor captain that you want to help or go to the first floor and report to incident command in the lobby.

Emergency Supplies

You should plan on stocking enough supplies to last 7-14 days. The Committee has no food, water or other supplies for individual use. You are responsible for having a supply of goods for those in your unit. Regardless of how you decide to stock up, remember you will need 1 gallon of water per person per day. Plan on having no power and so you should select foods that do not require cooking.

Our personal favorite list was developed by the Vista E-Prep committee and it divides your shopping list and other tasks over 12 weeks, but you could make it 12 months if you preferred.

Vista’s 12-week emergency supply shopping list
FEMA also has a good list as does the Portland Bureau of Emergency Management.
Finally, the Pearl District Neighborhood Association’s E-Prep Committee has a two lists.

Don’t forget about your pet! Consider this list of supplies for them.

You are going to need more than food and water. These lists cover many of them but here are some items that you might overlook.

• Your Emergency Plan
• Radios with NOAA emergency and weather channel. Ideally, solar powered or hand cranked with USB port for your phone
• First aid kit
  
• Power bank for your phone
  
• Medications for you, your family and your pets
  
• Two Buckets with lids (You can get these at Ace, Home Depot or Costco or find ones with seats online.)
  (These are for pee and poop.)
  Learn about the twin bucket solution because you only get to flush once after a quake
  
• Cash in small bills because electronic payments may be down and vendors may not be able to make change
  
• Hand sanitizer if there is no water
  
• Duct tape and plastic sheeting to cover broken windows
  
• Flashlights, lanterns and lots of batteries
  
  Written information inside a plastic baggie with:
  
• Health, auto and homeowners insurance policies and contact information
  
• Doctors names, phone numbers, and medications
  
• Veterinarian’s contact info and pet insurance and meds
  
• Banking and credit card numbers with contact information
  
• Copies of personal IDs such as a drivers license or passport
  
• Photos of insured valuables

Your 72-Hour Kit

• Copies of important documents in a waterproof bag.
• Prescription medications and a first aid kit.
• Cash in small bills.
• Portable power bank for your phone.
• Change of clothes and sturdy shoes.
• Non-perishable food and water

Go-Bags

Think of a go-bag as your personal life-support system in a backpack. Its primary purpose is to ensure that if you have to leave your home in a matter of seconds—due to a fire, natural disaster, or any other sudden emergency—you have everything you need to survive and stay functional for at least 72 hours.

Here is why having one is a game-changer:

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1. Speed and Decision-Making

In a high-stress emergency, your brain doesn't always work at 100%. A go-bag eliminates "panic-packing." Instead of running around looking for your passport or a phone charger while sirens are going off, you simply grab the bag and go.

2. The 72-Hour Buffer

Emergency services often take time to organize and reach everyone during a major event. The go-bag is designed to bridge the gap between the moment you evacuate and the moment you reach a stable shelter or help arrives.

3. Mobility and Independence

Unlike a "bug-out" kit or a home pantry, a go-bag is meant to be portable. It provides:

• Sustenance: Water and high-calorie, non-perishable food.
• Protection: A change of clothes, emergency blankets, and basic first aid.
• Communication: Power banks, a radio, and a list of emergency contacts.
• Documentation: Copies of IDs, insurance papers, and some cash (since ATMs might be down).

4. Psychological Peace of Mind

There is a massive mental health benefit to being prepared. Knowing you have a plan—and the physical tools to back it up—reduces anxiety during a crisis, allowing you to focus on getting yourself and your loved ones to safety.

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The Golden Rule: Your go-bag should be light enough that you can carry it for several miles if you have to. If it's too heavy to run with, it's not a go-bag; it's just a heavy suitcase.

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There is no perfect answer to what should go in your go-bag. Here are a few suggestions:

FEMA has a suggested kit

Even the Canadians have recommendations for go-bags

The state of Washington has a go bag for you and your pets complete with reminders on which documents to bring with you.

Make a Plan and Other Things to Know

A good disaster plan is more than just a list of stuff to buy; it’s a strategy for when things go sideways. The goal is to reduce the number of decisions you have to make when your adrenaline is spiking.

Here are a collection of plans. You can read below to see which one might fit you best.

These two plans consider more than quakes. They are fairly comprehensive. Take a look at the Portland Readiness Booklet and the Resilience Workbook.

Of course FEMA has a plan.

Here is the Red Cross plan.

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Here are the essential elements of a comprehensive disaster plan:

1. The Communication Strategy

In a major event, local cell towers often get jammed. Your plan should include:

• The "Out-of-Town" Contact: Pick one person who lives in a different state. It’s often easier to call long-distance than to call across town during a local crisis. Everyone in the family should check in with this person.
• Text over Voice: Teach everyone that texts often get through when calls won't.
• The Paper Backup: Don't rely on your phone's contact list. Keep a physical card in every family member's wallet/backpack with key phone numbers and addresses.

2. Meeting Points (The "Where")

You need three specific locations mapped out:

1. The Immediate Spot: Right outside your front door (for fires).
2. The Neighborhood Spot: A specific park or landmark nearby (North Park Blocks between Flanders and Glisan)) if you can't get to your street.
3. The Regional Spot: A town or relative's house outside your immediate area if the whole city is being evacuated.

3. Evacuation vs. Sheltering-in-Place

Your plan needs "Triggers." Ask yourself: Under what conditions do we leave immediately, and under what conditions do we seal the doors and stay put?

• Evacuation: Map out at least two routes out of your neighborhood (in case one is blocked by flooding or debris).
• Shelter-in-Place: Identify the "safe room" in your house (usually an interior room with no windows) and ensure it contains your Stay-at-Home Kit.

4. Specialized Needs

A "one-size-fits-all" plan usually fits no one. Tailor your plan for:

• Pets: Most human shelters don't take animals. Identify pet-friendly hotels or "pet-sitters" outside the danger zone.
• Medical: Keep a 14-day supply of critical medications. If you have equipment that requires power (like a CPAP), your plan must include a backup battery or a place to go with a generator.
• Children: Give them a specific "job" (like being in charge of the flashlights) to reduce their anxiety and make them feel part of the team.

5. The "Go" vs. "Stay" Supplies

Feature	Go-Bag (Evacuation)	Stay-at-Home Kit
Duration	72 Hours	2 Weeks
Focus	Portability & Speed	Sustainability & Comfort
Key Items	Copies of ID & Cash	1 Gallon of water/person/day
Food	High-calorie bars/snacks	Canned goods & manual opener

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6. The "Digital Vault" Fleeing a disaster is hard; rebuilding your life afterward without documentation is harder. Store encrypted scans of the following in the cloud (or on a waterproof USB):

• Passports and Birth Certificates.
• Insurance policies (Home, Auto, Life, Medical) and contact information.
• A "Home Inventory" (photos/videos of your belongings for insurance claims).

Tip: A plan is just a piece of paper until you "stress-test" it. Do a "No-Notice Drill" once a year—tell the family you're evacuating right now and see how long it takes everyone to get to the car with their gear.

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And Now For More

Floor Captains

Floor captains are your neighbors and volunteers. They have agreed to help you be more prepared, to respond to an emergency and to make the building more resilent.

In the trash room above the recycling bins are "wanted posters" of your floor captain along with contact information. Feel free to contact them to ask question. If they can't answer them, they will contact the Emergency Committee for an answer.

If you haven't done it already, you can help your floor captain
and the Emergency Committee be better prepared to respond by filling out a short resident survey.

If you don't see a "wanted poster", it means your floor doesn't have a floor captain. You can always Email the Emergency Committee directly at ELECleads@elizabethlofts.org It's also an opportunity to volunteer to be a floor captain. We all started from zero, so don't think you can't do it because you can!

BEECN Sites

BEECN sites are communication nodes that operate when phones and cell service are down. You can go there to ask for emergency assistance if telephone service is down or report severe damage or injury. It's possible you can also communicate with distant loved ones to let them know you are safe.

The nearest BEECN Site is in Fields Park located at 10th and Overton. It will probably be 2-3 days until the sites are up and running.
You can find a map of all the BEECN sites in this handy dandy pocket prep.

In Case of Fire

In the event of a fire, alarms will sound on the floor experiencing the fire, the one above and the one below.
Alarms will not sound on other floors. As a result, most of the building including the Emergency Committee will be unaware of the fire.

You should not wait for direction from your floor captain because your floor may not have one or the captain my be off the floor.

You should:

• Not assume it is a false alarm and make the last mistake of your life!
• Do not waste time collecting items to take with you except possibly your go-bag
• Take the stairs to exit the building - the elevator will be recalled to the lobby
• Go at least across the street from the Elizabeth
• Wait until you hear the all clear before re-entering the building

If you are physically unable to exit the building via the stairwells, your best options are to
wait in your unit with a moist towel against the bottom of your front door to block smoke or
proceed to the stairwell and wait until help arrives. The doors to the stairwell are designed to resist fire for hours
and the HVAC system responds to a fire alarm to minimize smoke in the stairwells.
As firemen proceed up the stairwells to the fire, they will find you and assist you in exiting the building.

When the fire department first arrives at our building, they check the alarm panel on the first floor to pinpoint the location of the fire.
On the panel are a list of residents who have indicated that they can not exit the building without help along with their unit and contact info.
The firemen will go to their units first. If you would like to be added to this list
email the Emergency Committee at ELECleads@elizabethlofts.org

You can review fire safety in this brochure on High Rise Fire Safety.

And Finally

And here is the Elizabeth Lofts Residents Emergency Plan.

Pro-Tips for Safety

• Make a “Building Buddy” – in an emergency this is someone who can look after your pets when you can’t,
  do a safety check or assist you in evacuating the building.
• Secure heavy furniture (bookshelves, TVs) to the wall studs.
• Keep a pair of sturdy shoes and a flashlight under your bed.
• Never use elevators during or immediately after a quake.

ELEC Tip Number 1 – Emergency Kit

ELEC Tip Number 2 – Earthquake Preparation

ELEC Tip Number 3 – Disaster Communication Plan

ELEC Tip Number 4 – Evacuation

ELEC Tip Number 5 – Immediate First Step When An Earthquake Strikes

ELEC Tip Number 6 – Psychological Impacts of Natural Disasters

ELEC Tip Number 7 – Caring for Your Pet During a Disaster

ELEC Tip Number 8 – A Guide to HVAC Filters

ELEC Tip Number 9 – How to Survive an Earthquake in Your Car

ELEC Tip Number 10 – Surviving a Natural Disaster While Camping

ELEC Tip Number 11 – A Calendar for Emergency Preparedness

ELEC Tip Number 12 – Emergency Contact Phone Number

ELEC Tip Number 13 – Financial Preparation for an Emergency

ELEC Tip Number 14 – Medical Emergencies and the AED Team

Video Resources

Maybe you are a visual learner. Here are videos about what to store in your unit, your go-bag and even pet preparedness.