Port Angeles – More than 1.6 million participants took part in this morning’s Great Washington ShakeOut, a new state record for participation.
The goal of the ShakeOut is to encourage people, including businesses, schools and community groups, to review and update emergency preparedness plans, stock supplies and secure their living or working spaces to prevent damage and injuries.
The main drill began promptly at 10:16 a.m., with tsunami sirens sounding along our local coastlines, and notices going out to everyone who signed up with the official Everbridge alert system.
Clallam County Undersheriff Lorraine Shore is working to get the word out to those who are still registered with the old alert system, Code Red, that you’ll need to switch to the new system to get alerts going forward.
“So, if you were on the Everbridge emergency alert, you would have gotten a message saying, you know, “The Great American ShakeOut, 10:16, tsunami sirens are going off. Don’t be concerned.” And we did give them a number to call. And we have our emergency operation staff activated today as a drill, and they’re actually checking all the messages from people that are calling in asking about the tsunami sirens.”
To sign up, click here.
“And then you’ll get notified either by email, or phone, or both, if you put that in there. And it’s really the best thing to do because this is how we’re able to connect with everybody if there is truly an emergency in our county.”