Check and update your emergency preparedness kit or create one then share a photo of the most creative item inside it along with a brief description for a chance to win preparedness-related prizes.
Some of the items in one of our emergency preparedness kits.
November isn’t just the beginning of the holiday season, it’s also the unofficial start of storm season here in the Pacific Northwest. As we gather to celebrate the holidays with our friends and families, it also is important to prepare for the possibility of power outages and other emergencies. That starts with locating and evaluating your emergency preparedness kit. If you don’t have an emergency preparedness kit, it’s time to get one. Building an emergency preparedness kit is one of the most important things you can do to be prepared for severe winter weather. At least once a year, make sure your kit is up to date by:
- Checking the expiration dates on food and water. If anything has expired, compost what you can and dispose of the rest.
- Be ready to eat the food you put in your kit. Have a recipe or two ready to make your emergency meals a little more appetizing.
- Remember that it’s possible to lose power for extended periods of time during some weather events. Think of extras that might make it easier on you and your family if that happens – batteries, toys for the kids, a deck of cards.
How to win!
We want to see the most creative item in your emergency kit: whether it’s a stuffed animal, can of gourmet tuna, a special piece of chocolate, or even a bucket with a lid! Email your photo by noon on Thursday, December 6 of the most creative item in your emergency kit, along with a brief description to photocontest@seattle.gov. The subject line of your email will be the photo’s title and the body of the email will be the caption. Three winners* will be announced on Friday, December 8 at http://alerts.seattle.gov. Participants will be judged on creativity, usefulness and shelf-life. Winners will receive preparedness-related prizes, including:
- Apocalypse Chow: How to Eat Well When the Power Goes Out (Paperback) by Jon Robertson
- Solar / Hand-Crank Powered Flashlight & AM/FM Radio and Charger
You can get checklists for your emergency preparedness kit and lots of other helpful tips at the Take Winter By Storm website.
*By sending your photo, you agree that we may use it to promote emergency preparedness. Winners will be selected from a small panel of city employee judges. Though we love city ofSeattlecontributions,Seattleemployees are not eligible for prizes. Limit one entry per contestant.