Mitigation
In the Mitigation Phase, the steps to eliminate or reduce disaster damages effecting the City and it's citizens are taken.  Strategies to be considered are removing or eliminating the hazard, reducing or limiting its amount or size, segregating the hazard from that which needs to be protected, reducing the likelihood of the hazard occurring, controlling its rate of release, establishing hazard warning and communication procedures, and establishing structural and non-structural protective measures.  Examples of mitigation include activities such as retrofitting buildings for earthquakes, elevating levies around flood prone homes and businesses, locating development outside of flood zones, and creating wildfire buffers around developments in vulnerable areas.

Preparedness
In the Preparedness Phase, emergency managers develop plans of action for when disaster strikes.  Goals of Preparedness include actions taken in advance of an emergency to develop operational capabilities and to facilitate an effective response when the event does occur.  Strategies to be considered are assessing and inventorying resources (personnel, equipment, facilities), planning, training, exercises, and developing procedures. 

This is also the phase that individuals and groups within our community should prepare to lessen the impacts of a disaster.  It is important to observe the distinction between a disaster and emergency.  An “emergency” is an event that requires response from service providers (i.e. police and fire) and that while potentially devastating to some members of the community, the event is manageable by emergency service providers.  However, a “disaster” is when an event is so traumatic that it disables the emergency response system from being able to respond to the event (e.g. Hurricane Katrina).  This is why it is so important that individuals in the community take steps to be prepared for 3-7 days without help in the event of disaster.  

Response
In the Response Phase, actions are taken immediately before, during or directly after an emergency occurs, to save lives, minimize damage, and to enhance the recovery activities.  Activities include notification and activation of personnel and services, continuity of government, establishing data and voice communications, dissemination of public information, evacuation or sheltering in place, insuring personnel identification and accountability, mass care, providing for mental and physical well-being of affected individuals.
 
Recovery
The goal of the Recovery Phase is to return the community's systems and activities to normal.  Tasks in this phase include restoring organization and staffing, restoring utilities, debris removal, restoration and salvage, maintaining essential records, assessing damages, public and employee information, and identifying recovery funding.  Long-term recovery includes restoring economic activity and rebuilding community facilities and housing.  This also includes rebuilding in such a way as to mitigate damages should the same disaster strike again (e.g. earthquake, flood). 

Black Diamond Police
Emergency number 9-1-1
Non-emergency number (253) 631-1012

Mt. View Fire and Rescue
Emergency number 9-1-1
Non-emergency numbers (253) 735-0284 or 360-886-1229
Arson Alarm Hotline:1-800-55-ARSON (statewide)

City of Black Diamond
Emergency number 9-1-1
Emergency Utilities Pager (253) 333-5555
Non-emergency number (360) 886-2560

American Red Cross of King County
If you are experiencing a disaster-related or military emergency, please call (206) 323-2345 or (360) 377-3761. These phone numbers are answered 24 hours a day

Hazardous Waste Information
King County residents living outside of the local calling area can call the toll-free number: 1-888-TOXIC-ED ( 1-888-869-4233). A TTY relay service is available at 7-1-1 for both local and toll-free calls

Washington State Child Protective Services
Call this one number and you could save a life. A person will answer your call 24 hours a day, seven days a week Call 1-866-ENDHARM
(1-866-363-4276). If the child or vulnerable adult is in an emergency situation, call 9-1-1

Battered Women - Emergency Support Shelter
Online resource for domestic violence information and women shelters location in Washington State. A statewide 24-Hour Domestic Violence Hotline is available for immediate help at 1-800-562-6025

King County Crisis Clinic
The most up-to-date and comprehensive database of health and human services in King County. 24-Hour Crisis Hotline available at
1-866-4-CRISIS (1-866-427-4747) or (206) 461-3222

Federal Emergency Management Agency
The FEMA Housing Portal is intended to help individuals and families, who have been displaced by a disaster, find a place to live. Call
1-800-621-FEMA (1-800-621-3362)

Puget Sound Energy
In case of a natural gas or electrical emergency, call 9-1-1 first. Then call PSE Customer Service at 1-888-225-5773. Assistance 24 hours a day

Swine Flu (H1N1) Information
H1N1 influenza, also known as "swine flu," is a newly-identified flu virus that can spread from people who are infected to others through coughs and sneezes. When people cough or sneeze, they spread germs through the air or onto surfaces that other people may touch. H1N1 influenza is not transmitted from pigs to humans or from eating pork products. See the links below for businesses and employers to keep up on newsworthy material: Guidance for Businesses and Employers on Swine Flu and Communications Toolkit


Emergency Preparedness Website
Ready.gov- Be prepared - Personal disaster plan worksheets available on this site

Disaster Preparation Handbook
An emergency planning and response guide

Severe Weather Preparedness
This guide explains weather-related disasters and suggests life-saving actions you can take.

NOAA Radio
NOAA Weather Radio is a service of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the Department of Commerce. NOAA Weather Radio provides continuous broadcasts of the latest weather information directly from the National Weather Service offices across the country. Weather messages are taped and run in a cycle lasting on an average of four to six minutes, and are updated frequently throughout the day. The NOAA Weather Radio network broadcasts from over 400 FM transmitters across the country on seven frequencies in the VHF band, ranging from 162.40 to 162.55 MHz above the commercial FM band. Eighteen NOAA Weather Radio stations broadcast in Washington.

During severe weather, the National Weather Service can interrupt the routine weather broadcasts and air special flood, weather watch, warning, or advisory messages. Specially designated warning receivers can be activated. Such receivers either sound an alarm indicating that an emergency exists, alerting the listener to turn the receiver up to audible volume, or, when operated in mutated mode, are automatically turned on so that the warning message is heard. "Warning Alarm" receivers are especially valuable for homes, businesses, schools, hospitals, public-safety agencies, and news media offices.

Under a January 1995 White House policy statement, NOAA Weather Radio was designated the SOLE government operated radio station to provide direct warning information into private homes and businesses for both natural disasters and nuclear attack. This includes hazardous conditions that pose a threat to life and safety, both at a local and national level.

NOAA weather radio broadcasts are made on one of seven high-band FM frequencies ranging from 162.40 to 162.55 MHz. These frequencies are usually not found on the average radio, but require a specially built receiver to pick up the broadcasts.

NOAA weather radio broadcasts can usually be heard as far away as 40 miles from the antenna site, often further. The effective range depends on many factors, including height of the antenna, terrain, quality of the receiver, and atmospheric conditions.

NOAA Weather Radio in Washington and Surrounding Areas: