Are we ready for the next big catastrophe?

Having watched a spate of hurricanes, earthquakes and wildfires devastate areas throughout the United States and Mexico in recent weeks, the question of natural disaster prep is likely on many people’s minds.

So how well prepared are Camas and Washougal in the event of a natural disaster? Captain Michael Brown, with the Camas-Washougal Fire Department, wants to make sure when, not if, there is a Cascadia earthquake, there will be food and water available for firefighters and paramedics.

The first step in his research — conducted over the past two years — involved looking at the Portland Fire Bureau’s natural disaster and earthquake plan.

If there are structural collapses, Brown says, it is important to shut off gas lines. He also wants to get fire engines, brush rigs and ambulances out of fire stations, in case there are aftershocks.

“During a power outage, electronics would be useless,” Brown explains.

Information from Portland’s Fire Bureau, as well as opinions from others, are compiled in a red binder on Brown’s desk, and each of the three CWFD stations have a copy of the notebook.

The Portland Fire Bureau has VHF-based radios, so firefighters and paramedics can communicate from station to station in case of a natural disaster. The radios serve as a backup to the main 800 megahertz radio communication.

“They would be separate from the current Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency (CRESA) dispatch communications,” Brown explains.

Brown, who has been a local firefighter-paramedic for 20 years, is not assigned as the CWFD’s natural disaster coordinator, but says he took an interest in Cascadia earthquakes after reading a New Yorker magazine article about the seismic risk in the Pacific Northwest.

The article, by Kathryn Schulz, discusses the Cascadia subduction zone, located north of the San Andreas fault line, which is 700 miles long and includes parts of California, Oregon and Washington.

“It inspired me to get moving and start this process,” Brown says of Schulz’ article. “I want us to function after a large seismic event, with food, water and a plan.”

Each backpack contains a rain poncho, water-filtration bottle, flashlight, headlamp, first-aid kit and enough food and water to last three days. Brown says the recommendation now is to have enough food and water for 21 days, but adds that this is not practical for everyone.

He recommends that people who live or work in East Clark County be prepared to be self-sufficient for more than 24 hours following a natural disaster, and says residents should know how to shut off gas lines at their homes as well as at their neighbors’ homes, in case their neighbors are at work or absent during the disaster event.

To prepare for winter weather, Brown recommends that people keep blankets, warm clothes and footwear suitable for inclement weather in their car, and adds that it’s always a good idea to keep the gas tank as full as possible.

Brown also recommends storing food and water and shutting off the gas at home in the event of flooding — something he and his family are wary of, living along the Washougal River.

“Be aware of gas leaks and another hazard — downed power lines,” he says. “Have a surplus of urgent medication, particularly blood pressure or heart medicine … All the things that are normal in your life will not be normal (during a natural disaster.)”

Referring to the after-effects of Hurricane Harvey in Texas and Hurricane Irma in Florida, Brown points out that these recent natural disasters have shed light on the benefits of being prepared.

“Right now in the United States, it’s clear how bad it can get,” Brown says. “There is no food, water or electricity. All the things you come to rely on daily are no longer available.”

The American Red Cross will provide steps to prepare for a disaster from 10:30 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Sept. 23, during a Camas-Washougal Fire Department open house and safety fair (see sidebar).

An emergency supply checklist can be found at www.ready.gov.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is one of the supporters of the “Great Washington ShakeOut,” scheduled for 10:19 a.m., on Thursday, Oct. 19. Participants in the earthquake drill will practice how to drop, cover and hold on.

Visit shakeout.org/washington for more information about how to survive and recover quickly from a natural disaster in this part of the country.