A basic disaster supply kit should allow your family to be self-sufficient at home for at least three days after an emergency. Food and water should be your highest priority when you begin putting a kit together. You probably already have many of the other recommended items. Make a list of those you don't have and add one or two of them to your weekly shopping list until you have them all.

Printable check list from ready.gov

Basic supplies:

• Water - one gallon per person, per day for at least three days
• Non-perishable food - at least a three-day supply of non-perishable ready-to-eat food
• Can opener
• Battery powered or hand crank radio
• Batteries
• Flashlight
• First aid kit
• Multi-purpose tool
• Whistle
• Antiseptic towelettes
• Garbage bags
• Dust mask
• USB hand crank charger for cell phone
• Blankets for each family member
• Rain ponchos for each family member
• Personal hygiene supplies (toothbrush, toothpaste, sanitary napkins, soap, towel, etc.)
• Prescription medications
• Cash
• Paper and pencil
• Pet supplies
• Children/baby supplies (diapers/wipes, formula, baby food, coloring book/crayons)

 Additional items:

• 7 gallon water container
• Plastic sheeting and duct tape
• Additional blankets
• Fire extinguisher
• Carbon monoxide detector
• Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
• Rake
• Snow shovel
• Deicer
• Sand/non-clumping litter
• Outdoor faucet insulation materials/covers
• Camping stove and fuel (outdoor use only)
• Firewood and water-proof matches
• Water purification equipment
• Medical supplies
• Emergency reference materials such as a first aid book
• Household chlorine bleach (non-scented) and medicine dropper
• Two-way radios
• Safety beacon/flashing light
• Extra batteries (AAA, AA C, D, 9-volt)

In case you must evacuate your home quickly, prepare a "go bag" for each member of your family. Go bags should be easy to carry containers such as backpacks. You may not be at home in an emergency situation, so consider keeping some additional supplies in your car and at work.

Go bag supply list:

• Food and water (as much as you can practically carry)
• Portable radio and extra batteries
• First aid kit and handbook
• 5 day supply of any medications you take regularly and a copy of your prescriptions
• Whistle
• Personal hygiene supplies (including toilet paper)
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• Change of clothes
• Sturdy shoes
• Warm hat and gloves
• Local map
• Cash in small denominations
• Large garbage bags
• Dust mask
• Pen, paper and tape
• Copy of health insurance card, driver license or identification card
• Photos of family members for reunification purposes
• List of emergency contact phone numbers
• For children, in addition to above:
  • Medical consent forms
  • Family photos
  • Favorite toy or book

• Pick safe places in your home where you could drop, cover and hold during an earthquake. Safe places could be under a sturdy table, desk or against an interior wall away from windows, bookcases, or tall furniture that could fall on you. Remember to do the same at work.
• Practice drop, cover and hold. If you physically practice you’ll have a better chance of remembering what to do during a real earthquake.
• Have a fire extinguisher available and know when and how to use it. Minimum recommended size: 2A:10BC.
• Seismically safeguard your home. This could include securing items such as appliances, water heater, book cases, framed pictures, televisions and computers; installing cabinet latches, and securing valuable/sentimental breakable items to shelves with putty.
• If your home was built before 1977, check to see if the frame is bolted to the foundation.
• Prepare for the possibility of tsunamis, power outages and landslides.

Visit ready.gov for more information.

Earthquake Map

Liquefaction Map

When temperatures start to rise, the danger for heat-related illnesses is very real and can happen very quickly. Your body may not be able to stay cool enough and that may lead to a variety of heat related issues.

Older adults, young children, and people with mental illness and chronic diseases are at highest risk for heat-related illness. But even young and healthy individuals can suffer in heat if they participate in strenuous physical activities during hot weather.

You can protect yourself and loved ones against very hot temperatures by following these recommendations:

Stay cool!

• Spend more time in air conditioned places. If you don't have air conditioning, consider visiting a mall, movie theater, library or other cool public places including Shoreline City Hall. City Hall is open M-F, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. and has public bathrooms, drinking fountains, and lobby seating.
• Cover windows that receive morning or afternoon sun.
• Dress in lightweight clothing.
• Take a tepid shower or bath, or place cool washcloths on your skin.
• Lakes, rivers and streams can be a tempting way to cool down, but remember to get used to the cold water slowly and wear personal protective devices to be safe in the water.

Stay Hydrated!

• Have a beverage with you at all times, and sip or drink frequently. Don't wait until you're thirsty to drink.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Avoid drinks with caffeine, alcohol and large amounts of sugar because they can actually de-hydrate your body.

Stay Safe!

• Limit the time you're in direct sunlight.
• NEVER LEAVE CHILDREN OR PETS IN VEHICLES! Even with the windows cracked, heat inside vehicles can climb very rapidly putting children and animals at a higher risk of illness or death from the heat. 
• Avoid or reduce doing activities that are tiring, or take a lot of energy.
• Do outdoor activities in the cooler morning and evening hours.
• Avoid sunburn. Use a sunscreen lotion with a high SPF (sun protection factor) rating.
• Check up on your elderly neighbors and relatives regularly.
• Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.
• Wear a hat with a brim.

 Stay Aware!

• If someone has heat stroke, they need to call 9-1-1 or go to the emergency room immediately. Know the warning signs of heat-related illness:
  • Extremely high body temperature (above 103°F)
  • Weakness, dizziness, or fainting
  • Unusually elevated heart rate
  • Fast and shallow breathing
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Muscle cramps

Four types of landslides can potentially affect Shoreline. They are deep-seated, shallow, bench and large slides. Puget Sound’s shoreline contains many large, deep-seated dormant landslides. Shallow slides are the most common type and the most probable for Shoreline. Occasionally, large catastrophic slides occur on Puget Sound. The soil covering much of King County was left behind by the Vashon Glacier and is prone to slides.

A large slide occurred in the town of Woodway, just north of the Richmond Beach neighborhood during the early morning of January 15, 1997. It cut fifty feet into the property above, passed over the railroad tracks and knocked a freight train into the Sound.

The Holiday Blast Storm of December and January 1996-1997 was the cause of this massive landslide. The storm also caused a large washout/landslide within Shoreline along NW 175th Street near 6th Avenue NW that was a federally declared disaster. The 100 foot long sinkhole cost 2 million dollars to repair. However, the sinkhole provided opportunities to implement a series of Low Impact Development concepts ultimately reducing flooding and water quality problems while increasing fish habitat and providing recreation opportunities.

Landslide Map

Liquefaction Map

Severe weather can affect all areas of Shoreline. Strong wind mainly comes from the west and southwest. The wind flows from high to low sea-level pressure through the Chehalis Gap to the south and the Strait of Juan De Fuca to the north. The convergence of these two wind flows is known as the Puget Sound Convergence Zone. The convergence usually forms in an east-west line across southern Snohomish County but can go as far north as Anacortes or as far south as Federal Way, depending on where the winds collide shows the air flow of the Puget Sound Convergence Zone. Ice will more likely affect those areas at a higher elevation, such as the Highlands or parts of Innis Arden.

Since the entire city is susceptible to severe weather, all critical infrastructure is considered exposed to severe weather. Given that electrical utilities and roads are most often affected by severe weather, all critical infrastructure managers and operators should plan for possible power outages and difficult ingress and egress. Some critical infrastructure, such as power lines, is actually more likely to be impacted or damaged as a result of severe weather.

StormReady Information

Although any critical infrastructure within the 100-year floodplain is potentially exposed to flooding the floodplains in Shoreline are restricted to short reaches of small creeks. Flood damage is the result of surface water and not dependent on developed river channels. Structures exposed to riverine flooding were identified. Those that may be exposed to generalized surface water flooding were not be similarly identified.

What to do to prepare for a flood

• Learn the safest route from your home or business to high ground.
• Make arrangements for housing in the event you need to evacuate your home.
• Teach all family members how, where and when to turn off utilities.
• Plan for a meeting place outside of the hazard area.
• If it has been raining hard for several hours, or raining steadily for several days, be alert to the possibility of a flood.
• Consider purchasing one or more pumps to use to remove water in and around your home during heavy rains or flooding.
• Prepare for severe storms and power outages which often accompany floods.
• Review your flood insurance policies for structure and contents coverage. Don’t have insurance? Contact your insurance representative or visit www.floodsmart.gov

Flood Map

Shoreline is an urbanized city but is susceptible to wildland fires that can destroy property and infrastructure. It is susceptible to fires as a result of the numerous steep slopes located throughout. Innis Arden, the Highlands, and Boeing Creek Canyon all have vegetated areas located on slopes. These tend to be heavily vegetated and typically dry out during the summer. Richmond Beach Park, which faces south, is vulnerable to wildfires.

Landfire Map

Shoreline has low vulnerability to volcanic hazards. Tephras (ash and the large volcanic projectiles that erupt from a volcano) can potentially cause the most damage. Ash only ½ inch thick can impede the movement of most vehicles and disrupt transportation, communication, and utility systems. Tephra may cause eye and respiratory problems, particularly for those with existing medical conditions. Ash may also clog ventilation systems and other machinery. It is easily carried by winds and air currents remaining a hazard to machinery and transportation long after the eruption.

Gases from volcanic eruptions are usually too diluted to constitute danger to a person in normal health, the combination of acidic gas and ash may cause lung problems. Extremely heavy ash can clog breathing passages and cause death.

A hazardous materials release can occur from two sources: from fixed sites (facilities that hold hazardous materials on site) and from transportation related operations. Because of the small amount of presence of critical transportation infrastructure, Shoreline is more likely to have transportation related hazardous materials release. 

The Washington State Public Health Laboratories that is located on the Fircrest campus and gasoline stations are also concerns. The lab has a fairly sizeable number, but in small quantities, of individual chemicals. There are 10 gasoline stations located within Shoreline.

It is unlikely that a tsunami or seiche generated by a distant or Cascadia Subduction earthquake would result in much damage in Shoreline. One computer model suggests that a tsunami generated by such an earthquake with a magnitude of 8.5 would only be 0.2 to 0.4 meters in height when it reached the Seattle/Shoreline area. This results from the shielding of the Olympic Peninsula and the Puget Sound islands.

However, Puget Sound is vulnerable to tsunamis generated by local crustal earthquakes (such as along the Seattle fault or South Whidbey Island fault) or by submarine landslides triggered by earthquake shaking. This type of tsunami could impact Shoreline. The low-lying areas along the Puget Sound coastline could suffer damage. There is a low probability of a tsunami or seiche occurring in Shoreline.

• Listen to the radio, TV, or local emergency-alert system.
• In an emergency, local authorities may not be able to provide information right away. Be patient and wait for directions.

• Continue to listen to a radio, television, or emergency-alert system for instructions. Have a battery-powered radio available. Officials may tell you what to do.
• If you are told to evacuate, remember to wear protective clothing and sturdy shoes. Use travel routes provided by local authorities – don’t use shortcuts because certain areas may be closed or dangerous.
• If you are told to stay in place, continue to listen for further directions.
• If you are in a room with a window, make sure the window is closed.
• Remain where you are until further direction from emergency personnel.

• After you receive direction from officials, follow the steps in your emergency plan.
• Take your emergency kit. The kit should include: a battery-powered radio and flashlight, extra batteries, first-aid kit, water, food, and a change of clothing. If needed, you should also include baby supplies, medical devices or prescription medicine, and eyeglasses or contact lens supplies.
• Check on neighbors, especially senior citizens and disabled persons. If you are a senior citizen or a disabled person, follow your emergency plan or follow the instructions given by officials to get help in an emergency.

• It is important to stay calm in an emergency. Get as much information about the situation as possible by watching TV, listening to the radio, or using the Internet for news.