Volunteering in programs like Citizen Corps is a great way to assist your community. In the mean time, you can take simple steps to be prepared for emergencies at home. Here are some things you can do right now to be safer:
--Select an Out-of-Area Contact for your family. In disasters, communication systems become overloaded and it may be difficult to reach local family members. Long distance lines come up sooner than local lines, so select someone in another state who everyone contacts to let your family know you are okay and where you are.
--Gather supplies for your family. Plan enough food and water (one gallon per person per day) for seven days. Remember to include medicine you may take and provide for your pets. Also include portable radios and flash lights, extra batteries, clothes, blankets.
--Talk with your neighbors and get them interested in helping plan to make your neighborhood safer and better prepared to help each other--both in responding to disasters and to be more crime resistant.
--Change the batteries on your smoke alarms every six months and replace the alarms altogether every ten years.
--Know where your gas, electricity, and water shut-off mains are for you house. Know when and how to shut them off safely.
--Want more information? Call 253-798-6595 and find out how you can become better prepared at home, in your neighborhood, and at your place of work.
Together, we can make a difference--IF we have a plan.
We also recognize the desire of community members to reach out and volunteer to support local emergency responders, disaster relief efforts, and community safety. Faith-based and non-profit organizations, businesses, and individuals work side by side with government agencies to plan for an organized response to help the needs of our community following disasters. 
