When a disaster occurs is not the time to start planning. The Pierce County Department of Emergency Management has excellent recommendations for emergency preparedness. The message can be boiled down to one basic reality - be ready to be on your own for a minimum of 3 days. Emergency responders can only react to the most severe emergencies in a crisis. People have to be able to rely on themselves, on their families and friends, and on their neighbors.

Below are some resources to help in your planning and in an emergency. But remember - in a crisis, resources will be stretched very thin.

• American Red Cross: (253) 474-0400
• Pierce County Emergency Management: (253) 798-7470
• Tacoma Emergency Management: (253) 591-5003

• The American Red Cross and Pierce County Emergency Management decide
  when and where to open shelters. People are encouraged to bring personal
  comfort items, medications and toiletries to shelters. Pets are not allowed; owners are responsible for making alternative arrangements in advance.
• To find out if a shelter is open and where it is located, call Pierce County
  Emergency Management: (253) 798-7470.
• Pierce Transit provides transportation to shelters: (253) 581-8000

• Flood warning information, Pierce County Emergency Management: (253) 798-7470.
• Continuous flood alerts at www.PierceCountyWA.org/flood
• Flooding is not covered under normal homeowner or tenant insurance policies.
• To obtain flood insurance call the National Flood Insurance Office in Bellevue:
  (206) 646-4908 or write to:

Federal Emergency Management Agency
Federal Insurance Administration
Washington DC 20572

Flood insurance costs about $300 for $90,000 of coverage annually.

• Call 911
• Fire departments handle spill
• Police & State Patrol handle evacuations

• Downed power lines/poles
  Tacoma Public Utilities: (253) 502-8602
• Power lines in the street:
  Street Maintenance: (253) 591-5495
• Downed power lines between pole & house, on private property:
  Homeowner's responsibility.

• US West: If dial tone is delayed or interrupted, it could be because of heavy
  call volumes; remain on the line and it may be available momentarily. If
  phones are not working or inaccessible due to emergency situation, customers may be able to receive free Call Forwarding. To request help:
  Residential customers: 1-800-573-1311
  Business customers: 1-800-954-1211
• Telephone service provided via cable provider
  Call your cable provider.

• Recorded updates on Seattle/Tacoma roads, mountain passes and ferry
  schedules: (206) 368-4499 or 1-800-695-7623.
• Call 5-1-1 for real time traffic and weather information throughout Washington State.
• Mountain pass information: 1-888-766-4636
• Ferry information: 1-800-843-3779
• Pierce Transit: Voice information: (253) 581-8000 (business hours)
  Recorded route information: (253) 984-8155 (24 hours/day)
• Sound Transit: Voice information: (206) 398-5000 or (800) 201-4900
• Seattle Metro: Voice information: (206) 553-3000 or (800) 542-7876
  Recorded schedule information: (206) 287-8463
  Customer Service: (206) 553-3060
• Greyhound: 1-800-231-2222 - fares and schedules
  Tacoma terminal: 510 Puyallup Avenue
  Terminal hours: TBA
  (253) 383-4621 - local terminal information only
• Amtrak: 1-800-872-7245 - fares and schedules
  Tacoma station: 1001 Puyallup Avenue
  (253) 627-8141 - local station information only
  Station hours: 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. (Subject to train arrivals.)

• Trees down on public property: (253) 591-7813
• Trees (limbs) on power lines: (253) 502-8729
• Trees down on private property: homeowner's responsibility
• Homeowner's insurance typically pays if a tree falls on the roof, outbuilding
  or fence.
• The City of Tacoma does not have a program to help with tree trimming or removal.
• Complaints or concerns about trees hanging over property lines: (253) 594-7813.