The Great ShakeOut Earthquake drill is just a couple weeks away. Join the many schools, businesses and families across Kitsap County and around the world who are registered and will be participating in earthquake safety drills and activities. Register at buff.ly/N73LONo!

Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training starts Oct 16 in Keyport. Learn the vital skills and teamwork essential to assist and support in an emergency or disaster. Details and registration at buff.ly/BQqZoMo

KCDEM will have resources on preparing for The Big One and other disasters at the Discover Kingston Open House. The event is today from 4-7 p.m. at the Village Green Center, 26159 Dulay Road, Kingston.

Recent earthquakes remind us that we need to prepare for a major earthquake. You can receive a few seconds of advanced notice before feeling the quake by downloading the MyShake app so you can take needed safety measures. Learn more at: buff.ly/S0R1H1c

This afternoon, KCDEM received notification of a magnitude 7.8 earthquake off the coast of Russia. The National Tsunami Warning Center reports there is no tsunami threat for US and Canadian Pacific coasts.

This Saturday, September 20 from 12-4 pm KCDEM will contribute to the Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe's Emergency Preparedness Event at 31912 Little Boston Road NE, Kingston. This is a great opportunity to learn and receive resources to prepare for emergencies and disasters.

The Great ShakeOut Earthquake drill will take place this year is October 16th, although you can hold a drill anytime of the year! Join the many who are registered and will be participating in earthquake safety drills and activities. Register at buff.ly/S8HbTia!

Join us today at Olympic College Bremerton for Ready Bremerton 2025. Great disaster preparedness resources are available until 2 pm today.

Kitsap County is filled with people and organizations with skills, knowledge and resources that are critical to an effective disaster response. Come and learn how different groups and agencies will support the people of Kitsap in a disaster this Sat. from 10-2 at Olympic College.

Come and learn about our disaster hazards, including, The BIG ONE, this Saturday, Sept. 13 from 10-2 at the Olympic College Bremerton campus. Dozens of organizations, along with some food trucks, will set up in the parking. Learn more at: buff.ly/ASNeT1P

Did you know that Kitsap is vulternable different kinds of earthquakes? One is triggered by the Seattle Fault, a shallow fault that runs under Kitsap. A second is the Cascadia Subduction Zone off the coast. More at buff.ly/7vEtbPe graphic courtesy of The Seattle Times

Our CERT volunteers provided disaster preparedness resources to all ages at today’s Safety Fair organized by South Kitsap Fire & Rescue. Thank you team for serving the community in this way!

Take steps this weekend to diminish the impact of an earthquake on your home and personal property. Secure heavy items like televisions, bookcases, refrigerators, and objects that hang on walls. Learn how to find safety concerns in your home at kcowa.us/HazardHunt

Earthquakes can happen at anytime in Western Washington. Learn how to prepare for the shaking and the impact of a major quakes at: buff.ly/l0vzmVh

KCDEM will be at the South Kitsap Fire and Rescue Safety Fair on Sept. 6 at the Walmart parking lot from 10-2. CERT volunteers be providing some great resources to help you prepare for emergencies and disasters.

A major earthquake is the greatest disaster risk for Kitsap County. This video provides a great intro and the steps that you can take to stay safe. kcowa.us/EQbasics

It's National Preparedness Month here in Kitsap and across the nation. Disaster Preparedness starts at home, extends to the neighborhood and pulls the community together. Things you can do: Know your hazards, reduce risk, make plans and gather supplies. More at buff.ly/o6GdvR8

Happy Labor Day! The KCDEM office is closed today on this holiday.

Remember to lower your speed limits while driving through school zones.

We're teaming up with Olympic College and the Bremerton Fire Dept to provide a FREE kid-friendly Disaster Preparedness Fair on Sat., Sept. 13. READY BREMERTON 2025 will be at the OC Warren Ave. parking lot from 10 – 2 p.m. and will feature resources and workshops to help prepare for The Big One.

As the school year gets underway, pay extra attention to crosswalks when driving around schools. Remember to yield to children and adults crossing the street.

Kitsap County Sheriff's Office posted a great summary of safe driving tips now that kids are back in school and school buses are back on the road. Find it at buff.ly/XUAtHWo

Be sure to remember the basics of sharing the road with school buses: • Yellow flashing lights – Drivers should slow down • Red flashing lights – The bus is stopping and children are getting on or off the bus.

Kids start school this week and next. Be mindful of kids waiting for the school bus in the morning and walking home from the bus stop in the afternoon. Here’s a shout out to all of our school bus drivers who get our kids to school and back home safely each day!

The hot weather will continue through Tuesday. Take extra steps to combat the heat, especially if you work outdoors.

The Bremerton and Silverdale YMCA's are serving as Cooling Sites for residents who need a place to escape from the heat on Sat., Aug. 23. Guest fees will be waived if a community member mentions the location being a Cooling Site. Visitors will need to provide ID and sign a waiver.

Hot and dry conditions across the region will continue through Tuesday. Be sure to check on friends and neighbors who are vulnerable to heat.

We have an amazing team of volunteers working at the Kitsap County Fair! They are providing FREE disaster preparedness resources at our tent. It will remain hot this weekend so be sure to stay hydrated, use sunblock, and take frequent breaks when enjoying the Fair and other outdoor activities.

Hot temps will be with us through Tuesday morning. Limit your time outdoors, especially in the middle of the day. Stay hydrated and check on those vulnerable to the heat. Details on the current Heat Advisory at buff.ly/cn3ieVX

The Kitsap Auxlilary Radio Service (KARS) have their radios set up at the Fair. KARS provides communication support during emergencies. Today they we chating with a ham radio operator in South Dakota.

We are open for business here at the Kitsap County Fair! Come and see us alongside other Public Safety agencies today through Sunday.

The Kitsap Fair begins Wednesday morning! Check out some great resources to help you and your family prepare for emergencies and disasters. You'll find our tent behind the Pavilion.

This is Fair Week here in Kitsap County. KCDEM is sharing its canopies with all of our Public Safety agency partners this year. Thank you KCSO and KCDEM volunteers who set up the canopies this morning!

Many of you know that Michele Moen keeps all the wheels turning here at KCDEM. We are recognizing and celebrating Michele's 20 years of public service with Kitsap County! Among her many responsibilities, Michele oversees our volunteer program with over 600 volunteers.

A frontal system will move through the area Friday into Saturday and will bring seasonally-unusual amounts of rain across the area along with breezy southerly winds. The west slopes of the Olympics and North Cascades could receive 3-5 inches of rain.

The heat advisory for the region continues through this evening. Remember to stay hydrated and check on those most vulnerable to heat. Learn more at: weather.gov/safety/heat-during

The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for much of Western Washington from 2 PM this afternoon until 10 PM Tuesday. Limit time outside and check on friends and family members vulnerable to heat.

When carrying out an energy audit in your home, identify your most critical needs. For many, it's keeping medicines at the right temperature and powering medical devices. Planning for these needs with creative backup power solutions can be lifesaving in a disaster.

Prepare for disasters by taking an electricity audit.Think about how much we depend on power, including access to water, keeping our food fresh and cooking meals. How would you store food and cook if forced to go weeks without electricity? More to consider at: buff.ly/7GzIjsg

Many have utilized a traditional gas generator to keep their appliances running during a power outage. Recently, large batteries that can be recharged with solar panels has emerged as a new option. Weigh in on which you favor. Learn more about the differences at: buff.ly/sUJV39a

Our theme this week is emergency power. Batteries are an essential part of everyday life and even more vital in a disaster. Be sure to check your battery backups on a regular basis. Learn the benefits of different types of batteries at www.icape-group.com/battery-type...

Local calls may not get through in a disaster. One solution is to choose a family member in a different state to be your out-of-area contact to reach those nearby. Have that person initiate the phone call as soon as they hear of an earthquake or other disaster in our area. More at: buff.ly/pJ3VErW

Another valuable resource in a disaster is a handheld two-way radio. While some require an FCC license, radios using the Family Radio Service (FRS) frequencies do not. It's a great way for neighbors and family members to stay connected over short distances when cell tower are down.

A radio is a vital communication tool in a disaster. Include in your emergency supplies one that is battery-powered and includes NOAA weather channels. This will keep you informed about the impact of the disaster, where to go for help, and anticipated changes in the weather.

All clear: The tsunami advisory for the outer coast of Washington state has been canceled. The advisory did not impact the shoreline of Kitsap County.

A Tsunami Advisory has been issued for the outer coast of Washington state. We do not anticipate that it will impact shoreline of Kitsap County. The KCDEM staff will continue to monitor the situation with hourly conference calls from State Emergency Mangement. Details at: buff.ly/KyO1hco

What happens if your phone stops working or gets lost in an emergency or disaster? Having important phone numbers written down and stored in a safe place is an essential part of building your emergency communications plan. The Emergency Plan card you see here can be downloaded at buff.ly/izK3HZC

Our theme this week is emergency communications. Mobile phones are essential for many of us, but in a disaster, they may only work part of the time, if at all. After an earthquake, you'll be more likely to get a short text message through to family and friends than a voice call.

It's important for hikers to learn how to use a map and compass as well as GPS technology. Also, some newer smartphones are also able to send an emergency message via satellite when beyond the range of cell towers. Learn if your phone has that capability.