KENNEWICK, Wash. – As residents on the Southeast East Coast recover from the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Helene, citizens of Eastern Washington are being reminded of the importance of disaster preparedness, as the American Red Cross said there is never a wrong time to prepare for a climate disaster, even in Washington state.
Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida as a Category 4 storm, and has ripped through six states leaving over 100 dead. While improbable that a hurricane of this type could affect Washingtonians today, similar events of magnitude have occurred in Washington’s past. The massive eruption of Mount St. Helens on May 18, 1980, which spread ash over nine states, serves as a stark reminder of the potential for natural disasters in Washington.
Betsy Robertson, the director of communications with the American Red Cross Northwest Region, emphasized the need for readiness.
“Everywhere in the world, natural disasters exist and are a threat,” said Robertson. “So it’s really important, no matter where you are, to have an understanding of what those threats are and to be thinking about them in advance.”
Washington’s dry landscapes make the state highly susceptible to wildfires, especially in the summer months. In 2023, Eastern Washington wildfires alone burnt 165,500 acres of land.
“We work tirelessly to help people understand what they can do to prevent, protect their property, to build wildfire-safe communities, to create defensible space around their homes, and to do what they can to prepare their families, to be able to evacuate and know where to go when the time comes,” she added.
The Washington State Department of Health recommends creating a comprehensive plan in the case of an emergency, as well as packing a go-bag. Common items in go-bags include food, water, a first aid kid, changes of clothes, copies of important documents, portable charging stations and extra batteries, a flashlight, a multitool, and a crank radio. The DOH suggests updating your emergency supplies every six months; however, that can be changed sooner depending on the size and age of your family.
In response to Hurricane Helene’s impact, Robertson noted that about two dozen volunteers from the American Red Cross Northwest Region are traveling to the Southeast Coast to assist those affected.
