The role of "Emergency Hubs" in Seattle cannot be overstated. According to law enforcement and emergency responders in Seattle, if a major disaster strikes, many of Seattle's neighborhoods will be virtual islands, with bridges and roadways compromised, supplies, and emergency responders unable to get through Imagine if all power and normal communications were down – what would you do? Hubs can operate via citizens band radio  which would provide an invaluable communications tool to alert emergency responders and others as to status.

A simulated full city power outage field exercise of the Seattle Emergency Communications Hubs and the Seattle Auxiliary Communication Service is being staged April 28, 2018 from 9:00 am – noon.

You have an opportunity to take part in the exercise as a participant or a volunteer.

Participating Hub locations

• Beacon United Methodist Church

• Belltown Olympic Sculpture Park

• Broadview Luther Memorial Church

• Fauntleroy United Church of Christ

• High Point Neighborhood House

• Kirke Park

• Lake City Fred Meyer

• Madison Park (radio only)

• Magnolia Playfield

• Pigeon Point

• Victory Heights

If you are trained in the full suite of disaster skills, first aid and light search and rescue or belong to Block Watch, CERT or SNAP group you can put yourself on the NeighborLink map.

Go to www.seattleemergencyhubs.org find the map tab and fill out the simple form.

A Seattle Community Emergency Hub is a pre-determined location where neighbors and community members are likely to gather to begin exchanging information and resources among themselves without outside assistance from City services.

A Seattle Emergency Communications Hub is an enhanced Community Emergency Hub. It has a core of trained volunteers with additional skills who can collect information on local situations, needs, and resources and assist in the allocation of resources to needs. They can relay information between Hubs, the Auxiliary Communications Service, or other locations so that it reaches those in need. Hub volunteers also aid the City of Seattle in encouraging neighbors to be individually and collectively prepared for a disaster.

The hub mission is accomplished SOLELY through community volunteers.

Seattle Auxiliary Communication Service

Seattle ACS’ mission is to provide communications support to the city of Seattle in times of

disaster and emergency. To that end, ACS:

• provides communications links between the City’s emergency operations center and neighborhoods, supporting Seattle Neighborhoods Actively Prepare (SNAP) Teams, CERT and Communication HUBs;

• staffs and operates the emergency communications function at the City’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC);

• serves as an EOC support team to assist with AV, Plans, Operations and Administrative functions during activations;

• provides communications support to City departments and partner agencies; and

• provides communications support for the City’s field response and recovery operations.

Want to learn more?

Visit the Seattle Emergency Hubs website for information and up to date details about the drill. http://seattleemergencyhubs.org

Seattle Auxiliary Communication Service https://seattleacs.org/