Big (training) earthquake in Woodway last Saturday

No - there was no earthquake on Saturday in Woodway.

But what if there had been? 

That was the question the CERT team members had to confront on Saturday, November 17, 2012.

CERT Teams receive a pre-exercise safety briefing
Photo by Patrick Ducey

Patrick Ducey tells the story

There was a big earthquake in Woodway on Saturday. It wasn't the kind of earthquake that could be felt be a seismograph, rather it was more of a training earthquake for CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) personnel.  The Woodway City Hall building is scheduled to be torn down, but before the machinery shows up, ESCA (Emergency Services Coordinating Agency) was given the opportunity to practice search and rescue in the vacant structure.  ESCA CERT invited Shoreline CERT to come and participate, and together they practiced rescue skills.

With a litter in place, a CERT Team member
prepares to extract a survivor from under a desk
Photo by Patrick Ducey

In the event of a real disaster, professional emergency responders will most likely be overwhelmed dealing with the large number of people needing help.  Citizen volunteers from ESCA CERT and Shoreline CERT are trained to assist their neighbors during a disaster.  Training like this is one way to stay prepared for when the big one hits.

A CERT Team prepares to transport a survivor
on a makeshift wheelchair
Photo by Patrick Ducey