Getting prepared for disaster should not be an activity possible only for people with financial means. A community is not truly prepared unless everyone in it is prepared. There is no equity unless everyone is able to feel relatively safe.

The Washington State Department of Health (WDOH) reported October 25 that state “blood banks are facing critical shortages of life-saving blood.” In particular, the shortages are affecting supplies of O and Rh- blood and platelets.

Earthquake preparation involves knowing what to do when an earthquake starts and what to do when the shaking stops.