King County Emergency Management is committed to helping residents gain the skills they need to prepare for and respond to emergencies, prevent injuries, and recover from disasters. We offer free trainings and information sessions for businesses, community groups, schools, and other organizations throughout unincorporated areas of King County. We also coordinate delivery of this curriculum with partners serving local jurisdictions.

Topics include:

• Understanding local hazards and their impacts 
• Emergency preparations for yourself and loved ones, as well as pets, children, seniors, and special needs populations
• How to plan for emergencies at home and work 
• Creating a family emergency communications and safety plan 
• Items to include in a disaster kit
• Organizing your neighbors to help each other during a disaster
• Disaster planning for community-based organizations
• National Weather Service SKYWARN Storm Spotter Program (online)

To request a presentation for your community group or organization, please contact KCOEMPubEd@kingcounty.gov or 206-296-3830. Please note: Not all requests can be fulfilled, but we'll make every attempt to do so.

Disaster Skills Training

Multiple hazards threaten the King County region. When a disaster happens, many of the services we rely on will be interrupted and emergency responders will be quickly overwhelmed. Critical infrastructure, such as transportation, utility, and communication systems may be damaged. So, we all need to be prepared to be self-sufficient for days or weeks at a time.

Learning disaster skills is critical to your ability to prepare for and respond appropriately during a crisis. Attend our Basic Disaster Skills and Advanced Disaster Skills trainings to learn how to protect yourself and those you care about, as well minimizing damage to your home and property.

Basic Disaster Skills

This training is designed to support individuals and families who are starting to work toward emergency preparedness. Topics covered in the training include: understanding local hazards and what to expect in an earthquake, developing a household emergency plan, building emergency preparedness kits, and connecting to local information sources before, during, and after emergencies.

Virtual Basic Disaster Skills Training (you will recieve a link to the training 1-2 days before)

• December 20, 2023 12 to 1 p.m. Register here
• January 10, 2024 12 to 1 p.m. Register here
• January 31, 2024 12 to 1 p.m. Register here

Take a look at the on-demand Disaster Skills Training video below. Or here's another - Washington State and King County National Preparedness Month Webinar.

Advanced Disaster Skills

This series of workshops is currently in development, and is designed as a continuation of the Basic Disaster Skills Training. Individual workshops will cover topics such as:

• Types of fires and how to control and prevent fire
• Bleeding control and basic first aid (note, this is not a Stop the Bleed course, nor is it a first aid certification course)
• Summer hazards preparedness
• Winter hazards preparedness
• And others. 

Advanced Disaster Skills Training (you will recievie a link 1-2 days prior)

• Emergency Water Supply on Dec. 14 from 12 to 1 p.m. Register here
• Building Your Emergency Kit on Jan. 15 from  12 to 1 p.m. Register here

Currently, many of these trainings are only offered by request from community groups. For questions or to make a request, please contact us at KCOEMPubEd@kingcounty.gov or 206-296-3830. Please be prepared to allow time for scheduling and planning. 

Federal Emergency Management Agency training

The Federal Emergency Management Agency offers self-paced free online courses through their Emergency Management institute. They are designed not only for emergency management professionals, but also the general public. Below are few specific courses we encourage residents or organizations to take. 

Individuals

• Are you Ready? An In-depth Guide to Citizen Preparedness
• Community Preparedness: Implementing Simple Activities for Everyone
• Planning for the Needs of Children in Disasters
• Household Hazardous Materials
• Earthquake Basics: Science, Risk, and Mitigation
• Animals in Disasters: Awareness and Preparedness
• You are the Help Until Help Arrives - Learn five simple steps that may save a life after a disaster

Organizations (schools, faith-based, businesses, community-based)  

• Introduction to the Incident Command System
• Continuity of Operations Awareness Course
• Preparing for Mass Casualty Incidents: A Guide for Schools, Higher Education, and Houses of Worship
• Multi-Hazard Emergency Planning for Schools
• Protecting Your Home or Small Business From Disaster 
• The Role of Voluntary Organizations in Emergency Management