Kitsap DEM

A picture of emergency food supplies and a bowl of cooked noodles.

Another preparedness gift idea is emergency food supplies. Many retailers sell food which has a long shelf life and is simple to prepare. Consider water storage containers made with food-grade quality plastic as a great companion gift.

Picture: a line of emergency cots with blankets and pillows at a disaster shelter Text: Extreme Winter Storm Shelter Training - Kitsap County Department of Emergency Management in partnership with the American Red Cross. This is 24 hour sheltering - not the overnight Severe Weather Shelter program. This training is designe to equip local volunteers with the essential knowledge needed to activate a disaster shelter. A shelter will open before a major storm disrupts safe travel, providing bedding and meals until it is safe to travel once again.

Our Winter Storm Shelter training is just a week away! New volunteers are welcome!
💠Saturday, December 13 from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
💠Operations & Training Center; 8900 Imperial Way SW, Bremerton 98312
💠Register at: buff.ly/qxLV2mv

Picutre of a smal radio that can be powered by a hand crank.

Here's a great gift for yourself, AND for those you love: A portable radio that includes the NOAA weather band will provide not only weather updates, but also important safety information in a disaster. Some include a mix of power options including rechargable batteries, a hand crank and a solar.

Graphic with weather timeline for Friday through Wednesday: Today-Saturday: Rain, Mountain Snow, Coastal Flooding, & Breezy Winds Sunday: Weak system brings rain, mountain snow Monday: Atmospheric River moves in Tuesday-Wednesday: Heavy rain & river flooding Thursday & Beyond: River flooding continues, gradually decreasing

Wet weather adhead! After a rainy Sunday, an atmospheric river will bring heavy rainfall from Mon-Wed. The winds will be fairly calm for Kitsap with some gusts tonight and again Mon. There is a slight chance of coastal flooding with minor impacts this weekend and again midweek.

A picture of a small butane fueled stove

Here's another preparedness gift idea: You’ll want a heat source to prepare food in the event of a power outage. A butane stove with fuel is a perfect gift for this need. Remember to use these stoves outside to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.

A picture of six different kinds of handheld radios.

Consider emergency preparedness themed gift ideas this holiday season. We’ll share a handful of ideas this week. You may have difficulty using your phone in an emergency. A basic two-way radio helps maintain communication between nearby family members at home and when you travel.

Hundreds of runners and a dog at the starting line at the Bremerton Foodline Turkey Trot.

CERT volunter on his electric bike.

Over 1600 people started their Thanksgiving Day at the Brermeton Foodline Turkey Trot. This fundraiser starts at Evergreen Park and promotes Food Security for All. Eight of our CERT volunteers were there providing the runners with traffic safety. Thank you CERT for giving on this Thanksgiving!

Text: Happy Thanksgiving Picture: pumkins, squash, acorns and fall leaves on a table

Happy Thanksgiving. Our office is closed Thursday and Friday for the holiday.

Thanksgiving weekend travel times | WSDOT Thanksgiving weekend travel times vary by year. See how holiday traffic may affect your travel plans.

WSDOT has provide some great tools to assist with both highway and ferry travel this Thanksgiving weekend:
🚗 Thanksgiving weekend travel charts for I-5, I-90 and US 2: kcowa.us/WSDOTHoliday
⛴️ Ferries Thanksgiving weekend travel tips:
kcowa.us/FerryTravel

Text Snow in the Forcast: Washing Cascade Passes Snow and possible freezing rain Tuesday through Wednesday morning. Major Interstates and Routes Affected: I-90, Hwy 2, Hwy 12, Hwy 97, Hwy 20 Picture: snow falling on highway

If you're traveling over the mountains this holiday week, be sure to check the forecast (weather.gov) and pass conditions (wsdot.com/passes) before leaving. Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving!

Graphic of the anticipated impacts of a La Nina Advisory on temperature and precipitation this winter. Text Weak La Nina conditions are in place now and favored to continue through at least early winter, then likely transitioning to neutral conditions by late winter/early spring. Neutralto weak La Nina conditions are less likely to result in typical La Nina impacts.

A big thanks to the Seattle National Weather Service office for yesterday's overview of weather patterns anticipated this winter. This annual briefing hosted by KCDEM helps Kitsap County agencies with their planning and coordination. Over 100 people participated in the online briefing.

Picture: a line of emergency cots with blankets and pillows at a disaster shelter Text: Extreme Winter Storm Shelter Training - Kitsap County Department of Emergency Management in partnership with the American Red Cross. This is 24 hour sheltering - not the overnight Severe Weather Shelter program. This training is designe to equip local volunteers with the essential knowledge needed to activate a disaster shelter. A shelter will open before a major storm disrupts safe travel, providing bedding and meals until it is safe to travel once again.

KCDEM welcomes new volunteers at our Winter Storm Shelter training:
💠Saturday, December 13 from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
💠Operations & Training Center; 8900 Imperial Way SW, Bremerton 98312
💠Register at: buff.ly/hFCiUlF

Today we celebrate Veterans Day. We remember the contributions made by the brave men and women who have served our nation as members of the United States military. Thank you for your service.

CERT class gathered in a circle receiving input from one of the instructors.

Our CERT class this fall wrapped up on Saturday with exam day. Congratulations to the 17 participants who completed the training! CERT volunteers are trained to make a difference in their neighborhood when distaster strikes, and to work as part of a larger team of volunteers under KCDEM.

Thanks Kitsap County Sheriff's Office for the reminder that it is never drive or walk on flooded roads. You never know how deep the water is until it is too late. When in doubt, turn around. Stay safe, drive safe.

Picture of flooding on Bay Street in Port Orchard.

These dark and wet days of November include the threat of flooding. This can be triggered by heavy rains, as well as coastal flooding caused by extreme high tides. This year's king tides will take place Nov 7-9, Dec 6-8 and Jan 4-6. Learn more at buff.ly/A2imU02

Map of Western Washington showing that wind gust could reach up to 35-40 mph.

A Wind Advisory for Western Washington is in effect until 1 PM this afternoon. Tree limbs could be blown down resulting in power outages. Use extra caution when driving and secure outdoor objects. Details at: buff.ly/wf7wc4K

Caption: Wet & Breezy Halloween - Picture of a wether map showing heavyg rains coming to Western Washington.

Heavy rain and gusty winds are headed our way this afternoon and evening. Those out gathering candy should dress to stay warm, dry and visible. Be sure to carry a flashlight or other lighting and wear reflective gear.

Picture of radio tower base ready for cement to be poured.

Picture of the radio tower base after cement was poured.

The based of the radio tower bolted to the foundation.

Picture of the radio tower before antenna installation.

Exciting update! A radio tower was installed over this past week at our Operations & Training Center. This is an essential resource for emergency communications in a disaster. Learn more about our team of radio operators at buff.ly/5tXG1u3

Picture of rain falling on leaves on a tree. Caption reads: Rainy Season is here...

Rain is on the way! Don’t Wait – Clear the Grate
We're expecting heavy rain this weekend. You can make a difference in keeping our neighborhoods safe and our waterways clean. Take a moment to clear leaves and debris from storm drains to avoid flooding on your street. Learn more at: buff.ly/oFq1fQC

Picture of a person removing debris from a gutter.

The National Weather Service forecasts widespread moderate to heavy rain Thursday night into Friday. This may result in some localized flooding in areas of poor/blocked drainage. Be sure to check storm drains and clean gutters in advance.

ShakeAlert-Powered Earthquake Early Warning on Your Cell Phone: Wireless Emergency Alerts, Android Alerts, MyShake Cell Phone App

ShakeAlert is free system that can potentially give you a few seconds of warning on your smart phone before you feel the shaking of an earthquake. Those seconds may give you just enough time to avoid injury by moving away from a large window or taking shelter under a table. More at: buff.ly/RrBSoMC

Minimize Financial Hardship of an earthquake by organizing important documents, strengthening your property and considering insurance coverage.

The Great ShakeOut earthquake drill is tomorrow at 10:16 a.m. - or any time convenient for you! Follow-up by organizing your documents, identifying ways your property and household items could be vulnerable in an earthquake, and reviewing your insurance coverage.

Severe Winter Shelters play a vital role in keeping people safe on the coldest nights each winter. We are seeking additional volunteers who are 18 years and older, able to pass a background check, and have a heart of compassion for others. Trainings start Oct. 23. Learn more at: kcowa.us/kcsws

Drop, Cover, and Hold On! In most situations, if you are able: DROP onto your hands and knees. This position protects you from being knocked down and allows you to crawl to shelter. COVER your head and neck with one arm and hand. If a table or desk is nearby, crawl underneath it for shelter. If no shelter is nearby, crawl nexst to an interior wall (away from windows). Stay on your knees, bend over to protect vital organs. HOLD ON until the shaking stops. Under shelter, hold on to it with one hand; be ready to move with your shelter if it shifts. No shelter: protect your head and neck with both arms and hands.

This Thursday morning is the Great ShakeOut earthquake drill. Here's an overview of Drop, Cover and Hold On! - the safety measures you should learn and practice to stay safe in an earthquake. Learn more at: buff.ly/KpCNAos.

Multi-factor, Two-factor, Two-step...Whatever you call it, use it.

Your password may be strong, but your password AND multi-factor authentication is stronger. Learn why at: kcowa.us/MFA

Don't click that suspicious link! Recognize and report phishing.

Online hackers use convincing bait to try to get you hooked. Don’t fall for it! Learn how to recognize phishing and how to respond: kcowa.us/Phishing

Picture of a man on a computer. Text: What makes a strong password? Long: At least 16 characters; Random: Upper-and lower-case letters, Numbers, Special characters, Spaces, Consider passphraseses (5-7 unrelated words); Unique: Different for each account, NEVER reuse passwords.

It's tempting to use the same password for everything. It also makes you vulnerable to predators ready to access and steal your information. Create strong passwords by making them long, random and unique.

Building a Cyber Strong America - Cybersecurity Awareness Month - October 2025

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month. This week we'll be reviewing some important steps you can take to stay safe online. You'll find tools and resources for your organization at: bit.ly/3AOtI1j

Picture of water going into a storm drain with the message "Clear storm drain - Reduce flooding"

The heavy rainfall in some parts of the county yesterday was a quick reminder of the importance of keeping the storm drains clear of leaves and other debris. Take time this weekend to check on nearby storm drains to prevent flooding and to protect our waterways from pollution.