You can’t predict the next disaster, but you can prepare
Imagine you’re sound asleep in your bed when you are awoken by a strange sensation. At first, it’s subtle—a low rumble beneath the floor. Then the shaking starts. The cabinets rattle. Dishes crash. The walls sway.
You know the drill—without thinking, you Drop, Cover, Hold On.
The shaking lasts less than a minute, but it feels like forever.
When it stops, a heavy silence falls. You quickly check to make sure everyone is okay. Then you notice the clock is dark. The lights won’t turn on. After a few moments, you think to check the kitchen tap. A small dribble, then nothing.
Outside, neighbors are checking on each other. All around, houses and streets are dark. In the hours that follow, news starts to trickle in from those who still have limited cell service—the damage is widespread, and first responders are struggling to get to those who need help. Across the state and beyond, power and water are out.
You start mentally ticking off the supplies you have… and what you wish you did.
Emergencies don’t wait until we’re ready.
Extreme weather events, like the January 2024 ice storms and the 2023 heat wave, are becoming more common. At the same time, other risks quietly loom.
In the last decade, scientists have raised new alarms about the Cascadia Subduction Zone, warning that a magnitude 9.0 earthquake could strike the Pacific Northwest at any time, disrupting electricity, water, and other public services for weeks or even months.
When disaster strikes, being prepared makes all the difference.
But if you’ve ever tried to plan for an emergency, you know it can be daunting. Many people don’t know where to begin.
We’re in this together.
Everyone deserves to feel safe, capable, and secure during emergencies. As your community-owned utility, EWEB is taking action—rebuilding and modernizing the systems that deliver your power and water, and carefully planning for the future, while keeping affordability in mind.
But true resilience isn’t just about infrastructure. Preparedness is a shared responsibility—when more of us are ready, all of us are safer.
That’s why we created the Pledge to Prepare program—an award-winning, step-by-step guide that walks you through becoming “2 Weeks Ready.”
We’ll show you how to build a kit, make a plan, and be confident in your family’s safety. No stress. Just steady progress—together.
Join the thousands in our community who have already taken the pledge.
In honor of September’s National Preparedness Month, we invite you to sign up today to participate in the Pledge to Prepare in 2026. Your future self will thank you!
