Local Jewish Community Prepares For Disaster, First in the Nation To Plan Comprehensively

On March 25, 20 representatives from Seattle’s Jewish communal organizations engaged in a table-top safety training exercise, the first in a series of four such safety trainings. Executive directors, clergy, security and technology specialists from a variety of Jewish organizations discussed what their response would be in the immediate aftermath of a 6.7 magnitude earthquake along the Seattle fault.

“Understanding the gaps in preparedness with regard to things such as communications, medical services and basic utility functioning was the first step in the process,” explained Kim Greenhall, the Community Services Director at the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, who coordinates this communal effort. “The next steps are about filling those gaps and getting prepared,” explained Jeff Slotnick, of the Secure Communities Network, a primary vehicle to facilitate sharing of information and policy protocols concerning Jewish communal security.

The purpose of the exercise was to evaluate the level of preparedness and response planning in support of a major disaster at each organization. Participants shared best practices, insights, experience and planning gaps, leading to the improvements in the plans of all participating agencies.

This exercise is one of several events planned and coordinated by the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle in conjunction with the Secure Communities Network (SCN) in a community-based project titled “Safe Jewish Washington.” It is the first such comprehensive planning in the Jewish community across the country.

Safe Jewish Washington seeks to create a coordinated response mechanism within the Jewish community for man-made, technological and natural disasters.
Safe Jewish Washington leverages existing Department of Homeland Security best practices, Incident Command Structure, and the Northwest Warning Alert and Response Network to create a disaster resilient Jewish community.

Media Contacts
• Training Planner Kim Greenhall, Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, Community Services Director 206 774-2221

• Training Planner Jeffrey A. Slotnick, PSP, Secure Communities Network
253 538-9848

• Training Participant Scott Azose, Jewish Day School IT & Facilities Manager
206 321-1332
• Training Participant Shellie Oakley, Bet Aleph Meditative Synagogue Exec. Dir.
206 527-9399
 

Safety Preparedness Planning release FINAL 2.doc