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PACIFIC NORTHWEST REGION

Emergency Preparedness and Response in the Pacific Northwest Region

Network of the National Library of Medicine, Pacific Northwest Region
UW Health Sciences Library
1959 NE Pacific Street
Seattle, WA 98195
Email: nnlm@uw.edu

Four Things You Can Do Right Now

1. Memorize 1-206-543-8262.

This is the NNLM Emergency Assistance Number and will connect you to the Pacific Northwest Regional Medical Library. Call this number whenever disaster strikes and your local resources/plans are unable to keep your core services available, so we can help implement the response plan.

2. Develop and maintain a disaster plan. 

Even a little preparation, using simplified approaches, can substantially increase your ability to respond and recover from a disaster. For example, have you identified the unique resources you have and where they are located so you know what you must save when recovery time is limited?

3. Identify a back-up library.

Develop a relationship with a partner library and create a formal or informal mutual understanding of what will help if disaster strikes. 

4. Get to know your Emergency Preparedness Regional Coordinator
Cathy Burroughs (cburroug@uw.edu), Associate Director, is the contact person in the Pacific Northwest Regional Medical Library for emergency preparedness and response. 

To help mitigate the impact of disasters on healthcare providers and their patients, the Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM) has developed and oversees an emergency preparedness and response plan to help network members maintain their information services in the event of a disaster. For state specific emergency information, see the tab "State and Federal Emergency Contacts."

Recent Pacific Northwest Region Disasters

In August and September 2020, FEMA announced that federal emergency aid has been made available to the states of Washington and Oregon to supplement state, tribal and local response efforts to the emergency conditions in the areas affected by disastrous wildfires.   

The NLM’s Disaster Information Management Research Center (DIMRC) has a comprehensive health information guide on wildfires with many resources to assist with response and recovery, including smoke inhalation, burns, safety, cleanup and recovery, and coping. 

Below is a select list of information from federal, state, and local governments and organizations. 

Key Pacific Northwest Resources 

Key National Resources