Cohousing-L Mailing List: Climate Resiliency and Power Outages (Robin)

[Mena Quilici (menaq20]

I live in Quimper Village in Port Townsend WA.  We have identified our 
potential disasters that might cause us to loose water, electricity, 
communications and/or food deliveries. We are potentially susceptible to 
earthquakes, tsunamis and high winds.

We have set up our Common House as our safe space in a disaster. Our Common 
House is equipped with a propane cook top and a propane fireplace for warmth. 
In addition we have a back up generator that powers some lights in our Common 
House dining room, bathroom, our pantry refrigerator and several electric 
outlets for those on oxygen and Cpap machines. We have 3 guest rooms that could 
be used for members to move into if their home is damaged. We have a large 
(6’x6’x6’) storage cube that stores water for drinking and cooking.  We’ve 
identified the hot tubs in the village that can be accessed for water for 
flushing toilets and non potable uses. We also have walkie talkies for each pod 
of homes to communicate with each other and coordinate with outside emergency 
services. There are 2 members assigned to checking individual homes in each pod 
after an event, and reporting in if help is needed.

Our Health and Safety Team has also spent some time educating members on 
putting together “go bags” for evacuations. 
(https://www.state.gov/global-community-liaison-office/crisis-management/packing-a-go-bag-and-a-stay-bag/)
  Some members have emergency food that they can share and others of us keep a 
full pantry that could sustain our household for a couple of weeks (dry beans, 
etc).

Living in Cohousing I feel better prepared for environmental events than ever 
before.

Mena Quilici
Quimper Village