Be informed when you exercise your right to vote. To find out more about the candidates running for Port Townsend City Council and for the Port Commission, KPTZ has aired several interview discussions for broadcast ~ now available to hear, here on our website. Also online for streaming, we’ve got the League of Women Voters forums featuring Q&A with the candidates. All these recordings are available by clicking here.

This week on the Compass, we give you a taste of our live broadcast from the Great Shakeout, a worldwide event designed to help you understand how to cope with a massive catastrophe that is almost definitely going to happen someday.

On October 17, 2019 at 10:17am, KPTZ took part in the national Great ShakeOut Drill. At that time, we began an informative special broadcast presentation on what to expect, and what to do, in the event of a major disaster in our area. KPTZ’s News reporter David Cunningham was in the air studio with station News Director Steve Evans and Rita Kepner, all representatives of KPTZ’s Emergency Response Team. They were joined by Barney Burke, KPTZ Emergency Team Lead, and other team members who participated in the Drill from the Jefferson County Emergency Operations Center.

You can stream KPTZ's 2019 ShakeOut Drill Special Broadcast here:

KPTZ’s Emergency Team is prepared in case of any major emergency. On Thursday, October 17 our Team will participate in the annual Great ShakeOut Drill, set for 10:17am. When the alarm sounds during Thursday’s Discovery Road hosted by Tim Quackenbush, KPTZ will interrupt to present special programming featuring information about what will happen in the event of an emergency, and what to do.

In case of actual emergency, and for Thursday’s drill enactment, everyone is encouraged to tune into 91.9FM for up-to-date information about the situation. On October 17 at 10:17am, KPTZ News Reporter David Cunningham will be joined in the broadcast studio by Rita Kepner, veteran of many actual emergencies and disasters. KPTZ’s Emergency Team Lead Barney Burke and other Team members will phone in from the Jefferson County Emergency Operations Center, adding to the discussion.

Helpful Links on Emergency Preparation

Tsunami Scenario Information

To participate in Thursday’s ShakeOut Drill, please take a minute out of your busy lives to “Drop, Cover, and Hold On.” This exercise is simple, but should not be underrated. Wherever you are Thursday morning at 10:17am, DROP under a sturdy table, desk or chair. COVER your head and your neck. HOLD ON to the object you are taking cover under to prevent it from moving over you.

If you are outside, move clear of any building facades, trees, and power lines that might fall. If you are driving, slow down and pull off the roadway until the shaking stops. If you are in a tsunami evacuation zone (up to 50 feet above sea level), once shaking stops, grab your go kit and head to higher ground. The ShakeOut is a great opportunity to practice your route.

For more information on emergency preparedness or to sign up for Jefferson County Emergency Management’s Nixle emergency text alerts at www.jeffcoeoc.org or text JEFFCODEM to 888777 to be automatically enrolled.

To find out how to organize your neighborhood, email NPREP@L2020.org.

(First airdate: October 16, 2019) Host Debaran Kelso talks with Lucas Hart, Director of the NW Straits Commission, on their current projects. This is Part 2 of a two-part program;  Part 1 aired last month.

Halloween is getting closer, the days are getting shorter, but Tossed Salad just keeps on getting better and better. Host Chris Bricker brings us a superb salad of:
1:00 - Johnsmith, Northwind Concert Series Artist
1:30 - Jeanie Murphy “Banjo Tunes, Tuning, and Lore” 
2:10 - Kate Dwyer & PTeRider—Taxi Stories
2:30 - Libby Palmer, Jefferson County Immigrant Rights Advocates
3:00 - Zach Parker, Songsmith
3:30 - Sea Stories: Crossing the Northwest Passage, by Olivier Huin
4:00 - Sea Stories: The Live-Aboard Life, by Peter Bailey & Heidi Snyder    
4:30 - Catherine McNabb, Poets & Letters