2008 Wildfire Season Will Start Early!
April 7, 2008
With almost no rain during the month of March and very little precipitation forecast for April, the 2008 wildfire season will most likely start earlier than usual. Normally, Marin takes advantage of some late season rains, which keeps the moisture content of hillside grass and brush high enough to reduce the threat of wildfire until well into the summer season. This year, it looks like our substantial rainfall has concluded. To make matters worse, our fire season gets more critical as we approach September and October. Often our critical fire weather period doesn't conclude until the first week of November. So this year, we're in for nearly six full months of fire season!
So, it's time to get proactive! If you live in a hillside area or close to open space, you need to evaluate your property. Flammable vegetation is going to be a threat to your home, so make plans now to cut and remove natural tall grass, scotch or french broom and any other invasive plant that won't be watered on a regular basis. Removing this material 30 feet from all structures is a working rule, but this distance should be increased on steep slopes. If you live adjacent to a designated open space area, please contact the Marin County Open Space District at (415) 499-6387 for more information on clearing strategies.
Additionally, certain trees pose a threat. Pine, acacia and eucalyptus in particular are susceptible to fire. Although it's not necessary to remove these trees, they should be trimmed back from any structures, limbed up a minimum of 10 feet from the ground, and any bark or leaves raked and removed. Additionally, any dry brush or tall grass should be cut and removed from around the base of trees, regardless of species.
It's also important to note that any maintained vegetation can also pose a threat during extreme fire events. Wildfire preheats vegetation in advance of the flames and thus makes any typical landscaping a threat to your home. Keep this in mind while you plant new materials and perform regular maintenance.
As a final step, please look around and on top of your residence. Any debris piles, storage piles or stacks of firewood should be removed or relocated well away from structures or decks until later in the year when the late fall season rains arrive. Roofs and gutters should be clear of debris, particularly pine needles or dry leaves. Do you have a wood shake or shingle roof? You should be aware that this is comparable to a load of dry kindling on top of your home. Garden hoses should be attached to each spigot. Your address number should be plainly visible from the street. Barbequing should take place in a safe area and only on non-critical fire days.
The time to start planning for the 2008 wildfire season is now! Identify the non-native and invasive plant species growing in your yard areas. Plan to cut and remove this material, trim trees as needed and take other action necessary to safeguard your home from wildfire. Please take advantage of your green can. Look in your garbage bill for updates on when green cans are picked up weekly and for those coupons for free drop off at the Marin Resource and Recovery Center.
Bob Sinnott, Larkspur Fire Chief 415/927-5014
rsinnott@larkspurfire.net
THE CURRENT STATE OF DISASTER PREPAREDNESS
IN THE CITY OF LARKSPUR
AUTHORED BY: Bob Sinnott, Fire Chief/DCM (rsinnott@larkspurfire.net)
DATE OF DOCUMENT: September 26, 2005 (updated on March 8, 2006)
This paper provides a brief description of:
- Threat scenarios that could challenge local resources.
- The current state of our disaster preparedness.
- Issues to consider, both internally and externally.
- Actions to consider to more effectively prepare for a disaster.
Primary Risk Threat Scenarios from most likely to least:
- Earthquake. It is my opinion that this is our primary risk. An earthquake could occur at any moment without notice, and would impact the entire community. Aging infrastructure including water, sewage and natural gas pipelines would be impacted. Overhead utilities would also be affected, thus all utility service in the area could be interrupted. Fires could burn unabated, due to the lack of water from hydrants. A significant number of persons could be displaced, injured or possibly killed. Local services could be overwhelmed, or depending on the magnitude, taken out of service.
- Wildfire. Although wildfire is a significant risk, the threat window is much smaller and the entire community would not be impacted. Additionally, accurate weather forecasting gives us warning that extreme conditions could occur. However, the weather factors that contribute to massive wildfires are rare in our area. Although wildfire is possible anytime during the summer and fall seasons, Red Flag conditions that create the potential for conflagration are infrequent. [As of this printing of this document, we have had no Red Flag days so far this season.] Although fire services would be overwhelmed, mutual aid would be received, and other city services would remain intact.
- Flood. Although the low-lying parts of the City would be impacted, City operations would most likely remain on line. Travel and emergency mitigation efforts in the flood prone areas would be challenged. Although property damage could be severe, loss or harm to life would be minimal and services and other activities could return to normal soon after the water subsides.
- Damaging Winds. We have a history in the community of winds associated with winter storms causing structural damage and interrupting electrical power. Delays to hillside neighborhoods can occur due to downed trees or electrical equipment. Power can be out in isolated areas for up to 72 hours. Police and fire emergency response under this scenario poses risk to personnel due to falling or blowing objects when winds gust in excess of 45 mph.
- Terrorism. Since we are in immediate proximity to an area hospital and because we have major transportation networks in our community, the threat of terrorism must be considered and plans developed to mitigate the risk to life and property. City operations would be challenged, but most likely would remain on line.
Current Status of Disaster Preparedness:
- At present, the City partners with the Central Marin CERT Coalition and the Southern Marin CERT program. More information on these programs can be found on the City website at www.ci.larkspur.ca.us/ [We sponsor the fire extinguisher component of the curriculum.] This arrangement has been working well as interest in such programs has been manageable. Significant increased interest would however overload this arrangement. As with most CERT or NERT programs, the Southern Marin program is an 18-20 hour course.
- CERT and NERT are all risk type preparedness programs. This means that the training and preparation is applicable to the emergencies included in the community risk scenarios described on page 1.
- Currently, firefighting staff is able to prepare and deploy informal and infrequent disaster preparedness programs on an as needed basis.
- Schools have done a reasonable job in preparing for a significant emergency.
- No active City sponsored programs are in place for local businesses, although many have created internal disaster management plans.
Issues to consider (internal):
- Government operations could be severely impacted due to the current construction status of our city hall, police facility and main fire station. Not only could employees be injured or killed, but city business functions would possibly cease for an extended period.
- City employees are not prepared to sustain themselves for an extended period.
- From an EMS/Fire standpoint, the City is staffed to manage nothing beyond typical, day-to-day emergencies. In a regional disaster, staffing would be overwhelmed and depending on the magnitude of the event, mutual aid would be delayed due to the need for resource deployment from well outside the area.
- For an event that occurs during non business hours, the City cannot depend on off duty employees making it back to the workplace.
- The City's EOC would most likely not be usable after a significant seismic event. Even if it is, the City does not possess the capability to deploy the EOC function effectively over an extended period.
- The City's shelter operation is designed only for use during localized, short-term events.
- The City is not geared to deploy community preparedness programs on an in depth or long range scale. Staffing and program budgeting would have to be increased to properly administer these functions.
- There are currently no neighborhood or block leader functions. All NERT activity has been accomplished by interested individuals.
- It is my opinion based on experience and training received at the National Emergency Training Center, that to properly deliver disaster preparedness programs, adequate staffing and financial resources must be allocated that can focus on this function both in the administration and deployment areas. Additionally, and this is very specific to our area, programs need to be marketed to the public. What this means is that the people generally will not come to us, we need to go into the neighborhoods and businesses and sell the programs. This increases the amount of resources needed to deliver these programs.
- The City's EOC facility is prone to failure. The structure in which it is located is of outdated, prefabricated construction and well within the 100-year floodplain.
Issues to consider (external):
- Even after Hurricane Katrina, the City is not seeing enormous interest in disaster preparedness programs. Citizens in our area generally have an "it won't happen to me" attitude, and are apathetic to becoming involved in programs that require a great deal of effort or time. Only about 15 Larkspur citizens are CERT trained.
- Any preparedness interest that does develop after a major disaster usually abates within a 2-3 month period. The most significant spike in public interest that I've witnessed was after the 1991 Oakland-Berkeley fire disaster. Many new local/regional programs and ordinances were introduced pursuant to that event and to this day continue to evolve.
- The public will produce an overwhelming need for services and will vigorously attempt to obtain goods and supplies such as fuel, food, and drinking water.
Actions to consider (not prioritized):
- Prepare mid managers and line staff to assume EOC staff positions.
- Send all EOC staff to formal training offered through California Office of Emergency Services.
- Remove the EOC from its current location at TCPD as soon as practical. Consider relocating it to the Greenbrae fire station as it is the only City facility designed to modern floodplain and seismic standards (Essential Facility code provisions). Plan to place a modern, sophisticated EOC in the new police facility.
- Secure new agreements with the Larkspur and Tamalpais school districts for emergency shelters and expand our capability in this area.
- Consider the procurement of an above ground gasoline storage vault for the Corporation Yard, so that fuel can be dispensed to emergency vehicles during an extended emergency. [Diesel is presently stored at this location.]
- It is crucial that City Hall and the Downtown Fire Station be seismically strengthened. This is seen as the "Achilles Heel" for City operations should a major earthquake occur in our region.
- Procure staff and allocate resources that can manage the deployment of all risk, disaster preparedness programs.
- Develop agreements with local business for supplies, materials and services.
- Become more involved with regional disaster preparedness committees and programs.
- Consider the development of a local disaster council.
This document may be used in the discussion or towards the development of an All Risk Disaster Preparedness program in the City of Larkspur.
CITY OF LARKSPUR
DISASTER PREPAREDNESS RESOURCES
There are many articles located on the Larkspur website that can assist you in preparing for major emergency events that could negatively impact our region. We are most vulnerable to earthquake, storm/flooding, and wildfire.
The following sites can assist you in assembling an emergency kit for your home or business, locate disaster training information, and point you towards other agencies that can offer disaster preparedness assistance.
Central Marin Community Response Team Coalition
Includes Corte Madera, Larkspur, Kentfield, Ross, San Anselmo and Fairfax
Classes are held regularly
Contact member agency Corte Madera at 415/927-5077 for more information
or Larkspur Firefighter Tom Timmer at ttimmer@larkspurfire.net
Southern Marin Community Response Training Coalition
Fire Safe Marin Coalition
Marin County Disaster Council
American Red Cross Disaster Preparedness Information
Federal Emergency Management Agency Disaster Preparedness
For more information, don't hesitate in calling your local fire agency.
What happens when I call 9-1-1?
And, should I call 9-1-1 from a cell phone?
Bob Sinnott, Fire Chief
What actually happens when I call 9-1-1? Who answers the phone? How does the person answering my call actually get me the help that I need?
In my 25-year career, I have witnessed two remarkable innovations that have done more to save lives and reduce loss associated with fire than just about anything else. The first innovation is the smoke detector. When properly placed and maintained, this device will ensure that you are alerted during the earliest stages of a fire, with enough time to get you and your loved ones safely outside. The second innovation is the 9-1-1 telephone system. Prior to 9-1-1, each fire and police department had it's own seven digit emergency number. It's hard to imagine how inefficient and confusing the old system must have been! Today, anywhere in the U.S., 9-1-1 will get you the help that you need.
Here's how it works. When you call 9-1-1, computer technology recognizes the phone that you're calling from and routes your call to the proper dispatch center. In Larkspur, from any land-based phone, your call goes directly to the Twin Cities Police Department where it is screened by professional police dispatchers. If your call is for fire or paramedic rescue, the dispatcher will immediately and automatically transfer you to our regional fire and EMS dispatch center located at the Marin Civic Center. While you are speaking to the dispatcher, the information is being processed into a computerized dispatch console and the closest emergency fire and EMS units are "alerted" to respond.
In the fire station, a radio broadcast announces the location and type of emergency assignment. While on the way, the dispatcher provides full details of the nature and scope of the problem. Often, you'll still be on the phone with the dispatcher when we pull up in front of your home or business. A team of dispatchers working together actually takes your information, makes the proper station notifications and transmits via radio all the information that the emergency crews need.
Why are fire and paramedic 9-1-1 calls rerouted to the Marin Civic Center? Good question! This is because, unlike police incidents, just about all fire and EMS calls are handled on a regional basis. All of the fire agencies in Marin County act as a single department in regard to fire and paramedic emergency response. The closet units are dispatched regardless of jurisdiction, and, in the case of larger emergencies, units from many jurisdictions are dispatched and work together to control the incident.
Keep in mind that the 9-1-1 system instantly recognizes the phone location where the call is generated. If you call 9-1-1 and hang up, a dispatcher will call you back to see if everything is okay. If you don't answer the phone, a police officer will be sent to the location where the call was made to investigate.
As mentioned in a previous article, it's important to note that calling 9-1-1 from a cell phone does not provide you with the same level of efficient service. Because a cell phone is not land based, the computer cannot determine your location. In the Bay Area, all cell phone 9-1-1 calls are routed to the CHP regional dispatch center in Vallejo. If you are calling to report an injured ballplayer at Joe Wagner Field, the dispatcher in Vallejo isn't going to have a clue where you're located. IN MARIN COUNTY, TO GET THE RIGHT DISPATCH CENTER USING A CELL PHONE, THE CORRECT NUMBER IS 472-0911. This seven-digit number enables you to access the same central dispatch center in Marin where the proper help can be summoned. Enter this number into your quick dial feature so you can instantly access it. Cell phone 9-1-1 is designed primarily to report roadside problems or vehicle accidents along our interstate system.
Be safe, but be aware that if you ever need emergency assistance, the incredibly efficient 9-1-1 system will get you the proper help in the fastest time possible.
Residential Smoke Detectors - Location and Maintenance
Bob Sinnott, Fire Chief
December 2005
You might notice a general theme running through many of my articles in regards to the installation and maintenance of smoke detectors. That's because a $15 smoke detector can save your life. We have documented proof of a smoke detector still in the store box activating during a home fire, thus enabling a family of five to escape before the home was completely destroyed! This actually happened to a home in Larkspur.
Our firefighters field many questions regarding the installation and maintenance of residential smoke detectors. We appreciate citizen interest on the issue because, based on national fire reporting statistics, residential smoke detectors when properly installed and maintained will probably save your life in the event of a fire in your home.
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) report, U.S. Experience with Smoke Alarms and Other Fire Detection/Alarm Equipment, homes with smoke detectors typically have a death rate which is 40 to 50 percent less than the rate for homes without alarms. In the U.S., roughly 70% of home fire deaths occur in homes that have no smoke detectors, or within dwellings that have smoke detector units that are improperly installed or not maintained.
Here are some key points to keep in mind about residential smoke detectors:
- Smoke detectors have a single objective: To wake occupants at the early stage of a fire in the home and provide adequate time to escape. You must understand that when asleep, the odor of smoke will not wake you up! Typically, sleeping residents die of asphyxiation due to smoke inhalation long before flames come anywhere close to sleeping rooms.
- It's important to install smoke detectors on all levels of the residence and inside each sleeping room.
- In new construction, interconnected smoke detectors are required on every level, outside each sleeping area, and inside each bedroom. This is excellent protection for larger homes, or dwellings that have sleeping rooms on multiple floors or in different areas of the structure. If one smoke detector activates, all units then subsequently activate.
- Smoke detectors are not recommended in kitchens, garages, attics or within 3 feet of a bathroom door. Avoid installing smoke detectors in kitchens and bathrooms because cooking smoke and steam from showers can increase the chance of unwanted alarm activations.
- Mount smoke detectors high on walls or on the ceiling. But do not place smoke detector units at wall-ceiling intersections or in corners. These are "dead air" zones that could result in a significant delay before the units ultimately activate. The product packaging will provide detailed information on proper installation.
- Test smoke detectors monthly to ensure that they work by depressing the "test" button on the face of the unit. Don't light a fire, such as a candle, to test your unit! If the unit does not have a test button feature, call us. We will test the smoke detector for you to ensure it's operating.
- During your monthly test, use the hose extension on the vacuum cleaner to remove any dust that might have accumulated inside the unit.
- Replace batteries twice a year when we change the clocks to and from daylight savings time. Use fresh, recently purchased batteries. Remember that some hardwired units have a battery back up feature that enables the smoke detector to operate in the event of a power failure.
- Do not remove batteries from the smoke detector until you have your new batteries all ready to go.
- Regardless of condition, smoke detectors should be replaced after 10 years of service. When installing new units, mark the purchase date on the side of the detector with a permanent marker.
- If you have teenagers in the house, please note that recent studies indicate that persons in this age group are likely not to be aroused by an activating smoke alarm. My teens sleep right through a blaring alarm clock, so I'm almost certain the smoke detector won't wake them up. The NFPA is currently researching this issue in order to hopefully issue future recommendations.
Smoke detectors are inexpensive and yet extremely effective at providing you and your family members time to safely escape a fire in your home. If you have any questions about the installation, location or maintenance of smoke detectors, please call us. We will answer questions over the phone or by e-mail, or we'd be happy to stop by your house.
HILLSIDE EVACUATION STRATEGIES DUE TO A
WILDFIRE EVENT
Pay attention to the weather. Vegetation fires need three factors in order to become firestorm events. High temperatures: It's an unusually hot day and typically, the area has been exceedingly warm for at least two days prior to the fire occurring. Low Humidity: It is very dry. There is a complete absence of Bay fog or any marine influence. Winds: There is a stiff, constant and gusty wind blowing from the north or northeast direction. For people living in Madrone Canyon, this is going to be a "down slope" wind coming from the direction of King Mountain or Kent Woodlands.
If all of these factors are present, you need to realize that firestorm conditions are present. Be ready to mobilize at a moments' notice if you see or smell smoke or hear numerous sirens. Keep a radio tuned to a news channel for the day. If conditions seem terribly extreme, consider leaving the hillside area for a family outing until conditions subside.
Please keep in mind that it is very rare that all these factors come together in our area. When it does occur, it's usually for a short time frame. PAY ATTENTION TO THE WEATHER AND YOUR SURROUNDINGS!
Make sure your home is fire safe. If you've taken the necessary precautions, your home should withstand anything but the worst-case scenario. However, significant annual effort is needed to clear vegetation from around the home. Answer these questions: Is there a path of vegetation from the yard to the house? Do I have wood siding or wood roof shingles? Is the roof clear of debris? Do I have firewood stacked against the home or under the deck? Do I live on a steep slope with an abundance of dry vegetation below the house? Are there tree limbs that contact the house or grow over the roof? If the answer is YES to any of the above, then you've got work to do.
Travel Strategies. There are no evacuation regulations that must be followed, here or anywhere. Only strategies and suggestions can be offered. Face it: People will leave by car. Nobody can assume that everyone is going to walk out of the canyon, although it would be great if folks could leave early by walking or even bicycle. However, this is not realistic for parents with young children, folks that are aging, or those that might have a disability or are recovering from surgery or injury.
Again, if you sense danger, immediately leave the area. Fires don't just explode out of nowhere; they evolve and grow over a period of time that is controlled by the weather factors outlined above, the abundance of dry vegetation available to burn and the degree of slope of the hillside.
On an extreme day, for the Canyon to be in the direct path of a firestorm, the fire will most likely be coming from the north, over King Mountain or from the Kent Woodlands area. If you've been paying attention to the factors that contribute to a firestorm, you should have time to leave. Keep in mind, once you leave the home you become exposed to numerous hazards, besides the fire. If you do leave, depart early before the situation becomes one where people are panicking.
Use streets that provide direct access out of the canyon. Stay off trails and don't take routes you're unfamiliar with. Besides Madrone Avenue, alternate exit routes include Orange Avenue to Hazel & Laurel to Hawthorne, or, Foley to Bridge to West. Baltimore. Become familiar with these routes.
If the fire starts in the Canyon and blocks your escape, the shelter in place option might be best if you've taken the necessary precautions to make your home fire safe. Additionally, the Fire Department should be able to control a fire under this scenario without it becoming a firestorm.
Also note that once on the Canyon floor your safety level will rise. The upper slopes are the areas where uncontrolled fires are the most extreme.
You should also understand that your escape doesn't involve traveling tremendous distances. In Southern California and in certain locations of the East Bay hills, residents need to travel - in some cases - several miles to reach safety.
A hillside evacuation component to a document entitled the Mt Tamalpais Mutual Threat Zone is now in process. This will provide for citizen notification and evacuation strategies for law enforcement agencies to utilize if a major fire occurs in any of the communities that border Mt. Tam.
Thanks for your attention to this issue. For further information please contact:
Robert B. Sinnott, Fire Chief
City of Larkspur Fire Department
420 Magnolia Ave.
Larkspur, CA 94939
415/927-5014 (desk phone)
rsinnott@larkspurfire.net
Capabilities of Your Fire Department
If you drive by the Downtown Larkspur fire station, you see a large impressive facility with two fire engines poised behind the roll up doors. Driving by the City's Greenbrae station, you see an even larger facility with several full size fire apparatus ready to roll.
Most citizens might assume that the City employs enough fire personnel to staff each of these engines to serve the community. Actually, this isn't the case. The Downtown station only contains two fire department engine company members. The Greenbrae station has three employees per shift. In all, five on duty engine company personnel protect the entire City in any 24 hour period. Larkspur rolls one, 2 person engine company out of the Downtown fire station, and a 3 person engine out of the Greenbrae station. Two chief officers work an administrative 40 hour work week.
Our engine company staff is able to respond to and handle most routine emergency events. Approximately 68% of our emergency calls are medical in nature. Our employees are trained to the emergency medical technician (EMT) and paramedic levels.
Fire stations are not always occupied. Very often, especially during daytime hours, fire crews are not in the fire station facilities. Engine crews often depart from the station in the early morning for physical fitness, training details, fire prevention activities, fire safety inspection tours and of course emergency dispatches. One should not be perplexed if the business telephone line is not picked up or the door isn't answered. But please note that the fire crews are always "on radio", meaning they are in direct contact with our dispatch center. They often are dispatched to emergency calls from a training exercise or prevention inspection. Often, the crews are not responding from the fire station to an emergency event.
For fire emergencies, we utilize a highly advanced automatic aid system. Through a centralized 9-1-1 emergency dispatch center, units from several agencies will be simultaneously dispatched to a major emergency, such as a structure or wildland fire. This system works extremely well, provided there are not multiple emergency events occurring in the Central Marin region. Although Marin contains several independent fire agencies, when an emergency occurs, they all act as one unified fire agency.
Why is this information important? Well, for two primary reasons: First, you should know the staffing and capabilities of your fire department. Everyone should understand that firefighters don't wait in the station behind closed doors for an emergency to occur. Engine company crews have a "work day" just like most people. We have no fire inspectors or public education specialists; on duty firefighters perform these functions. Crews often depart in the morning, and while available for emergency dispatches, they are out in the community serving the public in a prevention capacity or involved in training activities.
Second, everyone should realize that there is not an "army" of firefighters on duty and available to respond to emergencies. Cities, and Larkspur is no exception, can typically only afford to staff fire departments for ordinary emergencies - events that can be handled within a reasonable period by on duty crews. This means that our citizens have to be prepared to take care of themselves if a major emergency occurs.
Along with this realization, it's important to note that your fire department is neither staffed nor structured to provide detailed warnings of impending events such as storms, or the anticipated rate and spread direction of a major wildfire. The fire department responds to requests for help. During extreme weather events, such as a major storm, calls for help often stack up and have to be prioritized based on the scope and nature of the problem. Firefighters don't have time to drive the streets looking for potential problems and then begin knocking on doors, or make telephone calls from the station. If you live in an area that is subject to flooding from heavy rains or extreme high tides, or in a hillside neighborhood that is exposed to slides in the winter and wildfires in the summer, you must be personally prepared to act.
Preparedness is critical! Having a family or business emergency plan is also imperative. If something major happens, such as an earthquake, large wildfire or act of terrorism, don't expect "waves" of firefighters to rush to your rescue. Crews will be quickly overwhelmed and might have to take care others before they get to you, or be delayed due to overwhelming circumstances. You must be able to take care of yourselves, by getting out of harms way and having the ability to sustain yourself, family or business group for up to 72 hours. Keep in mind that a routine vehicle accident on Highway 101 can require the use of all of our on duty forces for up to 60 minutes. Just think of the impact a significant earthquake will have on us!
In conclusion, this information is not intended to alarm you. It's meant to inform our citizenry as to the capabilities of your fire department and to encourage everyone to make plans and preparations so that you can help us take care of our community.
If you have any questions or comments, you may contact Fire Chief Bob Sinnott by e-mail at rsinnott@larkspurfire.net or by phone at 927-5014.
Could a Disaster Happen? Plan on It!
Robert B. Sinnott, Larkspur Fire Chief
Larkspur is a wonderful community. Bordered by the San Francisco Bay to the east and the hills of Mt Tam to the west, one would be hard pressed to find a more delightful community. However, living here comes with risk, that we must all must face up to and prepare for using a common sense, matter of fact approach.
Damage from a seismic event is the most likely scenario that could affect our lives. There are an abundance of major fault lines that extend through and immediately adjacent to Marin County. In the past few years, a newly discovered fault, running east - west under Mt. Tam was discovered. Scientists believe it is this fault that has created the unique geographical topography of our beloved mountain. Besides earthquake, Larkspur residents are also susceptible to wildfire, storm, and extreme tidal events. Being adjacent to terrorist "soft targets" in San Francisco and the East Bay also must be kept in mind.
Regardless of the event, everyone should be prepared to be self sufficient for at least 72 hours. Use the following five step plan to ensure your readiness:
- Start with the basics: Food and water. Grocery stores will likely close for an extended period following a regional disaster, so it's important to have enough supplies on hand. Purchase canned foods, powdered milk and other items with extended shelf lives. In the event of a disaster where power is interrupted, eat perishable foods first. Also, keep in mind that water service might be interrupted. Store as much water as you can in approved, airtight containers.
- First aid and fire protection. Build yourself a first aid kit. Just about everything you need can be purchased at a local super drugstore. Use a gym bag or tackle box to organize and store your supplies. Purchase a fire extinguisher (or two) and make sure that at least one of your smoke detectors is battery operated. If you or your family takes prescription medication, have don't let supplies dwindle. Always have 3-5 days of reserves on hand.
- Transportation. Gas stations will most likely close or storage tanks will run dry. Make it a practice of never allowing your tank to run below the 1/4 mark, so that you can get around locally for a few days if fuel is unavailable.
- Neighborhood Support. Everyone on your block (or in your building) probably has something different to offer. From medical expertise, to carpentry and repairs, the people living nearby will become invaluable. It's time to strengthen your neighborhood connection: Get to know the people living on your street and make a list of the local resources and talent.
- Communications. First, you need to know what's going on. Maintain a battery powered radio so that you can receive local news stations. Next, share important phone numbers with neighbors so that a phone network can be implemented.
By implementing these five steps, you will be adequately prepared for a major emergency. For more information, refer to the excellent guide in the Pacific Bell telephone book, call us, and consider forming a neighborhood disaster team.
