July 22nd saw the hottest day on record. As fire season approaches, I want to thank our firefighters for protecting our homes and businesses.
Despite this work, we are reminded of the devastating impacts of climate change. Wildfires, severe flooding, extreme heat, severe weather and power outages for safety reasons remind us that we must be prepared in case of an emergency. But how does a community become truly resilient?
When the great earthquake hit Northern California in 1989, I was on the 25th floor of a building in San Francisco. I had to help a colleague on crutches climb down 25 flights of stairs. Our office had no emergency plan, but we all worked together to help each other as best we could.
With our busy lives and kids going back to school, it’s hard to find time to prepare for an emergency. But when we find ourselves in the midst of fires, floods and global warming, we’re reminded of the importance of emergency preparedness.
According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the most important thing you and your family can do now is to make sure you are prepared for an emergency.
Information is key to safety in an emergency. Here in Marin, including Tiburon and Belvedere where I live among my neighbors, we have several options for getting the best information in an emergency.
Alert Marin is one of the best methods and everyone is encouraged to register their phone number and email address at alertmarin.org so they can receive emergency information by phone, SMS or email.
Online information and alerts can also be received through many other important avenues, including: Nixle, Nextdoor, TibTalk (for Tiburon and Belvedere), Instagram, 840 AM (also known as SNAP Radio), Neighborhood Coordination, and your city’s website.
In the event of a separation, it is important that you create an emergency plan for yourself or your family.
According to FEMA and the National Red Cross, each of us should carry an emergency kit with at least five to seven days’ worth of supplies. Five to seven days is the time it might take first responders to reach your home in the event of an emergency. When we look at the time it would take first responders to arrive at your home, it could increase depending on where you live. Those of us who live on a peninsula in Tiburon and Belvedere need to be aware that first responders may take longer to reach us. The potential delay increases the importance of neighbors helping each other until first responders can arrive.
Tiburon, like many cities and towns in Marin, has created a platform for communities to organize and prepare in the event of a disaster. The website getready94920.org is a model that any community can use to ensure their neighbors are prepared in the event of an emergency. Learn how to prepare before an emergency occurs. Check out great downloadable checklists for emergency supplies, evacuation priorities, and a disaster plan.
Most people don’t know when to stay home and when to evacuate. Unless your home is threatened by a fire, tsunami, or imminent disaster, sheltering in place is the best and safest option. It may take some time for emergency responders to tell communities to evacuate, so it’s best to know under what circumstances you may need to evacuate. The more neighbors shelter in place, the more emergency responders can get to the neighborhood as well, as it will reduce traffic.
Cooperation and mutual aid among neighbors has become increasingly important in emergency preparedness. As we prepare for the end of summer and the beginning of fall, let’s take some time to prepare ourselves and our communities so we’re ready when disaster strikes.
Tiburon Vice Mayor Holli Thier is running for re-election to the Tiburon City Council in the November election. For more information, visit hollithier.com.
