Preparedness Starts at Home: 5-Part Newsletter Series

The Southern Marin Fire Protection District (SMFD) is joining communities nationwide in highlighting the 2025 theme for emergency readiness: Preparedness Starts at Home.

This year’s focus is on getting back to the essentials—helping families and individuals take simple, effective steps to stay safe during disasters and emergencies.

Each week throughout September, we'll highlight one key action to help you and your loved ones get ready for whatever comes your way.

Week 1: Know Your Risk

Preparedness begins with awareness. The first step in keeping your family safe is understanding the types of disasters most likely to affect your area. In Southern Marin, this can include wildfires, earthquakes, floods, power outages, and severe storms. At smfd.org, you’ll find resources to understand these hazards, including wildfire severity zone maps, evacuation routes, and tips on defensible space and home hardening programs.

By identifying and understanding these risks, you can make informed decisions and take proactive steps to reduce potential harm to your household and community.

Action Steps:
- Explore Ready.gov to learn about various hazards and strategies to mitigate them.
- Use SMFD's wildfire maps and evacuation planning tools to identify primary threats to your property.
- Identify three local risks and create a simple action plan for each.
- Review ReadyMarin.org for local resources, including classes and videos on surviving the first 5-7 days after a disaster.

Tip: Visit ReadyMarin.org’s hazard education page for tailored local preparedness guides.

Our Commitment to Safety
Preparedness isn’t just about individual actions—it’s about building a safer, stronger community together. By taking these five steps, you’re helping protect yourself, your loved ones, and your neighbors.


Our Mission
The Southern Marin Fire District protects life, property, and the environment through stewardship and all-risk emergency services. Committed to excellence and collaboration, we ensure community resilience and safety with trust, integrity, and compassion.