Getting prepared can seem overwhelming. But you are probably more prepared than you think and every step you take moves you forward!

1. Sign up for alerts: 
   • In Marin County, AlertMarin is the official emergency notification system used by all public safety agencies to issue real-time alerts during disasters or life-threatening events.
   • Nixle is used by some local law enforcement (Cities of Mill Valley and Sausalito) to communicate about local impacts or safety issues.
2. Make a plan: Decide what you’ll do and where you’ll go if a disaster happens. Download a template from ReadyMarin.
   • Identify a few meeting locations in case your family gets separated, one close to home and another outside your area.
   • Write down important phone numbers (if you lose your cell phone or you can’t charge it)
   • Choose an out-of-area contact everyone can check in with during an emergency
   • Share your plan with family, friends, and neighbors.
   • Connect with neighbors now. Talk about what help they might need, or what you might need from them, and be ready to support each other.
3. Gather Supplies: You can gather supplies and be ready in case you need to evacuate or shelter in place. 
   • Pack a go-bag for evacuations. Everyone in your household needs a go-bag, including pets and kids.
   • Gather supplies in case you have to shelter in place. Store extra medications, food, and water. 

Make your address visible

Seconds can make the difference in a life or death situation. The last thing you need are emergency responders struggling to find you. Order approved address signs TODAY!

 

• ReadyMarin Checklist bundle
• FEMA: www.ready.gov
• What Foods to Store: www.ready.gov/food
• American Red Cross disaster apps: www.redcross.org/prepare/mobile-apps
• Get Ready Quick: www.totallyunprepared.com/get-ready-quick
• Storing Water Guidelines: www.ready.gov/managing-water
• FEMA: Family Communication Plan
• Prepare for a Wildfire – Fire Safe Marin
• Red Cross Tools & Checklists:
  https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies.html
• Address placard order form Address Placard Order Form

It is important to collect and store your supplies so they are readily available in an emergency. Having a Family Plan so everyone understands how to get out of the house and where to meet if separated, takes a minimal amount of time to complete but could save lives later.

Gather Supplies

You can gather supplies and be ready in case you need to evacuate or shelter in place. 

Pack a go-bag for evacuations. Everyone in your household needs a go-bag, including pets and kids.

Build a Stay Box: Gather supplies in case you have to shelter in place. Store extra medications, food, and water. This could be a cupboard in your kitchen or a box you set aside just for emergencies.

Car and Work Kits
Disasters can occur at any time. Both the Car and Work Kits provide you with a change of clothes, comfortable shoes, first aid supplies, water and nutritional snacks.

 

First, take a few minutes today and register your cell phones with the Telephone Emergency Notification System (TENS) of Marin County. This system will send you an alert in the case of flooding, wildfire, evacuation or other public safety incidents. Visit www.alertmarin.org to sign up.

The phone systems, as well as electricity, may be down after a disaster. So how do we share information, contact our families, and get help? There are a few options that might work, depending on the situation. Planning ahead, arranging meeting places for your family, identifying an out-of-town contact and participating in a neighborhood radio network will help provide options in case of a disaster.

There may be situations, such as an approaching wildland fire, where you choose to, or are ordered to, leave your home. Have a family meeting to determine how you would leave your home in the event of a house fire. Find two ways to get out of every room. You can make this an activity with your children. It is important to decide a meeting place for all family members in case of a quick evacuation.

For guidelines on how to prepare for a wildfire, visit Fire Safe Marin.

For all Southern Marin Fire District Evacuation Maps, please visit this link.

Plan ahead and build an Evacuation Backpack, including items such as copies of financial records on a USB drive, extra eyeglasses, flashlight and small battery-operated radio. This backpack can be left in a closet near your front door or under your bed. You can add last minute items from your Grab and Go Checklist just before you leave, but remember anything you can do ahead of time will save you time in an emergency! Last minute items might include medications, cell phone and charger, safe deposit keys, family jewelry and passports. Each family member should make their own Grab and Go Checklist.

You may not be home when a disaster strikes. Check with your school or daycare to find out what the plan is in case of an evacuation. Make sure your children carry an emergency identification card. One important element on the card is identifying an out-of-town contact. Often in a disaster it is impossible to get local phone service, but calls out of the area can get through. Identifying this contact allows your family, who might be separated, to pass the word that other members are safe.

Keep a Work Kit in case you have to leave work quickly, or have to walk home. Include comfortable shoes, a change of clothes, flashlight, snacks, first aid kit, and of course, water. If a disaster occurs while you are in your car, a Car Kit will come in handy.

An emergency or disaster may occur when family members are home or at work or school. Having a family emergency plan will give you the reassurance that you will be able to take care of yourselves whether you have to shelter in place or evacuate. Download FEMA's Family Communication Plan to help organize your information. Download the ReadyMarin Checklists.

Following a large-scale disaster, be it an earthquake, fire or flood, you may have the option of remaining in your home or at least on your property. You will need to decide if your home is safe to re-enter. If your home is not safe, you may need to camp out in your backyard. Your camping gear can become part of your emergency supplies, such as a tent, sleeping bags, and cook stove. Prepare to take care of yourself and your family for 5-7 days. Don’t forget that if power is out, gas pumps won’t work, ATM’s won’t work and grocery stores will be closed. Visit www.ready.gov for more information and download the Build a Kit checklist.

Your best defense in a disaster is being educated. Marin County offers both the Get Ready and Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training to all residents. Learn how to take care of yourself and your family, or expand your knowledge and learn about first aid, search and rescue, disaster organization and help your community. Download the ReadyMarin Checklists for more information about preparing for a disaster.

You will need to store food and water for a minimum of 3 days and preferably 5-7 days. Choose non-perishable food that is low-sodium (reduces your thirst) and pick items that you will want to eat. Don't forget to put a can opener in your Grab and Go Bag!

Storing water is a critical component of your disaster planning. In the event of an earthquake it is best to turn off the water to your home. You can always turn it back on. This will keep the water in your home from being contaminated from sewage coming in from broken pipes. Wait to hear on the radio if there are water delivery issues or sanitation problems in your area before turning it back on. Always drink the "best" water you have first, before boiling or treating water that is suspicious.

The rule of thumb for water storage is 1 gallon of water per person (and per pet), per day. ReadyMarin suggests you be prepared for 5-7 days without utilities. That adds up! Remember that in your home, you have between 30-50 gallons of water in your hot water heater. While you can access this water from the valve on the heater, you will need to filter it (a coffee filter works well) since sediment builds in the bottom of the tank.

The Southern Marin Fire District partnered with CAL FIRE to co-brand their latest wildfire preparedness resource, the Wildfire Action Plan. This concise booklet delivers a comprehensive resource for community members with steps to prepare for, respond to, and recover from wildfires.

• Download a copy of the Wildfire Action Plan here.

If you need a physical copy or larger quantities for your neighborhood or group, email SMFD's Preparedness and Education Coordinator.