Take responsibility for yourself and your family

Have your own Personal Preparedness Plan

Being prepared for emergencies is critical for the safety not only of you but for your loved ones, neighbors, the larger community, and first responders. With temperatures increasing, drought conditions worsening and winds regularly kicking up, wildfire and extended power outages are becoming more of a threat. A well-prepared resident may be able to help others reach safety rather than needing assistance or a life-saving rescue.

According to ReadyMarin, here are the top five things a Marin resident can do right now to make sure you’re ready for an emergency:

1. Sign up for emergency alerts:

AlertMarin will tell you when you need to take action in an emergency. Sign up to receive alerts for addresses that are important to you, including your home, work, child’s school, or close family members.

2. Pack a go bag so all the necessities are on hand when it’s time to leave in a hurry. Include helpful items specific to a disaster, such as an N95 mask to aid breathing during times of heavy wildfire smoke, or extra battery back-ups to power necessary electronics. Everyone in your household needs a Go Bag. Even pets!

3. Make a plan. Know who you rely on and who relies on you. Establish an out of area contact. Write down important phone numbers. Choose a meeting place in case your family gets separated.

4. Assemble a Stay box . Gather supplies and assemble a box in case you need to shelter at home. Be prepared to shelter in place for 5 - 7 days. Know how and when to turn off your gas and water.

5. Help Friends and Neighbors get ready. When a disaster occurs and people need help, neighbors turn to neighbors. Get to know your neighborhood SBDC members and neighbors. A community that knows each other is more resilient during and after a disaster.

You can get detailed information about emergency preparedness and learn more about fire-resistant landscaping and home hardening through FireSafe Marin.

Marin County has a public emergency portal where urgent information will be updated when a disaster unfolds. The site, at emergency.marincounty.org, including interactive mapping features to detail areas affected by an emergency, evacuation zones, power outages road closures and more.

In Stinson Beach:

  • Know your SBDC Neighborhood Contacts. In a disaster connect with them to let them know your status.

  • Keep their phone numbers handy.

  • Check your own safety and that of your family.

  • You can volunteer to help others through your SBDC Area Lead.