Disaster Preparedness

Over at the Crime Scene Blog, Frank Girardot has posted a link to SGVN's recent Disaster Awareness Guide publication. It's kind of a long download, at 14mb, but definitely worth the wait, as it is filled with all kinds of information about preparation for fire, quakes, floods and terrorism. It goes into far more detail in getting ready than anything I've seen. It also has lots of links to websites where you can get more information, though some of them don't seem to work. I tried to go to earthquakeauthority.com, and the link wasn't working. Socalready.com did load, and is very much like a website version of the disaster guide, but with links to a family communication plan download and a medical records plan download. The family communication plan download told me the file was damaged, but hopefully by the time you get there, that will be fixed. There's also a page dedicated to "The Plan Ahead Handbook" that can be purchased that sounds like a very valuable tool in an emergency.

There will be a Fire Expo on Nov. 15th, from 11am - 2pm, free of charge, at Fire Station 110, located at 17056 Gale Ave. in the City of Industry that Sierra Madreans should consider attending. The theme is "Helping You Prepare Against A Wildland Fire." After the destruction of the last few days, I hope we all realize how fortunate we are that there wasn't a single structure lost in April, and proper preparation might help us maintain that fortunate streak through the next fire.

Topics covered at the Expo include:
5 steps to help you get ready
1. Understand your vulnerability
2. Prepare your land
3. Prepare your home
4. Prepare your Wildfire Action Plan
5. Prepare your Evacuation Plan – leave when asked

LAST RESORT
Prepare for your survival
Vendors* will be on hand to provide information, products, and/or demonstrations
• Emergency supplies
• Personal protective equipment
• Fire suppression systems

PRESENTATIONS INCLUDE
• Fire Department Operations
• Vegetation Management
• Building Standards

While I'm on the subject of fires, a shout out is due to Mike Kinney and Caroline Brown of Sierra Madre's Fire Safety Council, who are working tirelessly to prepare our community for the next fire.

One thing that Sierra Madreans need to consider as we move forward is that these fires, while not touching Sierra Madre, will have a potentially devastating impact on our town. Our Public Works Dept., when fully staffed (and last time I checked, it wasn't) has only 12 employees. During an emergency, they go on 12-hour shifts, meaning a maximum of six employees at a time. We are working closely with and will receive help from LA County Public Works, but their staff will be spread out throughout LA County, and with all the new scorched earth that will be rolling down hillsides during this winter's rains, they will be spread much thinner after the events of the last few days. So it's even more critical that we, as a community, maximize our efforts to prepare.

Public Works Director Bruce Inman has now provided me with the City's latest Powerpoint presentation regarding the City's preparation, which has been used at three townhall meetings to help inform Sierra Madreans. The version I have is the most recent version, dated Nov. 6th. I will have it posted at my Sierra Madre News Net website within 24 hours.

Are you ready?