September 23, 2011

Dear Friends,

When emergencies happen - whether they are extreme storms, earthquakes, tsunamis, or floods - being prepared is the key to mitigating injuries and damage that are likely to follow. If you don't already have an emergency preparedness plan, you need to make one.

Here are several steps to help prepare yourself:

Be Informed

When disaster strikes, you'll have to know what to do immediately. Taking five minutes now to learn what to do could save your life when you have to make a decision in less than five seconds.

For example, many of us were told when we were growing up that the best thing to do when we felt an earthquake was to stand underneath the nearest doorway. According to the San Francisco Department of Emergency Management, that's not always the best course of action - if you feel an earthquake while lying in bed, the best thing to do is to remain lying down and put a pillow over your head.

San Mateo County has great information on emergency preparedness on this website; the City and County of San Francisco has their information here. There is also a very useful quiz you can take on San Francisco’s 72 hours website.

Get a Kit

Most of us take food, water, shelter and power for granted on a daily basis. If an earthquake strikes, our access to many of those things could be cut off. Make sure your family has an "emergency kit"; that includes water, food, a first aid kit, cash, flashlights, batteries, matches, warm clothing and a wrench to turn of utilities.

Make A Plan and Get Training

Make sure you have a plan so that you and your family will know where to meet up and how to stay in contact.

Don't be content with just knowing how to survive a natural disaster - be proactive and learn how to be a leader when disaster strikes. Many local agencies offer free classes on emergency preparedness, and the San Francisco Neighborhood Emergency Response Team (NERT) offers a free six-session, 20-hour class to anyone willing to sign up.

Retrofitting your home can dramatically reduce damages from an earthquake, saving both lives and money. Even a moderate quake can topple chimneys and push homes off of foundations. To determine if a contractor is licensed and bonded you can go to the Contractors State License Board and use the link "check the status."

Purchasing earthquake insurance can give you financial assistance to pay for damages. An interactive survey of homeowner insurance and earthquake insurance premiums is available at: www.insurance.ca.gov. A list of all homeowners and earthquake insurers is also available on the same website. Most homeowner insurers also participate in the federal flood insurance program. If appropriate for your personal circumstances, you can reduce your flood and earthquake insurance costs by buying structure coverage and skipping the coverage for contents.

For more comprehensive information on what to do during a disaster, go to the San Mateo County Department of Emergency Services at http://www.smcready.org/ and the San Francisco Department of Emergency Preparedness' website at http://www.sfdem.org/index.aspx?page=2 or www.72hours.org.

Remember, a little time, money or energy spent before a disaster can make all the difference in the world when one strikes.

Click here to download more extensive preparedness information for San Mateo and San Francisco counties.

All the best,