Disaster Preparedness

Overview

Disasters are unexpected events which disrupt normal living and threaten our health and well being. Disasters will happen; we just don’t know what will happen or when it will occur.

There are two aspects to facing a disaster: preparing beforehand and responding afterward. Both are part of disaster preparedness. Depending on the type of disaster, you may need to shelter in place or evacuate. As with any situation, more time spent planning and better preparation increases the chance of being able to respond effectively. Preparedness in the household involves securing furniture, heavy objects, water heaters etc., mitigating fire hazards and preparing emergency kits for survival and first aid.  There are many websites addressing these topics listed in the detailed discussion pages for earthquake, fire and flooding / mud slides. There are two-hour classes in which preparedness is taught by FEMA-certified instructors. Check the training page for more details and information.  Responding to a disaster requires specific training without which an untrained responder may cause harm as opposed to helping and may get in trouble and become a victim.

Some key points are given on this website in these, and accompanying, pages. More detailed discussion can be found on the additional websites cited on those pages. There is a wealth of information available on disaster / emergency preparedness. Not all of it applies to us. What’s important is to do something to get prepared. The more you do for yourself and your family, the better off our community will be if a disaster happens.

The disasters we might face in Marin County and, specifically in East San Rafael, are (the titles are also links to further information on that topic):

Earthquake

This is the most disruptive natural threat and the most probable we face.  Such a disaster can hit anytime during day and nights, year around. . Our area is between the Hayward and San Andreas faults. A major quake on either of these faults will have a significant impact on us. Many of our homes are on unstable land, whether it is flat bay fill (possible liquefaction) or relatively loose slag from erosion of the hills (slope instability).

If a major earthquake occurs, we can expect that roads may be impassable and emergency personnel may not be available or reachable. FEMA recommends that neighborhoods will be self-sufficient for 72 hours.  Individual households must have emergency kits for a minimum of three days.  Some individuals may elect to have enough supplies to last one week.

Part of planning for an earthquake is to look for ways to protect homes and items in them from damage caused by shaking. Also, earthquakes can trigger fires and landslides, so landscape design is important.

Fire

Fires may originate from trees and shrubs surrounding San Rafael, ignited by natural causes like lightening or arson, or they may originate from within houses. Earthquakes can also start fires. The Pt. San Pedro Road corridor is fortunate in that we are bounded by water, other communities, and grassland. However, we have pockets of dense vegetation, including broom and eucalyptus, that could aggravate a fire. Historically, most bad fires in Marin County have occurred in September and October. The worst conditions are when there are hot, offshore, northeast winds.

The severity of a fire is governed by the “fire triangle”: weather, topography, and fuel. Fuel is the only one of these over which we have some control. The primary considerations for managing fuel are landscape design, roofing, siding, windows, and vents.  This section also covers house fire preparation and response as well as wildland fires.

Flooding and Mud Slides

Protracted or intense rains can cause flooding and earth cave-outs. Each homeowner should assess where his property might be vulnerable. As our area continues to develop this is becoming more critical as water passes through one property to another.

Disaster Impacts and Hazards

Other Sources of Information

The Contacts / Links page offers a wealth of sources for information on disaster preparedness and recovery.

Insurance

Fire insurance is included in standard home insurance policies.

Earthquake insurance can be purchased from the California Earthquake Authority through your insurance company. The policy deductible is 15% of the dwelling limit. This insurance covers damage from earth movement caused by earthquake.

Flood and earth slide insurance caused by rain water can be purchased through the National Flood Insurance Program. You can get coverage for a home up to $250,000 and personal property up to $100,000. The cost with $500 deductibles for each coverage in our area (Zone C – Preferred Risk) is $317.