The following is a report from John Lenser, the Chair of the Coalition’s Disaster Prep Committee:
We had a very productive meeting of the Disaster Preparedness Committee on June 27th. The following is a recap of the meeting along with progress that has been made this past week.
- Thank you Maggie Phillips for updating the HOA presidents and disaster preparedness coordinators roster. She was missing information on two or three HOA’s. We want to use the updated roster when we invite neighbors to our various training programs.
- Training Events. As you know, we had to cancel all of our training events due to the virus. We will not be able to hold any in-person training events this year. However, we are working on holding a One Hour to Get Ready on Zoom as soon as it can be arranged. Michael Huynh, the County Disaster Preparedness Coordinator, evidently has worked up a Zoom training program. He seems to be very busy at the moment but we will continue to work on arranging a time for an event with him.
We also hope to arrange an HOA leadership seminar on disaster preparedness. We had a session last fall to encourage HOA organization. Quinn Gardner, the City of San Rafael Disaster Coordinator, has indicated that she may be available to lead such a session in August (she has been slammed by Covid-19 work).
- China Camp. Vince Anibale, a ranger from China Camp, attended our meeting for the first time. This led to a long discussion regarding fire prevention efforts in China Camp and the condition of fire breaks and fire roads. Steve Ziman and Russ Young agreed to do some research on this issue. There are many groups already involved that may be able to provide us information. Besides Vince, I will seek a representative of Friends of China Camp to attend our meetings in the future.
- Disaster Supplies. Over $10,000 was raised during our March fund raising effort. In addition, we were successful in getting a grant for $4,000 from the County for supplies. Mickey Golbus, Bill Gates, and Maggie Phillips have edited down the list of needed supplies to fit the available funds. This may result in supplies being stored at only two locations rather than three. The large garage at San Pedro Cove has been made available on a temporary basis as a location to bring existing supplies owned by the Coalition and stage new supplies as they are acquired. I am currently exploring insurance options that will cover the supplies and also protect the Coalition against liability. Once the insurance issue has been sorted out, following authorization from the Coalition Board, the committee will proceed to purchase the supplies.
Larry Andow also been exploring the supplies that are in two trailers at Fire Station 55 and has learned the following:
• The red trailer is owned by SRFD. It contains Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) equipment that can be used by the Marin County USAR team. If needed, USAR team members would respond to the station, pick up the trailer, and transport it to where it is needed. San Rafael Firefighters could also use it for a local emergency if needed. It’s not intended to be used by CERT or other citizen disaster groups. The USAR team has supplies staged at various fire stations around Marin to use if and when needed.
• The white trailer contains mass casualty (MCI) supplies. It is under the control of the County of Marin, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) division of Marin Health and Human Services. Similar to the USAR trailer, EMS stages supplies in various locations, typically fire stations around Marin, to deploy when needed.
- Refuge and Evacuation locations.
a) Peacock Gap Golf Course. The Red Cross has now been authorized to move forward with their review and certification of refuge sites. They are currently arranging a review of the Golf Club for next week or the week after. Larry Andow from the Committee will accompany the review team. The owner of the Golf Club is preliminarily willing to have the Club used as a refuge and triage site.
b) Marin Yacht Club. The Club has expressed their willingness to allow the use of their grounds and club house as a refuge site. Larry Andow, Mickey Golbus, and I were provided a tour by Donna Eng, a committee member who is also on the Club’s board. We all believe that the Club has great potential although indoor space is not as large as that of the Golf Club. The Red Cross will make a preliminary visit to the Yacht Club when they visit the Golf Club.
c) Redeemer Church. Several committee members took a Zoom tour that was generously offered by Eileen Brennan. While the church is willing to provide grounds for a storage shed for supplies, the actual indoor facilities are not suitable for refuge or a triage center. It was our conclusion that we should continue to consider Redeemer for supply storage if other more suitable locations cannot be secured.
d) McNear Park. Larry Andow and I visited McNear County Park and were given an extensive tour by the assigned ranger. While it could be used as a secondary refuge site following an event, it has limited indoor space and is surrounded by a forest of Eucalyptus trees that represent a fire hazard. During any wind, the park is closed due to falling material from the trees. However, there is much open space next to the water and a potential link to Dutra’s quarry.
In summary, it appear that we should focus on Peacock Gap Golf Course that has both open space and adequate indoor space to serve as both a refuge and triage center. Focus should also remain on the Marin Yacht Club that also has much outdoor space and more limited indoor space. We will report back on the Red Cross visits to these two sites at our next meeting.
Mickey Globus is also working with the Marin Medical Corp and other medical associations to identify doctors and other medical personal living in our neighborhoods. Once identified, we could solicit their interest in responding following a disaster to any triage center that we have secured.
- Community Resources. We need to continue to contact resources in our community such as markets and drug stores to determine their ability to continue to operate during a disaster. Due to Covid-19, those assigned to make such contacts have found it difficult to make any progress. Hopefully, progress can be made during the next few weeks
Respectfully,
John Lenser, Chair