Are You Prepared?
This page contains useful links and videos to help you prepare for all manner of emergencies. Go to our Amateur (Ham) Radios page to get an overview of what it takes to get license. Radios are often the only reliable way to communicate after a disaster.Β
π οΈ Personal Preparation
Get yourself and your family ready for any emergency with these essential resources:
β Ready.gov - Step-by-step guides for emergency planning and kit building.
β Coastside Buzz - Home & car emergency supply checklists curated by Michelle Dragony.
β City of Los Altos Emergency Supply Kit Essentials - A detailed supply list for emergency readiness.
β Do 1 Thing - A 12-month preparedness program, focusing on a different emergency readiness topic each month.
π₯ Fire Safety Resources
πΊ Watch the NFPA video on preparing your home against firebrands / ember storms. Dr. Jack Cohen, Fire Science Researcher with the USDA Forest Service, explains current research about how homes ignite during wildfires, and the actions that homeowners can take to protect their homes from flames and embers. Featuring footage from the IBHS Research Center, this primer demonstrates ember experiments and key fire safety steps.
π Check out DisasterSafety.org's Wildfire site for projects to help you protect your property from fire damage.
π₯ Explore the National Fire Protection Association for wildfire safety resources.
β‘οΈVisit PG&E's Safety Action Center for wildfire risk information and steps to stay safe before, during, and after an emergency.
πPurpleAir Public Air Quality Map - Check real-time air quality in your area to monitor smoke and pollution levels during wildfires.
π Earthquake Resources
π Ready.gov's Earthquakes page offers essential preparedness tips to keep you and your household safe.
π The HayWired Scenario examines a hypothetical earthquake and its potential 90-day impact on utilities and services in San Mateo County.
π Interactive California Hazard Maps
πEnter your address to see hazards near your home.
π Cal OES, (Governor's Office of Emergency Services) provides the MyHazards site to help you identifiy earthquake, flood, fire and tsunami risks in your area.
π The California Earthquake Hazards Zone Application ("EQ Zapp") lets you check if your property is in an earthquake hazard zone.