Community Preparedness

Get Ready Program

The Get Ready Program is a disaster preparedness program designed to educate residents with basic skills to survive a disaster. The format is designed to be taught in only two hours to groups of any size with minimal preparation. The Town of Ross will be sponsoring classes to train interested residents to be Get Ready instructors. Once trained, the instructors can then hold their own Get Ready training sessions in their homes, businesses, schools, church or social groups.

Look for more of our Get Ready class dates coming soon.

What’s in Your Kit?
Having an emergency kit is an important part of being prepared. The nice thing about having your own kit is that you can put anything you want in it. Depending upon the size of your family, dietary and health needs, the variety is limitless. Many commercially made kits are available, but often the contents are less than appetizing and the supplies can be sparse.

If you don’t yet have a kit, consider our checklist on the Get Ready Marin website:

http://www.getreadymarin.org/resources.html (click on the Home Supply Checklist)
Or take a look at what San Francisco residents are doing at http://www.72hours.org/build_kit.html, or what the Federal Government recommends at http://www.ready.gov/america/getakit/index.html.

Building a kit is easy to do when you don’t need it, but difficult when you do. Find a spot in your garage or in your closet and pick a day to get prepared. Here’s an example of a well equipped kit from a Ross resident:

can opener
canned foods
water
hand crank radio/flashlight
wrench to turn off gas meter
First aid information from telephone book
goggles
work gloves
vinyl gloves
scissors
face masks
First Aid emergency kit which includes:
First Aid booklet
water packets
food brick
flashlight
batteries
duct tape
utility knife
candles
waterproof matches
gloves
hand warmer packets
emergency survival blankets
emergency ponchos
antiseptic ointment
antiseptic wipes
instant cold packs
bandages
gauze
adhesive tape
tissues
sanitary pads

For more Get Ready information go to www.getreadymarin.org.

Those who appreciate the Get Ready concept may also want to take Community Emergency Response Training (CERT) offered locally through the Corte Madera Fire Department. This 12-hour class is taught over two days and expands the student’s skills so they can assist other residents as part of a neighborhood team. For more CERT information see below.

Download the Ross Disaster Plan Worksheet here.

CERT Training Schedule

The Community Emergency Response Training (CERT) is a program designed to provide hands-on training to citizens to become self-sufficient for at least 72 hours following a disaster. Please click on the attached Class Schedule for the 2008 CERT classes.

DISASTER AWARENESS INFORMATION

Prepare for 72 Hours

Many people assume that emergency services will be readily available following a major disaster. In truth, our emergency workers are subject to the same perils and may not be able to help you for quite some time. Also, the scope of any major disaster will initially overwhelm local rescuers and help coming from outside the disaster area will take time to reach you. Stocking up on supplies to be self-sufficient for seventy-two hours is the best way to prepare yourself and your family. Drinking water should be first on your list, plan on one gallon per person per day, at the minimum. Your home water heater will contain several gallons of clean water. Food is the second concern. Many types of dehydrated, dried or canned food is commercially available for storage. First aid supplies and medications should also be stored, along with some basic tools, a fire extinguisher, flashlights, an AM radio with batteries and sanitation needs.

Turning Off Your Utilities

If there has been structural damage to your home, turn off the natural gas supply at the meter to reduce the risk of fire or explosion from a leak. Once the gas is turned off, never turn it back on yourself, wait for PG&E to do that.

Turning off the water supply to your house may prevent trapped water from leaking out, conserving a water source for your use.

Electricity should be turned off at the main breaker panel. Always shut off all the individual circuits before shutting off the main circuit breaker.

Community Emergency Response Training

The Loma Prieta earthquake on October 17, 1989 and the aftermath demonstrated the importance of civilian volunteers during a disaster. In a large-scale disaster, individual self-reliance and the response of trained community volunteers will be critical. With this in mind, the Ross Fire Department has partnered with neighboring fire agencies and the Corte Madera Fire Department to offer a program of Community Emergency Response Training (CERT) for civilians. The intent of this ten-hour training program is to give participants the skills necessary to take responsibility for their own safety and survival, as well as their families, for at least 72 hours. CERT training provides the skills and confidence for people to organize and participate in neighborhood or community response teams. Register for classes by calling 927-5077.

Flooding

Floods are the most common and widespread of all natural disasters–except fire. Most communities in the United States can experience some kind of flooding during and after winter storms. Floods can be slow, or fast rising but generally develop over a period of days. Winter storms in California can be deadly, causing flooding, flash floods, and mudslides. Some areas of Ross are located on the valley floor. Corte Madera Creek crosses town and becomes full during the winter rain season. Flooding has always been a threat in these areas and residents who live in the flood zone should be prepared for flood emergencies. Individuals and business owners can protect themselves from flood losses by purchasing flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program. Information is available through local insurance agents. The Town provides sandbags free of charge to residents each winter. The self-serve sandbag stations are located at the entrance to Natalie Coffin Greene Park and at the Town corporation yard behind the fire station. Residents who may be susceptible to high water should pick up sandbags well in advance of heavy rains and not wait until flooding begins.

Earthquakes

No matter where you are, know how to protect yourself and your family during an earthquake. Practice taking cover as if there were an earthquake and learn the safest places in your home and work. Practice getting out of your home and check to see if the planned exits are clear and if they can become blocked in an earthquake. Some homes in Ross are on hillsides and may become unstable following an earthquake. Buildings constructed of unreinforced masonry are a significant collapse hazard. Examine the risks at your house.

Evacuation

Oftentimes, remaining where you are is the most appropriate action following a disaster. Your safety is the most important consideration and ultimately the decision to leave your house is yours to make. In certain circumstances, emergency personnel may call for an evacuation. If you are advised to leave your house, you will directed where you can go for safety and shelter. Many people prefer to plan in advance where they can go, and what routes to take. Avoid Shady Lane and Bolinas Avenue during flood emergencies because they are the first roads to be closed by rising water. Remember to notify friends and family outside of town that you are safe.

Notification

The Town uses different types of methods to alert residents to an emergency. For decades, an air horn on top of the fire house has served that purpose. In 2008, that horn will be replaced with a new electric siren system. The system will be tested each Saturday at noon. If the siren is sounded during the winter months, residents should be alert for a flood emergency. If heard during the summer months residents should be alert for a fire. In either case, the sound of the signal means to be alert for information how to react. Sources of information include: local television stations, local AM radio stations (KCBS AM 740), the Telephone Emergency Notification System, or the public address system from a passing police car.

The Telephone Emergency Notification System (TENS) is a subscriber-based system used by the Town of Ross to send recorded emergency announcements to residents via telephone. Residents may subscribe to the system by completing an application form available at Town Hall, the Public Safety Building or by downloading the form here.

Special Needs Form

The Ross Police and Fire Departments are compiling voluntary information on Ross residents who during an emergency or crisis situation might be unable to communicate the information themselves. This information will enable us to be better prepared to assist you should a life threatening emergency or disaster require your evacuation. If you are a resident with special needs, or have someone living in your household with special needs, please take the time to fill out this voluntary form and provide us with the information that we might need in an emergency (download Form).

Resource Links

Red Cross: http://www.redcross.org/services/prepare/0,1082,0_239_,00.html
FEMA: http://www.fema.gov/areyouready/
Office of Emergency Services: http://www.oes.ca.gov
Be prepared for 72 hours: http://www.72hours.org
Disaster preparedness: http://www.ready.gov/