Earthquakes, Floods, Fires – Is Your Family and Home Prepared?

Released by the City of Mill Valley

In recognition of National Preparedness Month, on September 3, 2013, the Mill Valley City Council has declared September, 2013 "National Preparedness Month."

Mill Valley Emergency Preparedness Commission in partnership with the Mill Valley Fire and Police Departments is pleased to announce training classes and new online tools to help our residents become better prepared for fire, storms, flooding and earthquake emergencies. 

Mill Valley is considered an "All Risk" area  and is subject to wildland fires, storms, flooding and earthquakes. This year the City is at particularly high risk for fire danger as the low rainfall over the past two winters has resulted in near-drought conditions. 

Fire Chief Jeff Davidson reports that fire danger in and around the City of Mill Valley is the highest we have seen in many years and that the current statewide fire activity should help serve as a reminder to us all that if there was ever a time for residents to make sure their families and homes are prepared, this is it. It is critical for residents to make sure they are prepared for all types of emergencies.

GET READY: Attend our FREE 1 1/2 hour training class to learn how to prepare your home and family for fire, flood and earthquake emergencies. Saturday, September 21st  from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m., Mill Valley Community Center, 180 Camino Alto, Mill Valley. 
TO ENROLL: Call (415) 380-1105 or getready@SMFD.org.

FIRE CLASS: Attend our FREE 2 hour training class to learn how to implement the Fire Department's Ready, Set, Go! program, how to make your home and landscaping more fire resistant and how to prepare to evacuate during a fire. Saturday, September 14th from 10:00 a.m. to Noon, Mill Valley Community Center, 180 Camino Alto, Mill Valley. 
TO ENROLL: call (415) 269-6836 or email fireinmv@comcast.net.

COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM (C.E.R.T.): Join Mill Valley's Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and work alongside emergency personnel to help your community during an emergency. To qualify, take Marin County's 18-hour CERT training, given monthly in throughout cities in Marin County. The next training session in Mill Valley will be held Thursday, October 10th from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. and Saturday, October 12th and 19th from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. both days, Mill Valley Fire Station 7, 1 Hamilton Drive, Mill Valley. 
TO ENROLL: www.marincountycert.org/cert-training-schedule.

PREPAREDNESS TOOLS FOR MILL VALLEY RESIDENTS

CAREGIVER EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS CHECKLIST: Make sure those who care for your family in your absence are prepared for fire, storms and earthquakes. Review this checklist with them so they know what to do if an emergency occurs while you are away, please click here for checklist.

DEFENSIBLE SPACE CALCULATOR: In an effort to continually offer the residents of Mill Valley every emergency preparedness tool available, the Mill Valley Fire Department and the Mill Valley Library have partnered to create a free internet based application that allows residents to determine proper defensible space zones around their home. This important tool also offers:

• Fire safety checklist
  Online neighborhood chipper request form
• Online hazard assessment request form
• Sign up for E-Notification
• Important disaster preparedness links

Since this is an internet based application, residents have the choice to add this application as a tile on their phone, or book mark it on their personal computer. Click here to access this very informative fire safety tool.

With the current fire season well underway and the winter storm season coming shortly, September is a great time to make sure your family and home are prepared for emergencies.

We hope all residents will use September as Emergency Preparedness month by taking the time to review and update their personal preparedness and will take advantage of these preparedness classes and tools.