San Carlos scopes emergency preparation

Currently, one engine from the department stationed in Redwood City is deployed in Southern California, helping with the Palisades Fire, Greg DaCunha, who serves in both Redwood City and San Carlos fire departments, said at the Jan. 13 San Carlos City Council meeting.

Acknowledging the increase in concern about the county’s own preparedness for such natural disaster, DaCunha encouraged all residents visit the community page on the San Carlos website where there are tabs dedicated to emergency preparedness, heat safety, storm and flood preparation, and wildfire preparedness.

Each resident should develop a communication plan with family members, make a “go bag,” sign up for SMC Alert, know the nearest evacuation routes, and do whatever home improvements they can to prevent fire spreading, DaCunha said.

One way residents can feel more equipped to respond to such emergencies is by signing up for the Community Emergency Response Team program through the fire department. The CERT program trains residents in skillsets approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Those interested may volunteer to become CERT members, able to be activated by the fire department on a need basis. Members are trained in disaster preparedness over seven weeks, CERT Coordinator Alana Fulvio said.

“If we can train and develop our community of people who are more prepared and ready, whether they are activated or not, we’re able to respond quicker, which can save more lives and more land,” Fulvio said.

Fulvio began in her role as CERT coordinator, as well as emergency preparedness outreach coordinator, last fall, and looks forward to establishing a robust CERT program in the fire department. The training academy to be a disaster service worker is held twice a year, with the next academy beginning Feb. 20.

“My goal is to make us a more resilient and usable asset for the community,” Fulvio said.

Regardless if residents become involved through CERT, Fulvio recommends all residents do their own individual preparation of their families and homes. Any time spent on preparing is less time worrying about what to do when disaster strikes, she said.

“You want to think really to the granular point of detail so you don’t have to frantically make decisions in the moment,” Fulvio said. “Having that conversation can feel scary, but it will be a lot scarier in the moment if you don’t talk about it.”

Ahead of an emergency, residents are recommended to sign up for SMC Alert and to become familiar with their “zone.” The Genasys Protect app, formerly known as Zonehaven, can keep residents informed about evacuation routes as evacuations are ordered.

At the City Council meeting, DaCunha also shared that fire hydrants are maintained by Cal Water, but are routinely checked. Around 20% of all of the city’s fire hydrants are updated on a rotating basis.

For stations located in San Carlos, response times average just under six minutes, a minute under the county standard. However, DaCunha said there is always room for improvement. Tracking and publishing response times by station and shift has encouraged teams to move quickly.

“Nothing like a little bit of friendly competition in the firehouse,” DaCunha said.

The construction of Station 16 has completed, and firefighters will soon be able to move in within a month, DaCunha predicts, which should also lower response times for calls near the station at 1280 Alameda de las Pulgas.

Looking ahead to 2025, DaCunha said the fire department is looking to establish its Fire Explorer Post Program, and continue working with the city and consultants on fuels management programs and preventative measures.

“We are definitely prepared, yet, there is constant learning going on,” Fulvio said. “We are learning from Southern California, we learned from the Northern California fires, and we’re integrating s aspects of what could have been blind spots for us.”

Promoting the CERT program, Fulvio said increasing awareness of its service will hopefully quell any concerns residents may have about what the city is doing to remain prepared.

“It’s a long game, we get prepared and we continue to prepare,” Fulvio said. “You have people in your community that are looking out for you.”

Mayor Sara McDowell and Councilmember Adam Rak suggested the city hold a community meeting soon to further answer any questions residents may have.

In other business, McDowell mentioned during council remarks that Cal Water is proposing further rate increases in addition to those established in 2024, and recommended residents participate in the California Public Utilities Commission Public Participation Hearing on Jan. 23. Interested participants should visit https://rb.gy/27ggzl for more information.