David Canepa
With the recent tsunamis alert pinging cellphones and the fires in Southern California earlier this year, many San Mateo County residents may be feeling anxious about what they would do in the case of an emergency.
On Aug. 2, residents will have the opportunity to learn as much as they can to quell any concerns and stay prepared for any disaster. The 21st annual Disaster Preparedness Day aims to “turn anxiety into action” in a free, hands-on and timely event.
The since-lifted tsunami alert served as a reminder that you don’t know when disaster will strike, and underscores the importance of the annual preparedness event hosted by the Department of Emergency Management, David Canepa, president of the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, said.
“At the end of the day, this is about saving lives and make sure that people are prepared if they are faced with anything — there’s a lot of things going on in San Mateo County related to potential natural disasters,” Canepa said.
The county is prone to earthquakes, floods, wildfires, coastal erosion and more.
It is key for the county and its residents to work together to successful plan ahead for any disaster that might strike, Emergency Management Project Manager Ryan Reynolds said.
“We as a community need to be in partnership for resilience — the county is working hard to keep everyone safe but residents need to be informed and prepared as well,” Reynolds said.
Training, activities for children and life-saving skills workshops will be held at the San Mateo County Event Center 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
The workshops and resources will be available at five separate areas — the Plaza Stage, the Event Pavilion, Cypress Hall, the central mall and the Explorer’s Hall.
Opening statements will be made about the intentions of the day and the importance of staying prepared at 10 a.m. at the Plaza Stage. Immediately after, there will be a fire extinguisher demonstration held in English, Spanish and Mandarin.
“Having confidence and gaining experience is great so that you have a little bit of familiarity in an emergent time,” Reynolds said.
Other highlights include evacuation preparation tips, emergency vehicle tours and meet and greets with first responders. One workshop — “Cooking in an Emergency” — teaches residents how to utilize “heater meals” or prepare meals without power or kitchen facilities.
A blood drive will also be held from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., and the American Red Cross will be hosting training on how to treat and dress major bleeding cuts and a hands-only CPR lesson. Although the training will not get residents certified in CPR, they will leave with a fundamental baseline of knowledge that they will be able to use in a time of need, Reynolds said.
“This is a signature event in San Mateo County,” said Canepa, who will be making remarks about the urgency of disaster prepping with Supervisor Lisa Gauthier ahead of the event’s start.
The entire event is free to the public, including parking, admission, workshops and hot dogs.
(65) 344-5200 ext. 106
Daily Journal staff
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delynsimons said:
CA Is Burning said:
NOTHING the government will do will alleviate traffic. This is simply a way to line the pockets of the unions and our government officials.
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