September is National Preparedness Month, and the Southern Marin Fire Protection District (SMFD) continues with its "Preparedness Starts at Home" campaign — a five-week series designed to help families and individuals take simple, effective steps to get ready before disaster strikes. This week, we're highlighting tip for week four:
Community involvement strengthens resilience. After a disaster, first responders may not reach everyone right away. Your knowledge and actions can help keep your neighborhood safe. SMFD and ReadyMarin support community preparedness through programs like CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) and neighborhood disaster planning groups.
Action Steps:
- Attend a free Community Disaster Preparedness class to learn about local hazards and response. If you'd like to attend an upcoming local class, there's one happening at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, September 29 at Tam Valley Community Center in Mill Valley. Visit Ready Marin's website to learn more and register for the class.
- Join CERT to receive hands-on training in fire safety, light search and rescue, and disaster medical care.
- Create a neighborhood phone tree and share key emergency contacts.
- Identify neighbors with special needs who may require assistance.
- Quick Tip: Even small skills, like knowing how to turn off utilities, can make a big difference during a crisis.
Visit smfd.org for tips and resources. For more information on getting involved, contact Preparedness and Education Coordinator Leah Curtis at lcurtis@smfd.org.
