This week’s moderate earthquake and last week’s devastating fires in Southern Californian are a wakeup call for all of us. Are we prepared for a large-scale natural or other disaster here in San Jose? Is there a plan? How do we minimize our risk?
You may be surprised to learn that there is a comprehensive City of San Jose Emergency Operations Plan in place. Mandated by state law, the current plan was created in 2006 and conforms to FEMA and State of California standards. It makes interesting reading and everyone should take a look at it. The plan assesses the probability and local impact of various disasters (earthquakes are at the top of the list) and outlines the response to be taken, including plans for the continuity of government and law enforcement.
We were lucky this week as the earthquake caused only minor damage. However, the residents of San Diego, Orange, San Bernardino and Los Angeles Counties were not so lucky last week. As it happens, I was in Southern California during the fires and it was astounding that nearly 750,000 people were evacuated from their homes with minimal impact on the surrounding communities. Everyone seemed to have a place to go and sit out the unfolding disaster. It was orderly and I believe that most are now back in their homes, except for the unfortunate families who lost theirs. Would this be the case here?
I know that it is easy to blame people for building homes in areas where there is high fire danger. We have the same issue here from the eastern foothills to Morgan Hill, Almaden and South San Jose. However, we all live within 10 miles of three of the most dangerous faults in the world, so perhaps we shouldn’t be so quick to point the finger at others. We can minimize our own risk by applying some common sense to selecting where we live and the city can do the same in deciding where to allow residential development. (It’s interesting to note that in the city’s emergency plan, it identifies the Coyote Valley area as particularly vulnerable to extreme shaking in earthquakes—another reason not to build there.)
I have a little bag of important belongings and other items ready to go in case of emergency. However, I don’t think I would be ready for a serious disaster and need to be better prepared. I am determined to get some extra batteries for my flashlight and transistor radio, bottles filled with water, etc. just in case. The city plan says that in the event of a major quake, residents should be prepared to be without water, electricity, gas, phones (including cell phones), and access to food and other stores for one to three days or more.
We should also act responsibly during an emergency by helping the injured, our neighbors and others who may be less prepared, and by such things as not driving and using cell phones except when absolutely necessary. If each of us is well prepared and pitches in to help do whatever needs doing in the community, we all have a better chance of surviving and returning to normal life quickly.
I know that it is easy to blame people for building homes in areas where there is high fire danger. We have the same issue here from the eastern foothills to Morgan Hill, Almaden and South San Jose.
Did we forget the Lexington fire of 1984? Any hillside development, east or west, is in high fire danger in this area.
Glow sticks are great, they give off a good light, and are much safer than candles. Have a change of clothes in your car with athletic shoes. Carry water, food, some emergency supplies in your car.
My problem is that I don’t have a “quake-proof” place to store my disaster kit. If something hits that’s big enough to need survival supplies, I don’t know that my apartment or my carport will still be standing.
Thank you for today’s topic Jack. My neighbors are just awesome. We all checked on one another to make sure everyone was all right. I live in a fourplex, and am very blessed to have great neighbors. We’ve planned Neighborhood Watch meetings together, we watch each other’s homes when we go out of town, and basically keep a close eye on one another.
What I found very disturbing is that, very shortly after the earthquake, I noticed an Indian family run out of the complex across the way. The mother was in tears. My fiancé lives in that complex so he went to talk to them to see what was wrong. Apparently, these poor people had just migrated here and didn’t know what an earthquake was. My fiancé explained it, told them what to do, and directed them to look in the phone book, explaining it had information on how to prepare for disasters etc. Now I must say I’m not sure they completely understood him because there was a language barrier. I got to wondering about just how immigrants, and people who don’t speak English are being prepared for a disaster.
As one poster already mentioned, if you live in an apartment too, so where exactly are we supposed to put reserve food, water, blankets, medication, etc.? As JMO mentioned, we shouldn’t be on the phone after a disaster because it could keep seriously injured people from getting help. The news said to text message people instead, but lots of my disabled or elderly friends don’t have a cell phone.
It’s great that the City has a “plan,” but how are they doing public outreach so citizens know where to look for it, or even educate the public such a plan exists? Why aren’t our neighborhood associations doing trainings in the community? What are they doing to ensure that information is disseminated in other languages? And what is being done to make sure and keep track of homebound disabled and elderly people? With the shortage of Police Officers in this City, I think we’re in a tough spot, and these things need to be addressed.
#6 – Contact the Office of Emergency Services, they offer classes. Perhaps you could spearhead a group in your area. My area does have a leader. When I took classes years ago, the main message I remember was that we will be on our own, because so many emergency vehicles and personnel will be dispatched to East Bay.
Jack:
Thanks for your instructive piece. During the mayoral campaign, Mayor Reed would often remind the audience that if a disaster or terrorist attack hit, chances are that you would effectively be “on your own” for about 72 hours. (keep in mind, a lot of police and fire personnel don’t live in the city…if roads/bridges are out, they could be stuck for days).
Given the fires in SoCal, and our 5.6 “reminder” this week, it might be a good idea for the city to review the status of communication systems between police and fire. My understanding is that only a small percentage of firefighters are equipped with phones that allow them to communicate with the police and outside agencies. (anybody have info on this?)
Finally, people need to be reminded, that when you use your cell phone to call 911, you get the Highway Patrol! There is a direct local number that people should program into their phones so that when they call 911, they’ll get the SJ Police right away…I’ll post that number for you in a future submission)
Pete Campbell
Jack, good post. I would add, keep the gas tank in your vehicle filled between 3/4 and full.
Also keep a few hundred dollars in cash available because the gas pumps and ATM machines are operated by electricity.
P.O: Now here’s a post in case you don’t understand what they are suppose to look like ?
Thanks Jack !
#7 & 8- Thank you both!
Pete, I believe that calling 911 in San Jose from a cell phone will usually get you SJ Police dispatch and not the CHP. This is a fairly recent change to the system I believe.
Phone # for the Office of Emergency Services: 277-4598
I was almost on top of the epicenter Tuesday evening when the 5.6 occurred. After the event all of my pictures and paintings were tilted on the walls, but no damage was done. Suprisingly even the tall free standing marble sculpture out side was still intact and upright.
I just read about the flooding in Mexico, and feel helpless to respond. The same is true of our city. It would make a lot of sence to stratigicly place the kinds of supplies that are needed to help folks survive the first day or two of a catastrafic occurance.
Schools, Comminity centers, fire houses,food markets.
Box stores, and in our homes and place of employement.
Bottled Water is the essential life saving element.
Mayors need to meet and create just such an alliance between each other. State Governors must as well. Presidents of Nations
Especially.
Gil
The Village Black Smith
Why am I not surprised to hear silence from our side of the fence, relating to the terrible flooding in Mexico. One day we just might run out of friends as neighbors.
I Pray that you don’t get what you wish for in our relationship with Mexico Mr. Minutemen.
We may need you to fight the real war at your fences, but not against Mexico’s poor.
With China dumping on us every concievable toxin in the form of toys and God and the importers only knows what else, while at the same time polluting the air and water, the end is in sight.
Mix these two points together and what kind of cocktail do you get?
One that will leave us with a hangover that will not go away, and leave us begging desperately for Mexican soup, as a cure!
D.O.A.