Marin Disaster Planning Study Guide (source IJ)

Briefing document

Okay, here is a briefing document summarizing the key themes and ideas from the provided article about Marin County's disaster planning in light of the Los Angeles fires:

Briefing Document: Marin County Disaster Preparedness

Date: October 26, 2023

Subject: Review of Marin County's disaster planning in light of the Los Angeles fires.

Executive Summary:

This document summarizes the key takeaways from a Marin Independent Journal article regarding Marin County's disaster preparedness efforts, spurred by the devastating fires in Los Angeles. The article highlights a sense of urgency and renewed focus on fire preparedness in Marin, drawing parallels with past catastrophic fires in California and Hawaii. Marin County officials emphasize the need for both community and individual responsibility in preparing for potential wildfires, including evacuation planning, communication strategies, and landscape mitigation. While Marin has made significant strides in preparedness, ongoing efforts are considered essential to combat the ever-present wildfire threat.

Key Themes and Ideas:

1. The Los Angeles Fires as a Wake-Up Call:

• The article clearly frames the Los Angeles fires as a catalyst, prompting Marin residents and officials to re-evaluate their own preparedness. , "People tend to forget about the threat until something like this happens… We are continually trying to be prepared. That’s all we can do." This quote underscores the reactive nature of disaster preparedness.

1. Emphasis on Community and Individual Responsibility:

• The article stresses a dual approach to preparedness: proactive measures at both the community and individual level.
• This includes:
• Community: Emergency planning, notification systems, evacuation routes, staff training, fire breaks, hardened homes.
• Individual: Having a “go-bag”, knowing evacuation routes, signing up for alerts, being ready to leave when instructed.
•  “Knowing your neighbor, ensuring everyone has their alerts and their emergency plan is the priority.”

1. Robust Notification and Communication Systems:

• Marin County has implemented a variety of notification systems, including:
• AlertMarin (emergency notification system, approximately 72,000 registrants)
• Geographically targeted alerts
• Sirens
• Emergency broadcasts
• Social media
• Emergency messages sent to landlines and emails
• "As a communicator, we have to be able to put out a very clear, concise message that tells you, ‘I need to go now,’" highlighting the importance of clear communication in crisis situations.
• The county also has a 24/7 duty officer program to activate emergency operations.

1. Evacuation Preparedness and Planning:

• Evacuation is a key area of focus:
• Detailed evacuation maps
• Evacuation tags are available for residents to place on their homes
• New computer tools for evaluating evacuation routes and shelter destinations
• Clear messaging on the importance of evacuating promptly
• Marin County Fire Chief Jason Weber: "Another key component here is evacuating without delay… That means having a go-bag and leaving when you’re instructed to do so."

1. Lessons from Past Fires:

• The article explicitly draws parallels between the Los Angeles fires and other devastating wildfires:
• Lahaina Fire (Hawaii)
• North Bay fires of 2017
• Camp Fire (Butte County)
• The repeating pattern of wildfires emphasizes the need for ongoing preventative measures.
• Marin County fire officials say the Los Angeles disaster is a replay of the Lahaina fire in Hawaii that killed more than 100 people, the North Bay fires of 2017 and the Camp fire in Butte County that killed 85 people and destroyed 13,500 homes.

1. Wildfire Mitigation Efforts:

• The Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority (MWPA) is taking several proactive steps:
• Home inspections (30,000 annually)
• Matching grants for vegetation removal
• Creation of shaded fuel breaks
• Vegetation clearing on evacuation routes
•  “Nobody is doing the inspections for home hardening and defensible space at the pace and scale that we are, and we are seeing tremendous success with our residents taking action and improving their safety.”
• The Ross Valley fuel break (38 miles) and a 50-mile fuel break surrounding Novato are cited.

1. Resource Limitations and Mutual Aid:

• The article acknowledges that Marin County has limited resources compared to other areas, such as Los Angeles.
•  “They’re able to mobilize a small army… We just don’t have that many resources. Having more people on an engine makes the community safer, makes operations safer even on basic calls.”
• Marin relies heavily on mutual aid systems for additional support during major incidents.

1. Ongoing Efforts and Continuous Improvement:

• Officials recognize that preparedness is an ongoing process and not a static state.
• Mark Brown, executive officer of the Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority: “I doubt I’ll ever feel the county is 100% prepared, because if you do that then we’re going to drop our guard.”
•  "We all need to continue working, and we probably need to work harder this year more than ever based on what we’re seeing in Southern California."
• Focus is on training, staff development, and adapting to changing conditions.

Conclusion:

The article emphasizes that while Marin County has taken significant steps towards wildfire preparedness, the Los Angeles fires serve as a stark reminder of the ongoing threat. There is a strong push for continued community and individual vigilance, focusing on proactive measures such as evacuation planning, landscape mitigation, and clear communication. The need for ongoing work and adaptation to ensure community safety remains paramount.