Prepare Yourself - Fire Safe Marin

Alert and Warning Systems

In an emergency, Marin officials may use many different tools to communicate information and instructions to the community. Alert Marin, Nixle, Radio Station KCBS, local TV and social media are the primary outlets. Register now and prepare to use these systems before an emergency occurs.

Central Marin Fire Department Battalion Chief Todd Lando describes the various wildfire alerting systems including Alert Marin, Nixle, Wireless Emergency Alerts, and NOAA alerts. He further discusses the meaning of alerting messaging such as evacuation orders and evacuation warnings.

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How to know a wildfire is near your

Sunday December 20, 2020

Red Flag Warnings

Fire agencies monitor weather conditions daily and use indexes and predictions to make decisions about how to fight fires and how to prevent new fires from igniting. Residents and visitors to areas where wildfires are likely to occur should be aware of current and predicted weather conditions, and should take additional actions to prepare their family, home, and community when risk is elevated.

During Red Flag Warnings, extreme caution is urged for all residents because fires are more
likely to ignite, and those that do are more likely to spread rapidly and be more difficult to control

Red Flag Warning conditions are typically related to wind events lasting at least 8 hours.

During these events vegetation is very dry, humidity is low and no rain has occurred in the last 24 hours.

Relative humidity and wind speed are the primary factors driving a Red Flag Warning declaration.

Red Flag Warnings are designated for a specific span of time. The Warning remains in effect until it expires, is canceled or upgraded.

The first thing you should do during a Red Flag Warning event is to review your Wildfire Evacuation Checklist. Copies are available through FIRESafe MARIN and they can be downloaded from their website: www.firesafemarin.org/evacuation/checklist
.

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What is a Red Flag Warning?

Monday November 16, 2020

Be Ready to Evacuate

Make sure that you and your family are prepared to evacuate at a moment’s notice. Prepare an evacuation go-kit, create a family communication plan, and have your evacuation checklist ready.

Central Marin Fire Department Battalion Chief Todd Lando discusses how to create a Go Kit with essential items for family members, what to do about your pets if you need to evacuate due to wildfire, the proper way to dress during evacuation and additional items to bring with you to keep you safe.

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How to Make a Go Kit for Family and Pets

Sunday December 20, 2020

Help for Those Needing Assistance

We all need to be part of a strategic plan that sets people up for success and gets them the resources they need to get out of harm’s way. Make sure your emergency plans take into consideration different needs and abilities for those who may need assistance during a disaster.

Powered & Prepared. This webinar covers emergency resources and training for people with disabilities in Marin. We all need to be part of a strategic plan that sets people up for success and gets them the resources they need to get out of harm's way. Speakers: Eli Geradin (Executive Director of Marin Center for Independent Living) walks through emergency plans that take into consideration different needs and abilities. Mary Davis, Hattie Cook and Debra Judd share personal stories of emergency preparation and the power of community. Maurice Pollard (Marin CIL), Jody Timms (Marin Commission on Aging) and Adrianna Radkin (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters) talk about the network of resources that can help Marin residents. Living with Fire in Marin webinar series (August 2021) - Highlights Reel

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It Takes a Community: How to support individuals with access and functional needs

Monday September 13, 2021

Get Wildfire Insurance

Having insurance is critical to rebuilding your home and protecting your family after a wildfire. Make sure you know how to shop for the right insurance coverage, what to do if your insurer doesn’t renew your policy, and what to expect during an insurance inspection.

When it comes to protecting your home from wildfire, insurance is a necessary part of the plan. Leading insurance experts Amy Bach, Executive Director (United Policyholders); Joel Laucher, Insurance Consultant (Regulatory Insurance Advisors and United Policyholders); and Janet Ruiz, Director - Strategic Communications (Insurance Information Institute) share their expertise and the latest information and resources about fire insurance in California. Special guest host: Chief Bill Tyler (Novato Fire District). In this webinar you will learn how to keep your assets insured and how to navigate a difficult insurance market; what to do if you've been non-renewed or dropped by your insurance company; and, what preparedness and advocacy is being done to fix the insurance problem. Living with Fire in Marin County webinar series (July 2021)
TOC
0:00 Introduction
2:40 Insurance Industry Overview - Joel Laucher (United Policy Holders)
19:25 Q & A wih Joel Laucher
22:41 Are You Financially Prepared? - Janet Ruiz (Insurance Information Institute)
32:24 Q & A wih Janet Ruiz
43:27 Fire Insurance. Are You Covered? - Amy Bach (United Policy Holders)
58:36 Q & A with Amy Bach
1:01:25 Roundtable discussion

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Fire Insurance: Are You Covered?

Saturday July 31, 2021

Invest in Backup Power

It’s very common for the power to go out before a fire strikes since fire and winds can damage electrical infrastructure. You need to be prepared to communicate and escape, even without power. Fire Safe Marin strongly recommends that all Marin residents invest in backup batteries, uninterruptible power supplies, and battery-powered radios.

Wildfire Watch is a new TV series that addresses residents' concerns and provides the most current wildfire prevention and preparedness information they need to protect their family and home. Episode 1: Ember Storms + When the Power Goes Out. Highlights include: Fire Beat, a recurring segment that delivers up-to-the-minute news on fire activity and mitigation efforts throughout Marin; Ember demonstration, how certain plants are more prone to ember ignition, challenging residents to make their homes ember safe; Interview with a first responder about what's it like on the front lines, the critical decisions it takes to assess the situation, get people to safety and contain a fire; Do-It-Yourself a how-to access the first five-feet or your home for vulnerabilities ahead of a Red Flag Warning; In Studio Discussion with trained defensible space inspectors to talk about the most common fire hazard issues around a home and practical fixes.

Table of Contents
0:00 Promotion
0:12 Introduction in studio
:42 Voices of Marin
5:20 Interview with Captain Oscar Arenas
12:00 Ember demonstration with Quinn Gardener
17:36 In studio with host
18:10 Public Service Announcement - Chippy
18:59 In studio with host
19:37 Interview with home evaluation inspectors Daniel Reese and Nicholas Rodriguez
25:46 In studio with host
26:12 DIY with Arann Harris
33:33 In studio with host
33:43 Fire Beat with Mark Brown
37:35 In studio - battery demonstration
44:10 Public Service Announcement - Power Shutoff Checklist
45:59 Q&A from residents

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Wildfire Watch: Ember Storms

Monday September 13, 2021

How to Prepare for All Types of Hazard

Learn five basic steps and access specific information to help you prepare for earthquakes, power outages, weather emergencies as well as wildfires

Resources