Mexico, Puerto Rico, Texas, Florida, US Virgin Islands—the list goes on of places that have recently experienced devastating natural disasters. Do you feel the county is prepared for the next major emergency? How are you and your household prepared?
Keith Snow: Yes, I am prepared with water, first aid kits, flash lights, candles, a raft, etc. I have been warning and asking the county and city if they have a disaster plan, but they never responded. I do not feel they are prepared. They were not prepared during the levee break. I feel more steps can and should be taken throughout the county to prepare us for something serious and dangerous. If they do have a disaster plan, I would like to know where it is. Thank you.
Charlene Hernandez: I am not sure if the county is prepared but it would be nice for them to create a plan for possible places that families or people to be able to reach in case something happens. I am not prepared but as more disasters have been happening it does make me want to start preparing by creating a family kit and talking with my kids on what to do if certain things happen.
Mary Zanger: In the event of an emergency, our best resources exist in our ability to help each other. If power is off we with solar power, can cook and share food and water with others. We, with homes intact can share shelter. In the event of forest fires we already share our airport facility providing aircraft and water to douse conflagrations. Our best preparation to prevent climate disasters is to slow climate disruption by transferring from fossil fuels to renewable energy like joining Monterey Bay Community Power.
Ruth Erickson: Floods, fires, landslides, levee breaks and earthquakes—we’ve experienced them all in this county. The Office of Emergency Services has a local phone system to call county residents to warn and advise us about local emergencies. Our household has canned food and a manual can opener, bottled water, flashlights, a digital radio with batteries, candles with matches, pet food, medicines, important papers and a barbecue to use up food from the fridge and freezer. Remember, with no electricity cell phones and electric cars can’t be charged, gas pumps can’t pump and stores can’t sell—they all need generators.
—
Question of the Week was sent in an email and posted on the Hollister Free Lance Facebook page on Monday, October 2. Thank you to all who contributed comments.
