Earthquake

Articles >> Disasters

USGS predicts an 80% chance that a 6.0 or greater earthquake will hit the North Bay in the next 20 years.

The 1906 earthquake that destroyed San Francisco caused tremendous damage in Marin - with deep fissures opening in the ground and buildings collapsing in what is now our backyard.  Marin in 1906 was a collection of small, rural communities, but damage was severe.  With a population of over 300,000 and an aging infrastructure, a similar earthquake today would likely have devastating consequences.  Following a major earthquake, Marin residents should not expect to have any services - water, electricity, gas, or even health care, ambulances, police or fire departments for up to 72 hours.  In order to survive, you must Get Ready!

Floods and Storms

Articles >> Disasters

Significant flooding struck Marin in 1982, 1986 and 2005, causing millions of dollars of damage.

Devastating floods strike Marin with regularity, in the 1920s, the 1950s, 1982, 1986, and 2005, Marin residents were inundated by rising waters from torrential rainfall.  As building has increased in flood zones, the risk of catastrophe has increased.  All Marin residents are affected by floods.  Even if your home is high and dry, it is likely that during a flood event your utility services including water, power and emergency services will be disabled or overwhelmed.  In order to survive, you must Get Ready!

Wildfire

Articles >> Disasters

A history of destructive wildfires, from the 1929 "Great Fire" in Mill Valley, to the 1995 Vision fire in Inverness.

Marin is built on one of the most fire prone landscapes on earth.  During extreme fire weather events, which can occur from June until November, few homes or neighborhoods in Marin are completely safe from wildfire - and firefighting professionals predict that many neighborhoods have little chance of surviving a major fire.  All marin residents will be adversely affected when the next major wildfire strikes.  To protect your family and neighborhood, you must Get Ready!

Floods and Storms

Articles >> Disasters

A 2006 mudslide in Mill Valley killed one resident and disrupted the community for weeks.

If you think you are completely safe from mudslides and you live in Marin - think again.  Mudslides can affect nearly every Marin resident by damaging infrastructure such as roads, sewer, power and water lines, and can severely impede traffic to and from whole communities - restricting access to emergency vehicles and residents alike.  Mud slides occur every year in Marin, and during major storms can be devastating.  In order to safely survive a mudslide in your community, you must Get Ready!

Preparedness

Simple training programs like Get Ready and CERT can help Marin residents help their community during a disaster.

The Get Ready! program is a simple, two hour course designed to help Marin residents be self sufficient during te critical 72 hours following a disaster.  Additional opportunities for civic involvement exist in may Marin communities through CERT - Community Emergency Response Training.  Get ready is a much more broad program than CERT, and all Marin residents should have this training and the requisite disaster supplies.