November 22, 2007

District 10 Report

It’s important to be prepared for the next natural disaster facing our community

By Councilmember Nancy Pyle
Special to the Times

Emergency preparedness is a topic that I am passionate about because, frankly, we can never be too prepared for the next natural disaster our community will face. Over the past three years I have served as your District 10 council member and have seen firsthand just how critical it is for each of us to be prepared.

Serving as chair of the Emergency Preparedness Council in Santa Clara County has taught me that the best defense in case of an emergency is a good offense, with clear planning and a quick response. On Tuesday, Oct. 30 we were presented with a jolting reminder of just how critical it is to be prepared in the present, rather than waiting until “someday” in the future. At 8:04 p.m. that evening, San Jose was the epicenter of a 5.6 earthquake. While no lives were lost and property damage was minimal, I want to share just how impressive the fast, efficient and professional response was following this event.

Just after the earthquake hit, call volumes for the San Jose Police Department and San Jose Fire Department were understandably sizeable. While the police department’s Sprint Broadband Network went down, the backup data system functioned perfectly.

After consulting with City Manager Debra Figone, the Office of Emergency Services opened the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) with a limited staff and received reports from departments in the field that were assessing damage to city facilities and infrastructure. OES continued to update the Santa Clara County OES and California OES on San Jose’s status throughout the evening. Once it became clear that residents were unharmed and that the city had not suffered serious damages, the EOC closed at 11:15 p.m. In addition, the Santa Clara Valley Water District promptly inspected all local dams and, after 10:15 p.m., reported that all had passed inspection.

With a quick and effective response, many of the city services that were initially impacted were rapidly able to come back online. Following the inspection of terminals and runways, the San Jose International Airport was back in business within 15 minutes of the earthquake.

The Department of Transportation reported that several of the minor power failures, which led to traffic signal outages throughout the city following the quake were all successfully responded to in record time. One of the most substantial impacts of the earthquake was at the Martin Luther King Jr. Main Library, where over 170,000 books were shaken off their shelves. Even this was quickly addressed and the books were all back in place a few days after the earthquake.

The single most significant outcome of the recent earthquake is the renewed interest in emergency preparedness from local residents. A significant number of residents have been calling in to find out more about “San Jose Prepared!” There is a great opportunity to encourage preparedness following this “Earthquake Country wake-up call.”

I would encourage everyone to get involved, learn more about San Jose Prepared at their Web site http://www.sanjoseca.gov/emergencyServices/SanJosePrepared/ or give their office a call at (408) 277-4598 to learn how you can take part in their informative community classes. Remember that earthquakes are but one of many potential emergencies our community may face. Whether fires or floods, earthquakes or others, it pays to be prepared.

It may not be common knowledge that part of being prepared means having the means to be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours, but the planning behind this process isn’t as difficult as you might think. San Francisco has put together an incredible resource at http://www. 72hours.org/index. html, where you can find a comprehensive plan that will help ensure the success of our residents, no matter what the emergency situation. Even small steps like changing the batteries in your smoke alarms during the same period where you change your clocks for Daylight Savings Time can help in avoiding problems down the line.

I would like to leave you with 10 steps each of you can take to stay prepared. When we work together and plan for emergency events, we ensure that our community will stay strong even during the most devastating of disasters.

10 Ways to be Disaster Prepared

- Learn which kinds of natural and human-caused disasters pose a risk for your area (earthquakes, fires, floods, etc.)

- Develop a family disaster plan and put it in writing.

- Build disaster supply kits for your home, office and car.

- Choose an out-of-town contact person whom family members may call to report how and where they are during an emergency.

- Know where to go during an emergency; designate a park, school or other convenient location.

- Prepare your children and remember those with special needs, such as infants, seniors and people with disabilities.

- Include your pets in your family disaster plan.

- Eliminate hazards in your home and office.

- Learn how to keep yourself and your family safe by taking first aid, CPR and other preparedness classes.

- Get involved -- donate blood, educate your neighbors and join your local Citizen Corps and volunteer!

Source: Santa Clara County Office of Emergency Services http://www.sccgov.org/portal/site/oes/.