By Atherton Councilman Bill Widmer, Area 4 coordinator of the Atherton Disaster and Preparedness Team.
In the past few weeks we have been reminded of the possibility of natural disasters hitting home. National attention has been on hurricanes in Texas, Florida, and the Caribbean islands, as well as earthquakes in Mexico.
Recent data collected by U.S. Geological Survey demonstrates just how vulnerable our area is to earthquakes.
So what if a big disaster strikes? Will the fire district, local law enforcement, or the National Guard be able to immediately come to your rescue?
They may, but odds are that it will take more time than you are prepared to wait. Current estimates show response times at several days to a week or more before first responders are able to fully cover an area.
In light of this information, do you feel prepared? We hear such warnings frequently, but what can we do today to adequately prepare ourselves and our neighbors?
Fortunately, there are both residents and professionals in Atherton and the surrounding region who have dedicated their time to organizing and preparing for such emergencies.
On Sept. 9, an annual preparation drill by the Atherton Disaster and Preparedness Team (ADAPT) was held to both educate the community and allow its members an opportunity to practically apply their knowledge.
The event, sponsored by the Atherton Police Department and Trader Joe’s, brought more than 70 volunteers to Atherton City Hall in the early hours of the morning.
Volunteers ran through more than two hours of simulated drills in response to a major earthquake. They navigated toppled trees and downed power lines, collected the injured and deceased residents, and located lost children.
With the assistance of Atherton police and the Menlo Park Fire Protection District, about 13 simulated incidents were called in, to which search and medical teams responded.
Communication channels and methods were tested and emergency equipment deployed to address a variety of problems.
Despite their impressive training and efforts, the current ADAPT and CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) members in this area are not sufficient in number to address severe incidents that may befall us.
Many more residents need to get involved.
In addition, residents must gain awareness of where emergency “rally points” (EAPs) are located around town. The purpose of these EAPs is to provide safe locations for neighbors to gather, provide initial area status information, and begin forming local response teams following a disaster.
Because first-responders may be needed elsewhere, these team members may be the only people to help you immediately following a disaster. In a region where many residents stay behind gates and have little interactions with their neighbors, knowledge of where to go and get help is important.
Each community has disaster preparation plans and training accessible to residents. It is the responsibility of all adults in the community to get informed, not only for yourselves, but for your family members and neighbors.
Consider attending an ADAPT meeting, CERT class, or participating in one of the regional drills. You will learn new skills, meet your neighbors, and feel a sense of empowerment knowing that you are better able to help your family and neighbors in a time of great need.
The ADAPT meetings are held at 9 a.m. on the first Saturday of each month in the Atherton Town Council chambers. The meeting is open to any member of the public who wishes to learn and get involved.
Drills are held annually in all Menlo Park Fire Protection District jurisdictions.
Go to getreadyatherton.org for more information.
