The horrific damage caused by Hurricane Matthew and the recent swarm of earthquakes in and around the Salton Sea that prompted a warning for the west coast that an earthquake could be imminent reminded me of how we need to prepare for a “big one” here in Sonoma Valley.
After Hurricane Katrina 11 years ago, I got about 35 people together to plan emergency food distribution in a disaster such as earthquake, fire or whatever.
In a totally collaborative effort, Jim Siefer and others laid out maps of areas, or “pods” as we called them, that could be cut off from the rest of the Valley if little bridges over creeks collapsed.
Others found where water storage tanks are, which restaurants have outdoor grills, which churches have food on hand and a willingness to take in neighbors in need.
We also discovered at the time that many grocery stores headquartered elsewhere would be locked and were ordered to ship perishables to some store headquarters. Sonoma Valley is not high on the county’s rescue schedule either.
As the news of Katrina and other disasters waned, so did the committee. The City of Sonoma resurrected its Disaster Committee a few years ago, which had not met for at least 10 years prior.
No one in City Hall could tell me whether the committee still meets.
My big point is: We know “the big one” is coming, it’s just a matter of how soon.
Please restock your emergency supplies, place some where you can get to them if part of your home collapses, and make sure to keep water and food that may not need to be cooked.
I am preaching to myself. We have a garbage can outside loaded with 11-year-old Triscuits, peanut butter, canned tuna and water. Time to replace everything.
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