Advance a Culture of Disaster Preparedness in Your Community

By Alyssa Silhi posted 09-24-2020 12:05 PM

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September is National Preparedness Month. To recognize this the urgent priority of community preparedness, the California Special Districts Association has teamed up with the Listos California Emergency Preparedness Campaign to encourage all special districts to outreach to your communities to take the five free and easy steps to get ready for wildfire and other disasters like earthquakes.

The Listos California Emergency Preparedness Campaign was created last year by the Legislature to engage all Californians in disaster preparedness efforts, and to provide tools and break down access barriers for those facing social isolation, poverty, language barriers, and access and functional needs challenges. CSDA has joined forces with the League of California Cities, California State Association of Counties, Rural Representatives of California, and Institute for Local Government to adopt Listos California’s accessible and free 5 steps to prepare for disaster and promote the adoption of these steps by others.

5 steps to prepare for disaster

1) Get alerts to know what to do.

2) Make a plan to protect your people by creating an emergency contact list and an evacuation plan.

3) Pack a go bag with things you need.

4) Build a stay box to stay safe at home for when you can't leave.

5) Help friends and neighbors get ready.

CSDA invites you to join the movement to empower your constituency to prepare for disasters
As you know, disasters disproportionately impact the diverse and vulnerable populations you serve. Without significant efforts to engage these communities about disaster preparedness, these populations will continue to suffer repeatedly and unnecessarily when disaster strikes. Support the Listos California Emergency Preparedness effort by:

- Adopting & sharing the 5 steps of preparedness.
Listos California has developed an array of useful tools to meet constituents where they are. Click here for a toolkit of information and materials you can share with your community available in English, Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, Filipino, Korean, Hmong, and Vietnamese. The campaign has also developed a toolkit with social media graphics and messages to help share information on wildfire preparedness.

- Hosting a virtual event.
Engage with constituents online and share the campaign’s free and accessible preparedness curriculum and presentation materials. If you are based in one of the campaign’s 24 target counties, you’re encouraged to co-host the meetings with a trained Listos California grantee.

- Connecting with a Listos California grantee.
$50 million in local assistance grants were awarded to not-for-profit organizations throughout the state to build community resiliency and connect Californians to preparedness and response efforts. If you are based in one of the campaign’s 24 target counties, you’re encouraged to connect with a Listos California grantee to explore ways to align your efforts to engage and educate constituents. Should you have any questions about Listos California and/or need a connection to a Listos California grantee, please contact houa.vang@valleyvision.org.

- Discover your community’s disaster risk.
Listos California created vulnerability hazard maps aimed to help you better identify the populations in your counties who are likely to experience the greatest risks and challenges in the event of a disaster. These first-of-their-kind maps are based on Census track data and are currently being used by the campaign’s statewide network of partners to inform their local engagement strategies.

• Sign-up for Listos California’s e-blast and Listos California campaign e-updates.
Sign up here. You will have access to materials, facts, and stories from the frontline of the Listos California campaign. You’ll also get updates from the #YourActionsSaveLives novel coronavirus public awareness campaign.

#EnvironmentandDisasterPreparedness

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