SAN MATEO — San Mateo County will hold its 22nd annual Disaster Preparedness Day on Saturday, Aug. 1, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the San Mateo County Event Center.
The free event will offer hands-on training, live demonstrations and resources to help residents prepare for earthquakes, wildfires, power outages and other emergencies.
Disaster Preparedness Day gives anyone who lives, works or visits San Mateo County the opportunity to meet first responders, learn practical skills and understand how small steps can make a difference when emergencies occur.
Families can find something for every age: an 8-year-old can take a first CPR lesson, a grandmother can learn household readiness in Spanish and a toddler can practice emergency response skills by helping first responders triage a teddy bear inside a real ambulance.
“Every family in this county is safer when we prepare together,” said Dr. Shruti Dhapodkar, San Mateo County’s Director of Emergency Management. “Disaster Preparedness Day is where residents meet the people who will be there for them in a crisis and learn the simple things that make the difference when minutes count. Whatever comes next, we face it as one community.”
Families can move through the day at their own pace. A How to Pack a Go Bag workshop runs in English, Spanish and Mandarin, and Storytime with a Firefighter is offered in the same three languages for younger visitors.
“We built this day by listening,” said Sandra Firpo, an Emergency Coordinator with San Mateo County Emergency Management who leads community outreach and directs the Disaster Preparedness Day program. “Residents told us what they needed — the languages they wanted to hear, the questions they wanted answered and the resources their families needed.”
Admission and parking are free. Free resources will be available while supplies last.
Updates will be posted at www.SMCDisasterPrep.org as the event approaches.
Event Details
Date: Saturday, Aug. 1
Time: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Location: San Mateo County Event Center, 1346 Saratoga Drive, San Mateo
Admission: Free
Hot Dogs: Free while supplies last
Cari E. Guittard
San Mateo County Emergency Management
415-608-0806
cguittard@smcgov.org