Severe Weather
Flooding Preparedness and Response
San Mateo County Stream Flow Gauges
San Mateo County Dept of Public Works Winter Storms advice
Access and Functional Needs
Disaster Preparedness for people with Cognitive Impairments
Disaster Preparedness for People with Mental Health and/or Substance Abuse Issues
Disaster Preparedness Tips for Service Animals and Pets
Personal Planning for People with Access and Functional Needs
People with mobility disabilities include people who have walking and / or moving limitations. They may or may not use wheelchairs, scooters, walkers, canes, and other devices as aids to movement. Most people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs do not have acute medical needs and can be accommodated in general population shelters.
Free, Downloadable Emergency Communication Aids
Overcome communication barriers by using pictures during an emergency.
Place this placard in your window following an emergency to let your neighbors know that you're ok, or that you need help.
Earthquake
San Mateo County is a beautiful county. But no matter where you live in our county, whether it is the bayside, or coastside, up on the hill, or in the more populated areas of the Peninsula, we all live in earthquake country. Understanding the risks and preparing to survive and recover can help keep you and your family safe.
This is one of the most popular and complete earthquake and tsunami preparedness publications we've seen. Published by the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services.
General Preparedness
Emergency Preparedness - At Work
The best protection for employees and businesses is to be prepared. Every dollar spent preparing saves seven dollars spent on business recovery. Many unprepared businesses never reopen after a major disaster. Prepare to stay in business! 1. Business Vital Records The best protection for employees and businesses is to be prepared. Every dollar spent in preparing saves seven dollars spent on business recovery afterward. Many unprepared businesses never reopen after a major disaster. Prepare to stay in business!
When disaster strikes, we come together to help each other. Getting prepared is about knowing your neighbors, saying hi to the regulars at the local market, and staying in touch with family and friends—both digitally and in person.
Prepare accordingly
Emergency - Your Kids
What Kids and Parents Should Know and Do Include your children in planning for an emergency. Teach them how to get help and what to do in different situations. Practice your household disaster plan with your children and quiz them about preparedness information.
Tsunami
A tsunami is a series of sea waves usually caused by the displacement of the ocean floor by an undersea earthquake or landslide. As tsunamis enter shallow water near land, they increase in height and can cause great loss of life and property damage.
Familiarize yourself with the Tsunami hazard zones on the San Mateo County Coastside.
Wildland Fire
Are you ready?
Air Quality Emergencies
While most days we enjoy Ocean breezes that keep Bay Area air quality pretty good, we also know that sometimes our air quality can be affected by regional wildfires, or other emergencies. On those days, it can hurt to breathe outside, and our eyes can burn.
What is AQI?
AQI is the Air Quality Index, a measurement that tells us how polluted the air is by calculating these five major pollutants:
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Ground-level ozone
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Carbon monoxide
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Sulfur dioxide
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Nitrogen dioxide
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Particulate matter
Ranging from 0 to 500, the higher the AQI number is, the worse the associated health effect may be. As the climate is affected by more frequent wildfires, corresponding AQI hazards are also on the rise. Whether you live up in the hills, on the Coastside, or Peninsula, we’ve all experienced how wildfires can impact our AQI – even if the fire is many states away.
Learn more about the Air Quality Index (AQI) here: https://www.baaqmd.gov/about-air-quality/interactive-data-maps
Particle Pollution
Wildfire smoke is a complex mixture of:
Hazardous gasses + air pollutants + particle pollution
Particulate matter irritates the eyes and mucous membranes lining your throat. The tiny size means these particles can travel deep into your lungs. When inhaled, they can cause irritation, wheezing, shortness of breath, and flare underlying lung diseases, causing a dangerous breathing situation.
Enjoying the Outdoors in High AQI
For those of us who enjoy the outdoors, we may wonder, if there’s a way to get around the poor AQI and still enjoy being outside. Unfortunately, the short answer is no.
If you need to be outside, the only thing you can really do is wear a mask. Since the particles specific to wildfires are so small, you need a special N95 mask that blocks particles 3 microns and smaller. Surgical masks will not block smaller particles. Do not use them to block bad air. But even with the proper N-95 mask on, it won’t stop the smoke from irritating your eyes and skin. So, on bad AQI days, it’s just best to stay indoors and try out that new TV show or book that you’ve been wanting to check out.
Lower Your Risk
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If there is poor AQI in your area, follow these steps to lower your health risks:
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Stay inside of higher AQI days. Close windows and doors. Run any air purification devices if you have them.
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Be extra cautious of you have any underlying lung disease. Follow local guidelines and instructions from your doctor. Make sure you have any medications you need.
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Get plenty of rest and avoid overexertion to help the immune system fight off viral infections.
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Check out this link to our current air quality map: https://www.baaqmd.gov/about-air-quality/interactive-data-maps
Sign up for SMC Alert here: www.smcalert.info to ensure that you get official news and information directly from San Mateo County’s Department of Emergency Management during poor air quality days.
For more preparedness information, visit California’s Air Resources Board here: https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/smokereadyca
For more Air Quality Basics, visit the US EPA site here: https://www.airnow.gov/aqi/aqi-basics/
To learn more about air quality and it’s health effects, visit here: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/air-quality-and-health