San Mateo County Grand Jury
• 2018-2019
• Agency Response
Wildfire Risk and Response in SAN Mateo County Issue | Summary | Glossary and Abbreviations | Background | Discussion |
⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings and Recommendations 13 findings
F1
San Mateo County faces an increasing risk of loss of life and widespread property damage caused by wildfires.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
In order to expand the number of county residents receiving emergency notifications, the San Mateo County Office of Emergency Services should use the contact information of utility companies of receiving guidance on implementing SB 821 from the California Office of Emergency Services.
F2
The threats to life, property, and health from a wildfire extend beyond the Wildland Urban Interface in unincorporated San Mateo County and include areas east of I-280.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
The San Mateo County Office of Emergency Services should use utility contact information to distribute information on emergency response plans in advance of an emergency to the extent permitted under SB 821.
F3
CAL FIRE and individual fire agencies have established mutual aid arrangements that increase the resources available to combat a wildfire in San Mateo County.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
The San Mateo County Fire Department, working with individual fire agencies, should develop fire preparedness brochures that include maps of alternative evacuation routes from their respective communities (similar to the example in Appendix B)
F4
CAL FIRE and individual fire agencies have taken actions to reduce fuel loads in San Mateo County.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
The San Mateo County Fire Department should produce a website containing the brochures recommended in R3
F5
Approximately 89% of county residents have not subscribed to the SMC Alert emergency notification system.
Related Recommendations (1)
R5
Periodically, beginning July 2020, the San Mateo County Office of Emergency Services should distribute emergency plans including links to maps with alternative evacuation routes with property tax bills.
F6
California Senate Bill 821 will enable the County to include residents in SMC Alert unless they choose to opt out of that notification system.
Related Recommendations (1)
R6
The County Tax Collector should include a one-page insert on emergency response to a wildfire with property tax bills periodically, beginning July 2020.
F7
Emergency notification systems have vulnerabilities that may limit the communications received by residents during a wildfire.
Related Recommendations (1)
R7
The San Mateo County Office of Emergency Services should explore the possibility of providing advance information on alternative evacuation routes in a visual online format, such as the “crisis maps” feature in Google
F8
The location and path of a wildfire influences the choice of safe evacuation routes and shelter locations.
No recommendations for this finding
F9
When a fire is nearby, fire officials in San Mateo County recommend leaving a threatened area before an evacuation is ordered.
No recommendations for this finding
F10
Most County and city emergency officials prefer to withhold notification of specific evacuation routes and shelters until an emergency is in progress.
No recommendations for this finding
F11
CAL FIRE and the California OES recommend that residents include information on potential evacuation routes in a household emergency preparedness kit.
No recommendations for this finding
F12
County residents in only four communities (La Honda, Palomar Park, Portola Valley, and Woodside), containing less than two percent of the county population, have received information about alternative emergency evacuation routes and shelter sites in advance of an actual emergency.
No recommendations for this finding
F13
The County Tax Collector’s Office is able to include a one-page guide to emergency preparedness with County property tax bills periodically. COMMENDATION C1. The San Mateo County Grand Jury commends CAL FIRE and individual local fire agencies in the County for the actions they have taken to counter the increased risk of and organize an effective response to a major wildfire. 70 https://www.google.org/crisismap/weather_and_events
No recommendations for this finding
Commendations 1
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CM1C1. The San Mateo County Grand Jury commends CAL FIRE and individual local fire agencies in the County for the actions they have taken to counter the increased risk of and organize an effective response to a major wildfire. 70 https://www.google.org/crisismap/weather_and_events 2018-2019 San Mateo County Civil Grand Jury 12