Update from Kate
THE THINGS ON OUR MINDS:
EVICTION, DISASTER PREPAREDNESS, AND THE ELECTION
Please Share Widely:
We’ve got a lot to pay attention to whether it's the global pandemic, looming fire or earthquake danger, or the upcoming presidential election; the sheer volume of things can be distracting at a time when we should be focusing our minds and seeking constructive ways to spend our time and skills. Today, I would like to bring you some positive news on these topics and even encourage your involvement and participation.
Over the past several months, the Board of Supervisors has put protections in place for tenants of Marin County who are struggling financially due to the COVID-19 pandemic. An eviction ban, rent repayment period, rental assistance, and support to housing-related legal services were all components of these countywide protections.
Recent action by the State and CDC has extended and increased certain protections for tenants and landlords alike. At the September 22 Board of Supervisors meeting, staff from the County's Community Development Agency provided a helpful update on these protections, which are at times overlapping and a bit confusing. Review the presentation video and slide deck, and please visit our Renter and Landlord Resources website for more information.
Are you registered to vote? Have you signed up to track your ballot? Do you know the deadline for getting your ballot into the mail or dropped off at a polling place? All of these questions (and more) were answered by Registrar of Voters, Lynda Roberts, at our September 22 Board of Supervisors meeting.
For more information about what the County Elections Department is doing to ensure a fair and safe election in November, watch the presentation and take a peek at the wealth of information on their website.
|
TAMALPAIS VALLEY NEIGHBORHOOD RESPONSE GROUP (NRG) NETWORK
The impacts of disaster on our professional emergency services make it critical that neighbors come together in advance of incidents such as a major earthquake in order to prepare to be self-sustaining for the three or more days it may take first responders to reach us. As an identified California “Community at Risk,” joining with our neighbors is also a critical means of improving our potential outcome in the event of a wildfire.
A “Neighborhood Response Group,” or NRG, is a volunteer-driven, grass-roots group that prepares to support one another in the event of wildfire, flood, earthquake and Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) by providing resources, guidance, training and conducting periodic disaster drills.
NRGs provide the framework for residents to get to know one another, identifying those whose special skills can be invaluable during an event and those who may need special assistance. The research on resiliency of communities hit by disaster demonstrates how social resources are the foundation for resilience and recovery, even more than quality of government, sources of external aide, and demographics. By promoting the social cohesion of neighbors and creating bonds in advance of a disaster, NRGs ensure that no one is left out in an emergency.
The Tamalpais Valley NRG Network is an integral piece of Tam Valley’s emergency preparedness and response system. There are eleven NRGs throughout Tam Valley, including each of Tam Valley’s over 2,300 addresses. Each NRG is further divided into what are called “clusters,” groups of 10-20 homes or businesses in close proximity to one another. (Note: the number of homes/businesses assigned to a Block Captain is dependent upon on topography and other factors.)
Currently, Tam Valley NRGs are focused on the recruitment of Block Captains, and are working to recruit another 500 Block Captains. Tam Valley's unique topography of hillside dwellings and steep driveways is the main factor influencing the need for so many people to get involved.
Block Captains are the heart of the NRG program. These residents partner with others in their cluster to help neighbors minimize risks and to identify those who may have special needs or special skills in the event of a disaster. In the aftermath of earthquakes and flood, Block Captains coordinate the efforts of residents to address injuries and damage prior to the arrival of first responders. During a wildfire, Block Captains prioritize their own needs and if possible support the neighborhood’s timely evacuation. During a PSPS, they help coordinate responses to individual needs.
We hope that many of you will want to step forward to participate in this critical volunteer effort. Those who have done so already have found it very rewarding, and have enjoyed getting to know many of their neighbors better.
Through the City of Mill Valley and Southern Marin Fire Department’s shared services, all Tam Valley Block Captains participate in a one-hour orientation and training, currently conducted monthly by Zoom.
Tam Valley’s NRG Network is supported by Tamalpais Valley Improvement Club, the Southern Marin and City of Mill Valley Fire Departments, and Supervisor Kate Sears’s office. The Network also works closely with Firewise and with Tamalpais Community Services District. Tam Valley is very fortunate to partner with City of Mill Valley’s NRG program, and has a dedicated page on the City’s NRG website as well as being included in all trainings.
If you would like to volunteer to be a Block Captain please contact Pam Keon or Ted Barone. You can also find more information on the Tam Valley NRG Network website.
|
Speaking of volunteers who have real community impact, September 21-27, 2020 is Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Appreciation Week.
I had the distinct pleasure to present a Resolution honoring this national program, including the local Marin County chapter, which has trained over 2,000 residents in safety skills, including first aid, disaster psychology, fire suppression, and light search and rescue.
As Disaster Service Workers and Citizen First Responders, these individuals are able to assist their neighbors during the response and recovery phase of a large-scale emergency or disaster. Now, during the COVID-19 pandemic, their skills were utilized through food distribution, a community helpline, and other crucial supports.
Thank you to local CERT members Jim Devitt, Michael Fischer, Alex Guggenheim (Scout), Catharine Hooper, Maggie Lang, Lily Lunn, Tracey Lunn, Marcia Nay, Katherine Revoir, Lester Schlesinger, Ann Shores, Sue Steele, Tracy White and Elaine Wilkinson for stepping up and helping your neighbors during these difficult months of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read the full Resolution and check out the Marin CERT website to learn more!
|
|
