Fiona Ma: How prepared are we?

In light of the recent earthquake off the California coast and subsequent concerns over potential tsunamis, now is an excellent time for the City to take stock of its disaster preparedness and the readiness of our residents in the event of a major emergency.

San Francisco is exposed to a wide variety of hazards, both natural and man-made. Earthquakes, fires, severe storms, power outages and acts of terrorism are just some of the potential emergencies our City may encounter and that we need to be prepared for.

In order to address these very real concerns and to respond to heightened security awareness throughout the country, Mayor Gavin Newsom has resurrected the city's Disaster Council through the Office of Emergency Services (OES). Under the city Charter, the Disaster Council is responsible for developing a plan to meet any emergency and to provide for the effective mobilization of all the resources of the community, both pubic and private.

Currently, members of the city's Disaster Council include Newsom, myself and various representatives, including supervisors Aaron Peskin and Michela Alioto-Pier, Office of Emergency Services Director Annemarie Conroy, all city department heads, including Police Chief Heather Fong, Fire Chief Joanne Hayes-White, Sheriff Mike Hennessey, Superintendent of Education Arlene Ackerman, Controller Ed Harrington, City Attorney Dennis Herrera, District Attorney Kamala Harris and Harold Brooks, CEO of the Bay Area Chapter of the American Red Cross.

The Disaster Council has provided the mayor with the opportunity and forum to introduce the City's updated Emergency Operations Plan to reflect the new challenges and technologies of the 21st century. Conroy has discussed her department's considerable progress in securing federal homeland security grants for more equipment and better training, in creating a back-up to the 911 call center, in upgrading the City's emergency siren program and in improving the emergency communications between our agencies.

Suffice it to say, we are living in a heightened state of awareness not only in San Francisco, but throughout the country and the world. The City's leadership is well aware of its responsibility to insure that we are ready, that our residents will be informed in a timely manner and that safety personnel are trained and prepared.

For more information on city disaster planning, please visit the OES' Web Site at www.sfgov.org/sites/oes_index.asp. Another OES Web Site specifically designed to help San Franciscans prepare for all types of emergencies, is located at www.72hours.org.

Fiona Ma is a San Francisco supervisor representing District 4.