Strengthening Tsunami preparedness: Key takeaways from San Mateo County’s forum
San Mateo County, California – In response to a tsunami warning earlier this month, San Mateo County officials have committed to refining emergency procedures and enhancing public awareness about tsunami risks. The decision follows a public forum held this week, where local emergency managers, officials, and residents discussed the events of December 5th when a tsunami warning shook the community.
“These are the things we will be working on in the coming months,” Dr. Shruti Dhapodkar, director of the County’s Department of Emergency Management, told about 75 residents at a forum in Half Moon Bay on the local tsunami response. “Every year we need to practice.”
Organized by County Supervisor Ray Mueller, the forum sought to combine the knowledge gained from the most recent scare—which sprang from a magnitude 7.0 earthquake off the coast of Humbolt County. Although the National Weather Service called down the alert after around one hour, the event revealed important areas needing work on the county’s tsunami response plans.
Forum attendees expressed uncertainty and concerns at the lack of clarity and preparation for December 5th. Many were shocked as cell phones throughout Northern California got the tsunami warning and set off mass panic. Local officials and representatives from several agencies, including CAL FIRE CZU and the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office, responded to public inquiries and detailed their involvement during the incident.
One key issue discussed was the decision not to activate the coastal tsunami sirens.
Dhapodkar explained, “We wanted to avoid triggering the tsunami sirens to prevent gridlock, panic, traffic accidents and other possible injuries to people on the coastside.” Instead, police and firefighters were deployed to alert individuals in vulnerable coastal areas to seek higher ground.
To enhance future responses, San Mateo County officials outlined several immediate goals:
- Improve Hazard Zone Information and Access: Officials plan to update tsunami signage, clearly define hazard zones, and create a digital map for public use.
- Enhance Tsunami Awareness and Education: A public education campaign will be launched to inform residents about tsunami risks and safety planning.
- Strengthen Preparedness and Response: The county will develop and conduct annual tsunami drills to ensure community readiness.
San Mateo County Supervisor Ray Mueller agreed on the need of community participation in disaster readiness. He urged locals to take part in Coastside CERT, an initiative teaching disaster response and readiness for volunteers.
“What we learned in this event,” Mueller said, “is we need more of you.”
The forum ended with a reminder of the unpredictable nature of catastrophic events including tsunamis and earthquakes. Mueller and other officials underlined the need of starting preliminary actions now, which can help to significantly prevent panic and lower stress during real crises.
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The focus on frequent practice, open communication, and community involvement is expected to be the pillar of a more resilient and knowledgeable coastal community, better prepared for future tsunamis and other emergencies as San Mateo County continues to grow.
