Body of News Release
Marin County, CA – Marin County closed out National Preparedness Month with a clear message: Building resilience is a year-round commitment.
During its September 30 session, the Marin County Board of Supervisors formally proclaimed September as National Preparedness Month. The County’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM), ReadyMarin program, worked with community partners throughout the month to bring preparedness directly into neighborhoods, workplaces, and public events.
Throughout September, more than 1,400 people connected with OEM, 550 families received emergency go-bags, 841 residents signed up for or verified their opt-in AlertMarin emergency notification accounts, and 341 households created a family emergency plan.
Twelve 90-minute preparedness trainings reached more than 350 residents across Marin. Every participant received a free emergency go-bag, with four trainings offered in Spanish and five hosted at Marin Housing Authority locations. An additional 200 go-bags were distributed September 6 at Ember Stomp, the annual festival that showcases the readiness message and exposes visitors to countless resources. Those bags ensured that more local families have the starter supplies needed to build their emergency kits.
This effort also supported community pop-up events throughout the month, including the Marin Senior Fair, the Corte Madera Farmers Market, and a workshop for caregivers. Local businesses partnered with ReadyMarin to provide employees with disaster preparedness training and resources, further embedding resilience into workplaces.
Natural disasters often have the greatest impact on underserved groups such as older adults, low-income households, and unhoused community members. As climate change brings more frequent and severe events — including floods, wildfires, and droughts — preparedness is more important than ever.
“Preparedness is a sustained community effort,” said OEM Director Steven Torrence. “When residents know how to build a go-bag, verify their AlertMarin accounts, or perform hands-only CPR, we reduce risk, increase resilience, and ultimately save lives. This September showed us that when we meet people where they are, in neighborhoods, workplaces, and community events, they leave more confident and more prepared.”
The 90-minute preparedness trainings will continue to be offered across Marin County. Register on ReadyMarin.org to learn more about building a family emergency plan.