In This Issue: October Fires After Action Report | ARE YOU READY? Senior Event
Defensible Space | Emergency Preparedness Fair | S.C.O.P.E. & CPR Training | View as Webpage
Emergencies and natural disasters can strike at any time and reshape our lives during and after . Our community experienced this first hand during the October 2017 fires. Yet first responders, businesses, and community members came together in incredible ways to support each other and those who fought to protect our town and our Valley. This special edition of "About Town" is focused on how we can be prepared for the next emergency and updates about work in process.

While you can’t predict when and where an emergency happens, you can take measures to better prepare yourself, your home, business and neighborhood from the effects of future natural and man-made emergencies. There are lots of free opportunities and resources to help you get ready.

Keep reading for more information about the free Emergency Preparedness Fair coming up on May 19, the “Are You Ready” event on June 1 at Vintage House, S.C.O.P.E. (Sonoma Citizens Organized to Prepare for Emergencies) presentations and CPR training in Glen Ellen and Sonoma, and information about defensible space.

You can also watch the "October 2017 Fires Update & After Action Report" presentation by City Staff to the City Council at the April 23 meeting. The City, Sonoma Valley Fire & Rescue Authority and the Sonoma Police Department are working on post-fire action items such as applying for reimbursement for fire-related costs with FEMA, improving community emergency warning systems, expanding Valley defensible space regulations and increasing public outreach efforts.

The Sonoma Police Department and Sonoma Valley Fire & Rescue Authority strongly encourage you to sign up to receive emergency alerts from SoCo Alerts and Nixle . This is one of the most important preparedness activities Sonoma County residents and businesses can accomplish to prepare for disasters, and it only takes a few minutes. You can choose to receive alerts by phone, text and email, even when you are not home. 

Register your phones and e-mail addresses   at:
SoCo Alerts : Use link or call (707) 565-1369 for more information.
Nixle : Sign up to receive alerts and related information from the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office.

Every effort counts and everyone has a role to play in preparedness, response and recovery. Take steps to ensure the safety, security and resiliency of your loved ones and community today.






Steve Akre, Fire Chief & Bret Sackett, Chief of Police

Together with the City of Sonoma, the Sonoma Police Department and Sonoma Valley Fire & Rescue Authority (SVFRA) respond to emergencies that occur within the City limits and work cooperatively with neighboring agencies to address emergency issues throughout Sonoma Valley. For more information about Emergency Preparedness, links to online resources, the City’s Emergency Operation Plan, Fire Recovery Resources and more, please visit the City’s Emergency Preparedness webpage .
GET TO KNOW
Sonoma's First Responders
The Sonoma Police Department

In 2004, the City of Sonoma began contracting with the Sonoma County Sheriff's Department to provide law enforcement services. The Sonoma Police Department still provides the same high level of service it always has, and has added several...

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www.sonomacity.org
Fire & Rescue - City of Sonoma

The City of Sonoma and Valley of the Moon Fire Protection District entered into a Joint Powers Agreement on February 1, 2002, creating a public entity known as the " Sonoma Valley Fire & Rescue Authority"...

Read more
www.sonomacity.org
DEFENSIBLE SPACE
Make Your Home Fire Safe
“Defensible Space” is the buffer residents create by removing dead plants, grass and weeds around their homes and property. This buffer helps to keep fire away from the home. Sonoma residents can take action to create the defensible space that makes their homes and property safer by reducing flammable vegetation, learning how to "harden" homes against wildfire ignition, and by planning ahead for the safety of their families.

Download Fire Safe Sonoma's Living with Fire in Sonoma County homeowners guide to learn more about:
  • The Three R’s of Defensible Space: Removal, Reduction, and Replacement;
  • How to determine and create an effective defensible space;
  • Types of dead vegetation and recommended practice for removal;
  • Fire Safe Landscape Design, including a list of fire wise plants, shrubs & trees;
  • Fire wise Construction Checklist; and
  • Pre-fire & Emergency Preparations Checklist.

If you live outside of City limits, learn about Sonoma County’s Vegetation Management Program , and Sonoma County Fire’s Free Chipper Service to assist you in creating and maintaining your defensible space around your home, structures and access routes to the property.

Get additional information about preparing for wildfire at  www.fire.ca.gov and www.ReadyForWildfire.org.
OCTOBER 2017 FIRES
Update & After Action Report
At the April 23, 2018 City Council Meeting, City of Sonoma Staff presented an update and after action report of the October 2017 fires. The presentation included an overview of the  Sonoma Valley Fire & Rescue Authority , the City’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC), an after action report and current initiatives in process.

View the City’s PowerPoint document  and  watch the video of the presentations . Presentations begin at about 38:00 or start at agenda item 6.2 on the regular calendar.  Please note: the Sonoma Valley Fire & Rescue Authority includes footage of the fires that may be upsetting to some viewers.

Find resources for recovery on our  2017 Fires: Resources for Recovery & Rebuilding Page . For more information about Emergency Preparedness, please review the City’s  Emergency Preparedness Page.
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS FAIR
May 19, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm at Sassarini School
The Sonoma Valley Community Health Center invites the public to attend the Sonoma Valley Emergency Preparedness Fair on Saturday, May 19 from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm at Sassarini Elementary School, 652 5th St W, Sonoma ( get directions ).

The fair is  bilingual, free & open to the public . There will be  free meal tickets for La Escondida Food Truck  and  free emergency kits (while supplies last ). The Club Maxwell Village will have a Fun Zone with kid’s activities and Sonoma County artist Martin Zúñiga will run an interactive healing art activity for attendees.  
 
This event is made possible by a generous anonymous donor, Tipping Point, and Congressman Thompson. Download the flyer in English and Spanish . For more information and questions call (707) 939-6070 #112 or email  events@svchc.org .
S.C.O.P.E. PRESENTATIONS & HANDS ONLY CPR TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES
The  Sonoma Valley Fire & Rescue Authority  in conjunction with the  Kenwood Fire Protection District   is holding a S.C.O.P.E ( Sonoma Citizens Organized to Prepare for Emergencies ) presentation & Hands Only CPR training for the Communities of Glen Ellen, Kenwood & Sonoma. S.C.O.P.E. program includes emergency response, community preparedness, utility safety, and fire prevention. Hands Only CPR training will include Automated External Defibrillator (AED) familiarization. See dates, times, and location of each presentation and training below.

Glen Ellen Fire Station (Sonoma Valley Fire’s Station 5) at  13445 Arnold Drive  
  • Sunday May 6th from 9-12 pm for our SCOPE program
  • Saturday May 19th from 10-12 pm for Hands Only CPR/AED training

Sonoma Valley Fire’s Station 1 at  630 2nd Street West
  • Friday May 25th from 6-9 pm for our SCOPE program
  • Saturday May 26th from 10-12 pm for Hands Only CPR/AED training

For more information or questions please contact Joe Morrison  joem@svfra.org  or call (707) 996-2102.
SENIOR EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS EVENT
June 1, 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm at Vintage House
Vintage House presents  ARE YOU READY?, a free emergency preparedness event for seniors over 60 years of age . Vintage House has received a grant from the Redwood Credit Union - Fire Relief Fund to create and implement a program for senior emergency preparedness. With the seniors of Sonoma Valley in mind, Redwood Credit Union - Fire Relief Fund will provide an unprecedented opportunity to GET READY.

Seniors are encouraged to attend the event to improve personal safety and readiness for the next potential disaster with free materials offered only at the event. Materials will include a File of Life folder, a medicine bag and an emergency 'grab-n-go' bag which includes a guide to emergency preparedness from the Sonoma County Department of Health Services.

Vintage House has arranged for parking at the Sonoma Veterans' Memorial Hall on First Street East and a convenient shuttle to help attendees get to and from their vehicles. Send a request to attend , and Vintage House will email a time slot between 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm.

For more information call (707) 996-0311 or send the Vintage House a message .
ON THE AGENDA
Visit our new meetings portal, CivicWeb , to easily find the calendar and agendas for all upcoming City Council and Commission meetings, locate and review the relevant staff reports, and view televised meetings (live or later). You can also search the City's Municipal Code, learn more about our City Council members and how to contact them, and subscribe to the agendas for meetings that interest you . It's a great way to get engaged with your city government, and we've integrated it with our new City website .

UPCOMING MEETINGS
  • 5/24 - Special Planning Commission Meeting
  • 5/30 - City Council Meeting
  • 6/4 - City Council Meeting
  • 6/14 - Planning Commission Meeting
  • 6/18 - City Council Meeting
  • 6/19 - Design Review & Historic Preservation Commission Meeting

For more information and details on the meetings listed above, please visit CivicWeb directly or via the homepage link at SonomaCity.org .
STAY CONNECTED
The greater the involvement of our citizens, the stronger our community will be. Here are some of the ways you can stay connected with the City of Sonoma!