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Best Resources For Emergency Preparedness In The Bay Area

The Bay Area is safe from many of the natural disasters that plague our neighbors to the east. While Bay Area residents aren't subject to blizzards, hurricanes and tornadoes, we still have our share of disasters to prepare for, from earthquakes and wildfires to tsunamis. Some of the best ways to prepare for an emergency are by taking CPR and first aid training, putting together emergency supply kits and creating a disaster plan for your family. Resources for disaster preparedness in the Bay Area can be difficult to find, so check out the following list for some of the best options.

Mountain View Surplus
1299 W. El Camino Real
Mountain View, CA 94040
(650) 969-7700
www.mvsurplus.com

Mountain View Surplus sells a broad range of equipment for anyone facing a temporary loss of shelter. It carries everything from sleeping bags and tents to backpacks and other camping gear. The store is a good source for first aid supplies to round out the family's emergency kit. It even stocks military-style ready-to-eat meals and a selection of Swiss Army and hunting knives. For those who want to be prepared for every type of emergency, this is the go-to source for gas masks and ammo belts.

Cal First Aid
www.calfirstaid.com

California First Aid and Safety
(650) 557-0807
www.calfirstaid.com

California First Aid and Safety mainly offers safety, emergency and earthquake preparedness training to businesses throughout the Bay Area. In addition to providing training and disaster preparedness kits to businesses, its website has a massive selection of emergency supplies available for individuals to purchase. Disaster kit resources to handle everything from wildfires to earthquakes can be found, including items for water purification, meal kits, fire-starting equipment and folding toilets.There are also a number of other hard-to-find emergency preparedness resources like triage kits and search-and-rescue supplies.

Ice Safety Solutions
www.getice.com

ICE Safety Solutions
43236 Christy St.
Fremont, CA 94538
(510) 252-0423
www.getice.com

ICE Safety Solutions offers a variety of first aid training and certification. With classes throughout the Bay Area, ICE certifies participants for infant, child and adult CPR, and can train first responders to assist stroke and heart attack victims. ICE also carries a good selection of disaster preparedness supplies, which range from first aid equipment and power flares to family survival packs and defibrillators. When preparing to stay safe after a disaster, don't forget the pets in your home. ICE can help with its line of doggie disaster and "CATastrophy" kits containing food, water and first aid supplies for the four-legged members of your family. 

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Fritz Institute
1 Embarcadero Center, Suite 370
San Francisco, CA 94111
(415) 538-8300
www.fritzinstitute.org

The Fritz Institute is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving disaster response and recovery. Based in San Francisco, the organization works with local governments, agencies, corporations and other non-profits to coordinate humanitarian aid and smooth out supply chain issues to assist those in need of assistance after a disaster. The Institute's BayPrep program is specifically focused on streamlining aid to more vulnerable parties such as the elderly, sick and poor who might not otherwise be able to obtain aid in an emergency situation. With workshops and conferences, Fritz Institute is helping to educate everyone in local communities on how to coordinate all available resources to best prepare for disasters.

Bay Area Earthquake Alliance
www.bayquakealliance.org

The Bay Area Earthquake Alliance is part of the larger Earthquake Country Alliance and is dedicated to the coordination of earthquake preparedness and awareness resources in the San Francisco Bay Area. The BAEA offers an array of information on how to best prepare your home for an earthquake as well as how to stay safe during an earthquake. In addition, look for information on prepping businesses and schools for earthquake safety, as well as free FEMA earthquake webinars.

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Joanna Metheny is a freelance writer covering all things South Bay. Her work can be found on Examiner.com.

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