ANNUAL REPORT 2025
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND SAFETY COMMISSION
CITY OF PACIFICA
MEMBERS OF THE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND SAFETY COMMISSION Commissioners:
Gregor Blackburn, Chair
Feliks Gasanyan, Vice Chair
Bonnie Miller
Jeanne Salisbury
Debra Johnson
Evelyn Taverna
Jay Crawford
Peter Balestreri
Tony Guzzetta
Ex-Officio Members:
Betty Fleming, American Red Cross
Jorge Machado, Pacifica School District
Marcus Peppers, Jefferson Union High School District
City Council Liaison:
Christine Boles, Council Member
City of Pacifica Staff Representatives:
Pacifica Police Captain Chris Clements
Pacifica Police Captain Bill Glasgo
Pacifica Police Sergeant Tom Cumming
THE COMMISSION’S ROLE
The Pacifica Emergency Preparedness and Safety Commission meets on the third Wednesday of each month at 6:30 pm at the Pacifica Police Department in the Emergency Operations Center (EOC).
This Commission advises and makes recommendations to City Council on activities and programs related to emergency preparedness. The powers and duties of the Commission are advisory only and include;
To assist in the preparation and review and make recommendations to Council on disaster preparedness plans;
To increase community awareness of the possibility of future disasters and the need for disaster preparedness;
To develop and distribute disaster preparedness information in the City; To develop, implement and promote, with Council approval, disaster preparedness programs and activities in the City;
To promote and develop resources, volunteer and self-help groups to be utilized in the event of a local disaster;
To assist in the coordinating of disaster preparedness with other governmental agencies
The commission also serves as the appellate body for appeals relating to abandoned and inoperable vehicle abatement, vehicles parked 72 hours or more, specific sections of the Building Code, and appeals of staff decisions relating to traffic safety issues.
THE YEAR IN REVIEW
This annual report details Commission activities from May 2024 through May 2025. Commission meetings are held in person once a month at the City’s Emergency Operations Center, located at the Pacifica Police Department.
There is no hybrid format, or virtual option to attend these meetings.
Presentation at Commission meetings to support the Commission’s role of raising awareness about potential hazards in our community and promoting self-preparedness, the Commission heard presentations on a number of topics this past year.
At the meeting in May of 2024, Tara Schiff, Economic Developement Manager Spoke to the EPSC regarding what an Economic Development Manager does for the residents of Pacifica and how the business community can support and provide resources in an emergency. She works with all aspects of the city services and with San Mateo County.
At the meeting in September 2024, Ana Miscolota presented on behalf of THRIVE Alliance. The presentation covered governmental disaster preparedness, response and recover efforts utilizing non-profit groups.
At the April 2025, meeting Commissioners will hear from staff at the North Coast County Water District. This presentation will cover recent infrastructure improvements, to include water capacity in emergencies for the City of Pacifica.
At the May 2025 meeting, Commissioners will hear from Fire Marshal Craig Witner, who will be presenting on the recently released fire hazard maps.
Use of Social Media
One of the Commission’s primary goals is raising awareness about local hazards from natural disasters and promotion of personal preparedness educating our community about local hazards and promoting personal disaster preparedness. Commissioners worked with City staff to promote preparedness through use of social media to promote public events, classes, education and preparedness strategies this past year. The police department’s social media platforms were used to share information about extreme weather events during the winter storms in December 2023 and January 2024. Several social media posts this past year shared information about severe storms, hazardous and damaging surf conditions, severe wind events and potential for flooding. These platforms were also utilized to share information about available resources such as sandbags, or the location of community resource centers during power outages. The Commission was also active in promoting SMCAlert.
Youth Engagement
This past year the Commission made improved youth engagement a priority.
They created a working group, invited members of the Youth Advisory Board to attend meetings, and sought to learn more about how disaster preparedness is presented to youth in our local schools. At community events this past year activity and workbooks were distributed featuring topics such as wildfires, earthquakes, flooding, and disaster preparedness. At the Fog Fest, youth were tested with questions about local hazards, such as tsunamis and earthquakes, and offered activity books about preparedness.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND EDUCATION
Several events this past year allowed Commissioners to engage with community members.
Wildfire Preparedness Event
The Commission continued to support work by City staff which began in 2020 to increase community awareness about wildfire. On Saturday, May 18, 2024, the North County Fire Authority (NCFA) spearheaded the Pacifica Wildfire Awareness Event. Both NCFA and the police department promoted this event through social media platforms Nextdoor, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter), as well as through Connect With Pacifica. Staff from NCFA, the police department, and the San Mateo County Department of Emergency Management hosted booths at the Community Center parking lot. Materials were on hand promoting SMCAlert, Zonehaven, and the Ready, Set, Go wildfire evacuation preparedness campaign. Staff members also answered questions from attendees and promoted the Pacifica CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) Program. The event will be held at the Community Center on Wednesday, May 7 from 5-8pm.
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San Mateo County Disaster Preparedness Day (August 2024) This annual event is coordinated by the San Mateo County Department of Emergency Management and held at the San Mateo County Fairgrounds.
Participating agencies include police and fire departments from throughout the county, several CERT programs, CalFire, and other agencies.
Participating groups showcase equipment, distribute materials, and offer classes in first aid, Stop the Bleed, and CPR. Pacifica city staff promoted this event using social media and Connect With Pacifica. Two Commissioners, one CERT member, and city staff met attendees and shared information about the Pacifica CERT Program, tsunami preparedness, SMC Alert notification system and Zonehaven. This annual event will return to the county fairgrounds on August 2, 2025.
Pacific Coast Fog Fest (September 2024)
This annual street fair is one of the Commission’s most successful community engagement events. Commissioners, city staff, and CERT volunteers helped staff a tent throughout both days of Fog Fest. They shared information about local hazards and emergency preparedness, promoted the Pacifica CERT Program, and engaged local youth. Youngsters were tested with disaster preparedness questions, and provided brochures and activity books on topics including wildfires, earthquakes, floods, and disaster preparedness.
Commissioners look forward to Fog Fest in 2025, and have been planning improvements to the offerings for this coming year.
Earthquake/Tsunami Preparedness Course
This 90-minute course was first presented in 2016, and was created by volunteers from our CERT Program. Attendees learn how to better prepare for an earthquake or tsunami by creating a family plan, emergency kit, and identify the supplies they should keep at their home, office, and even their vehicle in the event a disaster strikes. The class promotes personal preparedness and benefits of the CERT basic course. The course was presented several times this past year, most recently on March 26, 2025 with an emphasis on tsunami hazards as part of Tsunami Preparedness Week.
The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
This program is a nationwide “FEMA” effort to educate community members about disaster preparedness, local hazards, and offers training in basic disaster response skills. Over 350 Pacifica residents are graduates of the CERT Basic Training Program. The Spring of 2024 saw the return of the CERT Basic Course which had last been offered in 2020, before the Covid-19 pandemic. Ten community members completed this 8-week course and became graduates of CERT Class 24-2 (October 5, 2024). On March 29, 2025, fourteen additional community members completed CERT Class 25-1.
To learn more about the Pacifica CERT program, send an email to [email protected] or visit the dedicated webpage.
LOOKING AHEAD
Community Outreach
The Commission is always reviewing strategies to improve community engagement and promote education about local hazards and personal preparedness. They would like to see more offering of classes such as First Aid, CPR, and Stop the Bleed, and ways to engage community members. The Commission was pleased to see the return of the CERT Basic Course which was on pause since COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
Improve Youth Engagement
The Commission is continuing to find ways to improve youth engagement and education about disaster preparedness.
Review of the Role of the Emergency Preparedness and Safety Commission Commissioners are looking forward to a comprehensive review of the Commission’s charter and local hazard mitigation plan.