Creating SF’s New Disaster Safety Guide
If you lived in the bay in 1989, chances are you remember in vivid detail the big Loma Prieta Earthquake that nearly crushed you, and your little dog too. I personally remember seeing the walls crack in my Aunts house, as I watched the Giants playoff game get started on TV, that quake killed 67 people and paralyzed the city for days if not weeks and months. Geologists are saying there’s a 72% chance that one or more quakes of that magnitude will happen in Bay Area in the next 25 years…
That’s why it’s a very good idea to have a bit of a plan in place for when the next quake does happen! Step in SF artist Brian Singer (AKA someguy). Brian does art that aims at public awareness, and his newest project is all about getting you and your neighbors a bit more organized so that when the next quake hits, it doesn’t turn into some kind of Mad Max Furry Road out there.
A Message from Brian Singer:
I’m launching a social-good initiative to put disaster preparedness guides into every household in San Francisco. In order to do this, I’ve set up a GoFundMe campaign, to crowd-fund the project.
There’s nothing I hate more than asking for money (well, there are a couple things) but this is for a good cause. Funds collected will go towards the printing and distribution of the guides via the USPS. With roughly 345,000 households in San Francisco, current estimates put costs around $182,000 to reach all of them. It might seem like a lot, but compared to the cost of damage from one fire, or the loss of just one life, it’s a worthwhile investment. We’re starting with Phase 1, and trying to raise the first $50,000. This will allow us to reach over 90,000 households.
We live in a potential disaster zone, we all know this. There are 7 significant fault lines running through the region. And we know the next major quake isn’t a question of IF, it’s a question of WHEN.
Isn’t all that information available online already?
Yes, it is. And despite that, and numerous outreach campaigns, many people still aren’t prepared. Basic Safety Net was created to address a gap in our approach to dealing with emergencies: what happens immediately after a major disaster, and how to prevent additional risks to health and property damage.
Think about it, how will residents get information if the internet is down?
Multi-language approach
Guides are available in English/Spanish and English/Chinese versions. We’re hoping to do an English/Tagalog version for our Filipino population as well.
These guides probably won’t convince everyone to make their plan. Some will, but many will simply put the guide in a kitchen drawer, and that’s where we want them to end up. Because after a quake, you just might need to know how, or when, to shut off your gas.
For those who already have a plan and know how to shut off the utilities, that’s awesome. But, do your neighbors? Because fire travels real fast…
How you can help
Even a small contribution of $10 will help us reach 20 households.
Spread the word by sharing this with your friends, and co-workers
Companies can make matching donations
Donate Now
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