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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May is
Disaster Preparedness Month
Windsor CA – May is Disaster Preparedness Month. Windsor Fire
Protection District wants to remind everyone of the importance of
being able to take care of themselves and their families when
disaster strikes.
The Windsor Fire Department has only two firefighters on duty each
day. There are only 20 ambulances in all of Sonoma County; two are
assigned to Windsor. These are minimal resources on a normal day;
they would be completely overwhelmed in a major disaster.
Earthquake is the major disaster most likely to affect Windsor. A
severe earthquake could make many roads, including Hwy 101,
impassable. 9-1-1 would be swamped. Power and water could be off for
many days. The devastation of a severe earthquake will not only
exceed the abilities of Windsor’s emergency response resources, it
will affect the surrounding area as well and prevent timely aid from
neighboring communities.
“We don’t want to frighten anyone,” said Windsor Fire Marshal Matt
Gustafson, “but we want people to understand how important being
prepared is. And earthquake that damages the Shiloh and Old Redwood
Highway overpasses, for example, could make it impossible for us to
reach the west side of our district for many hours, if not days. We
all have to be able to sustain ourselves for at least three days.”
To find out how you and your family can prepare for disaster, go to
www.windsorfire.net and click on Safety Information or refer to the
First Aid and Survival Guide in your phonebook.
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Contact: Matt Gustafson
Office: 707/838-1170
FAX: 707/838-1173
E-mail: mgustafson@windsorfpd.com
NOTE: Photographs are copyrighted by Windsor Fire Protection
District and can only be used with permission.
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