Redwood City - A tsunami watch on the Coast. A wildfire that shut down Interstate 280. Wild water and wild fire, two very different emergencies just weeks apart. Both carry the same message: being ready is not about if, but when.

On Tuesday, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors proclaimed September as National Preparedness Month, a reminder that now's the time to get ready. Here in San Mateo County, that can mean earthquakes shaking Daly City and East Palo Alto, wildfires racing across hillsides or tsunami watches from Pacifica to Pescadero.

"When disasters hit, it's our neighbors, our families and our friends who feel it first," said San Mateo County Supervisor Lisa Gauthier, chair of the County's Emergency Services Council. "Preparedness isn't complicated - it's about simple things like talking with your kids about a meeting place or making sure you have a flashlight that works. Those small steps can make a big difference when the unexpected happens."

To help residents take that first step, here are five simple actions recommended by the San Mateo County Emergency Management.

Start a conversation:Sit down with your family, housemates or neighbors and ask a simple question: What would we do if something happened tonight? Pick a meeting spot. Decide who checks on whom. It sounds basic, but conversations like these can keep panic from taking over.

Write it down:Don't count on your cell phone. Batteries die. Power goes out. Do you know the numbers of your family and close friends memorized? Probably not. Write them down. A scrap of paper with a few key numbers tucked in a wallet could be golden in an emergency. And before the power goes out….

Check your supplies. September is a month of transition, summer to fall, so use that marker as a natural time to check your household basics. Water. Nonperishable food. Medications. Flashlights. Batteries. A backup phone charger. Think of stocking up on supplies like a grocery list: you don't have to buy everything today. Just get started and build a kit that's right for you and your family. San Mateo County offers a helpful guidefor assembling an emergency kit. Another good resource is Ready.gov.

Learn the language:An alert, a watch, a warning - it could be wildly confusing and frustrating in the middle of the night to try to divine what is what as each has a specific meaning. A watch signals that conditions are possible, a warning means it's going to happen or it's happening now and an alert is a call to act. Knowing the difference can help you move quickly and appropriately.

Sign up for local alerts:National systems like Wireless Emergency Alerts will buzz your phone, but local systems provide the best detail. In San Mateo County, that means signing up for SMC Alert, a free service that delivers texts or emails tailored to your neighborhood.

"We know emergencies can feel overwhelming, but you don't have to do everything at once," said Dr. Shruti Dhapodkar, director of San Mateo County Emergency Management. "Start with one action this week, whether that's signing up for SMC Alert or writing down phone numbers. Small steps now can make a life-saving difference later."

County officials stress that preparedness is more about getting started and less about worrying about doing everything perfectly. In San Mateo County, recent wildfires and tsunami watches have shown how quickly a normal day can turn into an emergency.

The difference between chaos and calm is a conversation - and the plan you made before the next alert buzzes your phone (with a number, of course, that your friends and family have written down).

Michelle Durand

Chief Communications Officer

[email protected]