The La Honda Voice

Earthquake Preparedness…a reminder after the Loma Prieta anniversary

Earthquake Preparedness…a reminder after the Loma Prieta anniversary

"As we go into fall and start planning for winter, this year continues to remind us that disasters can occur anywhere and at anytime. We have painfully seen instances where the difference between life and death was how prepared people were to take care of themselves. Being prepared for a multitude of disasters is even more important in our area where limited emergency services can be easily stripped or unable to gain quick access where needed. In the case of earthquakes a useful and perhaps life-saving new handbook has been released by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). “Putting Down Roots in Earthquake Country — Your Handbook for the Bay Region” is a practical, informative guide for Bay Area residents on earthquake preparedness. This handbook is oriented towards the earthquake threat we live with and it's tips and information are something that every area resident should be aware of. The handbook describes the likely impacts of future earthquakes in the Bay Area and gives seven important steps people should follow to prepare for, survive and recover from future earthquakes. The 32-page handbook is available online at http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/2005/15

What else can you do to be better prepared for a disaster: Make sure you are a member of the La Honda Fire Brigade. We are part of the emergency system that serves the entire Southcoast and membership dollars go directly to fund the emergency services we provide and to help insure the area is as prepared for any emergency as possible. To join please see www.lahondafire.org. You can also consider taking our Community Emergency Response Team training. This 26 hour course on Disaster Preparedness covers Emergency Medical Treatment, Light Search and Rescue, Communications and many other topics people will need to help themselves, their family, and neighbors survive a disaster. Our next class starts on Sat. Jan. 28. Please see our web site for more information and how to sign up for this class.

If you have other questions you can contact us by replying to this E-mail or calling 650-747-0381." Larry Whitney, Chief, La Honda Fire Brigade (message #8418)

Proposal to Drastically Reduce Habitat for Threatened Frog

Excerpted from a Coastsider article by Barry Parr.:
"The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service published Thursday a revised proposal that reduces by 82 percent the area proposed to be designated as critical habitat for the threatened California red-legged frog. The Service also opened a public comment period on the proposal, which ends on Feb. 1, 2006. In northern San Mateo County, the habitat has been reduced from roughly the entire area between between Highway to 280 and the developed coastal zone, to the area around the Crystal Springs Reservoir…
…The Service is revising the habitat area because of a court order in a lawsuit brought by the Home Builders Association of Northern California, California Chamber of Commerce, California Building Industry Association, California Alliance for Jobs, and the Building Industry Legal Defense Fund.

Public comments on the proposed rule will be accepted until Feb. 1, 2006. Written comments on the proposal should be submitted to the Field Supervisor, Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2800 Cottage Way, Suite W. 2605, Sacramento, CA 95825, or by facsimile to (916) 414-6712. Comments may also be sent by electronic mail to [email protected].

Requests for public hearings on the proposal must be submitted within 45 days to the Field Supervisor, Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2800 Cottage Way, Suite W. 2605, Sacramento, CA 95825."
For the complete article and maps of affected area, go to http://coastsider.com/comments/1003_0_1_0_M/