The Burlingame Neighborhood Network has distributed 21 out of 25 emergency caches that the Burlingame City Council has allocated for neighborhood groups that have a track record of engagement in emergency preparedness activities. The caches, valued at $700, are for use in neighborhoods in the event of an emergency. They are filled with emergency supplies that include first aid essentials, tools that enable volunteers to protect themselves (hard hats, safety goggles, gloves, etc.), a folding stretcher, a fire extinguisher and materials needed to set up an emergency base and equip teams of volunteers to aid victims and assess damage after a disaster. Two items recently added are NOAA weather radios and personal protective equipment (PPE).
To qualify for a cache, a neighborhood group must participate in at least two Citywide Emergency Drills (they are held each October) and organize two or more block activities in recent years that help neighbors get acquainted with each other or create a neighborhood directory.
The caches will allow neighbors to help one another in the immediate aftermath of a disaster, without having to scramble for supplies. Police and firefighters routinely advise that residents will be on their own for as long as a week after a major catastrophe, while they are taking care of critical emergencies.
Burlingame residents who would like a cache for their neighborhood can download the instructions here and the application form here. You can also request an application form by sending an email to info@burlingamenetwork.org.
Neighborhoods that are awarded caches are asked to fill out this location tracker form so the city knows where the caches are located.
