Coastside Fire Protection District Press Release on April 23rd, 2024

Multi-Agency Evacuation Drill Planned for El Granada

El Granada, CA – Saturday, May 11, 2024, CAL FIRE, Coastside Fire Protection District, San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office, and San Mateo County Department of Emergency Management will host a voluntary evacuation drill in El Granada. This is a real time evacuation drill that will begin at 9 a.m. and end at 11 a.m.

NOTE: The voluntary evacuation drill includes only includes Zone SMC-E092  (see map).

People living near the evacuation area may hear HI LO sirens but will not be included in
this drill. Zones  SMC-E067 and SMC-E087   will be highlighted in yellow but will not be
asked to evacuate.

Prior to May 11th, you are advised to:

1. Download GENASYS PROTECT (formerly Zonehaven) mobile app or access the web version, enter your home address in the search bar and save your zone. Make sure the app is set to deliver notifications. You can find notifications in SETTINGS.

2. Sign-up for SMC Alerts. You can choose to receive notifications via text, tablet, landline voice, and email.

What should you do if you live in the impacted area?

At 9 a.m., notifications will go out through Genasys Protect and SMC Alert that the drill has begun. Once you hear that siren, if you live in Zone SMC-E092 and choose to participate, you should evacuate. San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office vehicles will be driven through the neighborhood broadcasting the HI LO siren, also known as the evacuation siren.

If you have downloaded the Genasys Protect app and have set your device to receive notifications, you will be notified that your zone is under an Evacuation Order.

You will also receive an SMC Alert.

When you receive the notifications and/or hear that HI LO siren, it’s time to go to the predetermined meeting point for this voluntary drill.

The meeting point for this drill is:

El Granada Elementary School,

400 Santiago Ave, El Granada, CA 94019.

In the event of an actual evacuation, you would be given direction where to go as the emergency would warrant.

This is what your Genasys Protect map will look like at 9:00 a.m.

Zone SMC – E092 will be RED, which indicates the zone is under an EVACUATION ORDER.

Zones SMC – E067 and SMC – E087 will be YELLOW, which indicates the zones are
under an EVACUATION WARNING.

Only those under an Evacuation Order are included in this drill and encouraged to come to the predetermined meeting point.

At the predetermined meeting point at El Granada Elementary School, you will be greeted by local firefighters, law enforcement, fire safety experts, and CERT members who will be available to answer your questions.

Fire safety handouts will also be distributed.

Remember:

Participation is voluntary but encouraged.

We would like you to be well prepared for the next emergency.