Prepare for Climate Change
Marin County is home to some of the most spectacular scenery in Northern California but runs the risk of devastating floods and sea level rise due to low elevations and climate change. As a major hub of activity in Marin County, the City of San Rafael recognizes that being prepared for the future means planning for adaptation.
Why should my business adapt for climate change?
All businesses are vulnerable to property damage, business interruption, and changes in transportation infrastructure, public and private electricity and water utilities services. It is important to take climate change into account if it affects a company’s operations, value chain, or broader commercial environment. The following are possible effects from climate change:
- Disruption to your supply chain, customers' access to the product or service, public and private infrastructures, and government supplied services.
- Reductions or changes to natural resources and raw materials, production inputs, workforce, or customers' demand for goods or services.
- Changes to physical assets, production processes, or operations and maintenance.
Businesses are better able to mitigate and manage risks by incorporating adaptation measures. For local businesses, this means participating in local adaptation efforts, being prepared for emergencies, and building resilience into operations. There are a variety of local programs and organizations that exist to build local resiliency through education and foster emergency preparedness through free trainings.
Adaptation in 5 easy steps:
- Ensure staff members are trained in disaster preparedness and sites are well equipped for emergencies.
- Get engaged with local adaptation efforts to build neighborhood resilience.
- Sign up for the American Red Cross Ready Rating Program.
- Understand your business’ exposure and vulnerability to climate change.
- Include climate change vulnerability in your risk assessment.
Adaptation Resources:
- We offer emergency preparedness and disaster recovery information and training.
- FEMA provides business training resources. Training is essential to ensure that everyone knows what to do in an emergency or disruption of business operations.
- The EPA provides webinars, training, and information on various sustainability topics such as guidance on environmental regulations and risk management.
- The American Red Cross Ready Rating Program is a membership program that helps businesses become better prepared for emergencies. Membership is free and the program is self-paced. The program provides tips and best practices for emergency preparedness.
- Increase the resiliency of your business by starting a Resilient Neighborhoods team. Teams meet 5 times during lunch breaks and review carbon reducing and emergency preparedness actions.
- Furthermore, you can review the following papers Adapting to Climate Change: A business approach or Building a Resilient Supply Chain.
Community Resilience
Studies consistently show that those who are more connected to others are more resilient, happy, and healthy. One of the most important things we can do to promote resilience in the face of stress and disruption is to connect with others. Here are some ways you can build community - and individual - resilience. Remember, you don't need to do it all, you just need to do one thing to start.
Resilient Neighborhoods
This is Marin's premier climate and resilience organization, helping neighbors connect to reduce their carbon footprint while preparing for disaster. And it's fun! (and free). Sign up for a class series. We all know how much more we accomplish when we do it with a coach and peer support. Resilient Neighborhoods Website.
Community Emergency Response Training (CERT)
Not only is this great for learning how to prepare yourself and your neighborhood to respond during a disaster, you also get to use a fire extinguisher! This class is worth it for the stories and learning alone, but the training exercises and supplies you get are amazing. San Rafael CERT web page.
Transformational Resilience
We often think about sand bags and evacuation routes, but did you know that the trauma of surviving a major disaster lasts for years, sometimes a lifetime? Transformational resilience is a program to prepare for psychological and emotional resilience. It's real. Check it out. Transformational Resilience website.