The County of San Mateo’s coastside infrastructure has deteriorated over the years and is prone to failure. Just in February of this year, nearly 38,000 coastside residents went without power due to heavy storms. Without power, internet and cell service lines can be severely impacted. In such situations, residents may have a difficult time reaching emergency responders, and emergency responders may struggle to reach isolated areas of the coast. Cracks in the coastside infrastructure need to be addressed immediately to bridge the emergency management gap and protect our vulnerable residents. What if we could mitigate these risks to prevent them from happening again?
Supervisor Ray Mueller, along with the Department of Emergency Management (DEM), has debuted the first Coastside Resilience Infrastructure Strategic Plan (CRISP). Through CRISP, the aim is to develop a plan that anticipates problems by creating a detailed inventory of the county's coastside infrastructures and their conditions to identify critical needs. This project will enable county leaders to prioritize and advocate for key projects along the coast that will keep our county safe and resilient.
The first phase of this project launched with a dynamic in-person lunch session that brought together key stakeholders to inform them about CRISP. This event was a chance for representatives from local organizations and agencies to collaborate via discussions on the importance of safeguarding essential services, protecting residents and businesses, public safety, and environmental sustainability. Putting our heads together and engaging the community in proactive conversations is how we gather widespread support for coastside resilience projects.
Participants had the opportunity to gain a comprehensive understanding of the strategic plan and explore how it can positively impact their infrastructure projects. The success of this event sets a positive tone for future engagements and highlights the community's commitment to creating a more resilient coastside. Looking ahead, DEM is thrilled to announce that more events are on the horizon. Stay tuned for updates on upcoming events and opportunities to get involved. Together, we can build a more resilient future for our coastside!
Ann Ludwig (left) and Shruti Dhapodkar (right) present on CRISP concepts.
Ryan Reynolds (left), Ann Ludwig (center), and Supervisor Ray Mueller (right) in discussion at the CRISP event kickoff.