Burlingame Hosts First Virtual Drill

A total of 324 Burlingame residents in 31 neighborhood groups participated in the 8th annual Burlingame Disaster Survival Drill hosted by the Burlingame Neighborhood Network (BNN) on Saturday, October 10, and practiced responding to an “emergency within an emergency” – an earthquake that supposedly occurred while everyone was sheltering in place due to COVID-19.

Instead of meeting at an “Incident Command Post” to patrol their block for simulated problems, as participants have done during past drills, this year they practiced responding electronically to “incidents” within the safety of their own homes. Most met on Zoom to discuss how to solve simulated problems such as a fire or downed power lines.

Suzanne Tateosian of BNN’s board, said she anticipates 10 of the groups that participated will qualify for free caches of emergency supplies if they participate in next year’s drill. The caches, which are valued at $550, are awarded to neighborhood groups that participate in at least two annual drills and host other neighborhood activities. They are funded by the City of Burlingame.

Click here to learn more about this year’s drill. Click here to learn more about the free cache program. Email info@burlingamenetwork.org to sign up for BNN’s free newsletter.