Angel Island Prescribed Burn to Resume This Week
Don’t call 911: Fire crews are aiming to prevent future wildfires by burning grass and shrubs on the island.
KQED · Sep 22, 2026
community-centered emergency preparedness for 21st century risks
I help households, communities, and organizations create personalized emergency and evacuation plans, prepare for disasters, and build practical skills for stronger, more connected, hyper-local resilience.
Based in Oakland • In-person Bay Area services • Virtual work
today’s headlines
State of Emergency Declared As California Prepares for Potentially Historic El Niño Event
California is preparing for flooding and dangerous storms as a potentially historic El Niño strengthens.
KQED · Sep 22, 2026
2 Pilots Killed in Helicopter Crash While Fighting Yosemite Wildfire
The firefighters were battling the Dome Fire on steep, high-elevation terrain when the helicopter went down.
KQED · Sep 21, 2026
Preparedness should feel empowering, not paralyzing.
The emergencies are already here, and more are coming. Climate disasters are accelerating, our systems are straining, and risks are compounding. But this is not a call to panic. It is a call to act, together. Whatever time we have to prepare is the time we have. Let’s use it!
Preparedness is an act of care for ourselves, the people we love, and the communities we belong to. It turns fear into practical action, isolation into connection, and overwhelm into something we can actually do. When we prepare together, we do more than get ready for disaster. We build safer, stronger, more connected lives right now.
who I work with
HOUSEHOLDS
Individuals, couples, families, chosen families & housemates
COMMUNITIES
Neighborhoods, apartment buildings, faith communities, parent groups & mutual-aid networks
ORGANIZATIONS
Nonprofits, schools, small businesses, HOAs & care providers, realtors
CUSTOMCOLLABS
Coalitions, events, special projects & needs that don’t fit neatly into a box
Connection, capacity, care
resilience as an eco-system
These dimensions weave together interdependently.
Building community gardens practices environmental and community resilience simultaneously. Teaching children emergency preparedness builds both practical skills and emotional resilience. Creating neighborhood support networks strengthens financial and emergency resilience together.
I help people recognize the capacity they already have, identify the gaps, and build practical ways to support one another before, during, and after an emergency.
workshops and trainings
I design engaging sessions around the people in the room , covering local hazards, emergency roles, communication, evacuation, supplies, safety, and scenario practice.
Cal OES certified
learn moreasset mapping your community
identify the people, skills, spaces, supplies, and relationships already available in your community, then turn them into a practical map for coordination before, during, and after an emergency.
communications in emergencies
build a reliable communications plan for when cell service or internet access is limited, including contact trees, meeting points, backup tools, and clear message protocols. Learn radio basics + best comms practices.
disaster chef
learn all about emergency food and water supplies in this fun + interactive training, culminating in a disaster chef challenge, where you will compete for the title of the ultimate master chef, using only shelf-stable supplies + a gas stove.
emergency preparedness 101
builds a foundation for personal and household emergency preparedness, equipping people with the ability to anticipate risks, stay prepared, make emergency plans, and act confidently under pressure.
go-bags + stay-kit essentials
plan realistic go-bags and stay-kits, calculate essential food and water needs, and make safer shelter decisions for evacuating or staying home.
emergency, evacuation + recovery planning
create a clear, usable plan for emergencies, evacuation, and recovery, with roles, routes, priorities, contingencies, and concrete next steps.
neighborhood organizing
activates community capacity by turning neighbors into a coordinated network with shared roles, communication rhythms, mutual aid, and a sustainable path to collective resilience that both improves recovery in a disaster and your everyday.
staying safe in extreme times
strengthens situational awareness and decision‑making in volatile contexts, promoting habits and protocols that reduce exposure and improve response to authoritarianism, gun violence, and white supremacy.
testimonials
“8 months pregnant in LA after the fires, emergency preparedness was top of mind. Shirah inspected everything and made our home more earthquake and fire resilient. Her visit helps me sleep better at night.”
Zara, Los Angeles CA
“We thought we were prepared for a disaster, but working with Shirah proved that there were many straightforward measures we could take to be safer. She gave us the tools to be prepared today and well into the future.”
Parker & Olivia, Oakland CA
“Resilient peeps is the anti-hierarchical preparedness crew of my dreams! Thank you for helping me and my community scale up our readiness to stay safe and support one another via disaster readiness, mutual aid and collective organizing!”
Miah, El Sobrante CA
“Shirah has meticulously designed this class with material that is far beyond the average training or pre-made kits. You will be given a full knowledge-base of supplies, resources, and technology to support you and your loved ones before, during and after an emergency.”
Sarah, Albany CA
“As a retired management consultant, I have seen many team leaders in action and Shirah’s skills are extraordinary. She brings technical expertise, relationships with city officials and an understanding of the nuances of our neighborhood in order to make our community safer and more resilient.”
Laura, Oakland CA
“What Shirah is teaching should be required learning for anybody who claims to be a leader or entrepreneurial.”
Andrew, Bay Area CA
“Shirah’s emergency prep workshop was incredibly helpful! I left feeling more prepared to know what to do in an emergency, better connected to my community, and with a pair of shoes under my bed.”
Laura, Los Angeles CA
“Shirah’s depth of knowledge and passion make her an asset to every community who needs these kinds of educational tools - and that is EVERY community. These are the survival skills that are essential for our times - and Shirah shares them in a way that feels deeply pragmatic and achievable, demystifying the effort of community responsibility in the face of crisis.”
Nessa, New York NY
“I had no idea how much I didn’t know until I took Shirah’s workshop. I’m so grateful for her guidance in helping me step confidently into the world of emergency preparedness. Beyond her impressive expertise, Shirah is an exceptionally skilled facilitator, she quickly gauges the knowledge and experience in the room and then seamlessly fills in the gaps with clarity, warmth, and encouragement.”
Anna, Richmond VA
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