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 • Available to travel
today’s headlines
AB 2664 limits certain activities around places of worship to address congregant fear of harassment or attacks based on their religion.
KQED · Sep 27, 2026
Shifting winds sent smoke from a planned wildfire intervention effort into San Francisco and western Contra Costa County.
KQED · Sep 25, 2026
Source
California Governor’s Office · Sep 27, 2026
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.
Individuals, couples, families, chosen families & housemates
Neighborhoods, apartment buildings, faith communities, parent groups & mutual-aid networks
Nonprofits, schools, small businesses, HOAs & care providers, realtors
Coalitions, events, special projects & needs that don’t fit neatly into a box
Connection, capacity, care
We’ll talk about therapy, savings, nutrition, friendships, and climate resilience. But mention an emergency plan or a go-bag, and suddenly it sounds like something for right-wing preppers. That stereotype has kept many of us from seeing preparedness as part of the care we already give ourselves and our communities.
These parts of resilience work together. Teaching a child what to do during an earthquake builds a practical skill and helps them feel less afraid. Sharing emergency supplies makes preparedness more affordable and gives neighbors a reason to work together. A community garden helps us grow food, care for the land, and build relationships with our community.
I help people see the strengths they already have, identify the gaps, and connect these pieces in practical ways. The relationships and skills we build make life richer now and help us support one another when an emergency happens.
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 moreidentify 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.
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.
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.
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.
plan realistic go-bags and stay-kits, calculate essential food and water needs, and make safer shelter decisions for evacuating or staying home.
create a clear, usable plan for emergencies, evacuation, and recovery, with roles, routes, priorities, contingencies, and concrete next steps.
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.
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.
“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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