The Image of the Great Flood That Stuck With Me: Caskets Floating Away
Covering a flood powerful enough to disrupt the dead.
The New York Times · Oct 15, 2026
community-centeredemergency preparednessfor 21st century risks
I help households, communities, and organizations create personalized emergency and evacuation plans, build practical skills, and prepare for big disasters and every day emergencies from a collectivist lens. Based in Oakland, I offer in-person trainings across the Bay Area, virtual support, and travel throughout California.
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, and we empower ourselves to reimagine what disaster recovery looks like.
who I work with
HOUSEHOLDS
Individuals, couples, families, chosen families & housemates
COMMUNITIES
Book clubs, faith communities, parent groups, third spaces & 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
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.
disaster psychology
learn how our minds and bodies respond during emergencies, what reactions to expect - both in the immediate aftermath and across the disaster recovery cycle - and practical tools to prepare emotionally now, stay grounded when things become chaotic, and support ourselves and others through stress and uncertainty.
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.
emergency preparedness with young children
learn simple, age-appropriate ways to prepare your family for emergencies: build a child-friendly go-bag, practice a family plan, give kids helpful roles, and turn preparedness into everyday confidence instead of something scary.
financial literacy
build practical tools for understanding your money, creating a budget that works in real life, managing debt, and planning ahead, so you can make informed choices, build stability, and avoid financial emergencies before they happen.
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 clear, usable plans for emergencies, evacuations, and recovery, with roles, routes, priorities, contingencies, and concrete action 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.
today’s headlines
Mortgage lenders probed over how they handled L.A. wildfire insurance payouts
After complaints by January 2025 fire victims about withheld insurance payments, California regulators have ordered mortgage lenders to report on how they have handled the funds.
Los Angeles Times · Oct 15, 2026
Hurricane Trudy is the Latest in an Unusual Pacific Hurricane Season
The Pacific Ocean is seeing more storms, and stronger storms, than usual. Here’s what’s going on (and how it all traces back to El Niño).
The New York Times · Oct 15, 2026
Connection, capacity, care
resilience as an eco-system
It's time to connect the dots.
We talk openly about therapy and self-care, financial security, nutrition, friendship, and climate resilience. But mention an emergency plan or a go-bag, and preparedness can suddenly sound like something reserved for right-wing preppers. That stereotype keeps many of us from recognizing preparedness for what it really is: an extension of the care we already give ourselves, one another, and the planet. Resilience is an ecosystem in which each element strengthens the other. Caring for the environment means consuming less. Consuming less becomes easier when neighbors share tools, supplies, and knowledge. Sharing gives us a reason to know and trust one another, and those relationships become a source of safety when disaster strikes. The same pattern appears everywhere. Teaching a child what to do during an earthquake builds a practical skill while helping them feel less afraid, which will result in more emotional resilience in the case of a disaster. A community garden produces food while caring for the land and creates a place for neighbors to connect. Sharing emergency supplies makes preparedness more affordable while revealing who has resources, who has useful skills, and who may need support. I help people recognize the strengths they already have, identify what’s missing, and connect these pieces into practical systems of care. The result isn’t just greater readiness for an emergency. It’s a life that is more connected, sustainable, and supported right now.
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
“I’ve attended two trainings now by Shirah and they’ve both been so eye-opening and empowering. Could not recommend her more!”
Benjamin, New York NY
“Shirah’s workshop was incredibly helpful in introducing neighborhood organizing! We were all super impressed by her lived experience to strengthen her own neighborhood’s resilience. I hope that EVERYONE will have the opportunity to take her workshops! I am also super grateful for her work in creating the Resilient Neighborhoods Network in Oakland. Shirah is a huge asset to the East Bay and beyond.”
Susan, Berkeley CA
“Working with Shirah W. on our community resilience centers project (Nov 2025 to May 2026) was an incredible experience. She is truly a Swiss Army knife! Shirah seamlessly managed complex logistics for two massive events, a 150+ attendee Town Hall and a 300-attendee wildfire resilience festival. Her film background translated into flawless run-of-day planning, but her impact didn’t stop there. She organized our office, built thoughtful outreach for the Spanish-speaking community, and pitched in with every detail from setup to teardown. Highly professional, thorough, and hardworking!”
Kalli, Ojai Valley, CA
“Resilient Peeps is one of those services that feels like a great investment for our collective future. It is tangible preparation that feels like a glimmer rather than leaning into the usual fear based triggers that are associated with disaster readiness and awareness.”
Zoya, Ojai Valley, CA
“Literally nobody I would want in my neighborhood more than Shirah if/when s^&t hits the fan and we need to stay organized, resourced, and grounded. Shirah is incredibly knowledgeable about resiliency infrastructure, emergency preparedness, and clearly thinks so deeply about how to support others in getting organized and prepared. I have learned so much from working with her and am amazed at the depths of her knowledge and expertise. If there were a Shirah in every town/neighborhood the world would be a MUCH better place.”
Eli, Berkeley, CA
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