It's been a big week for San Francisco's emergency preparedness: The 24th anniversary of the Loma Prieta Earthquake; the Great California ShakeOut; and www.SF72.org is launched!

Tomorrow marks the 24th anniversary of the Loma Prieta earthquake. Although this earthquake may not be one of recent memory, it still remains one of the most significant disasters to have occurred in the Bay Area (and California at large).  Here are a few stories about the Loma Prieta earthquake and how this disaster helped to shape us into a more resilient San Francisco.  We also hope you'll participate in tomorrow's Great California ShakeOut: the statewide drop, cover and hold-on drill taking place at 10:17 am.

We believe in connection, not catastrophe.

Here’s the thing: actual emergencies look more like people coming together than cities falling apart. And people who are more connected fare better in times of crisis.

The DEM 2012-2013 Annual Report is hot off the press! Check out what we've been up to this past fiscal year.

Ten years ago today was the great Northeast Blackout of 2003, which spanned eight states and two countries (United States and Canada) and left more than 50 million people without power. We've compiled some iconic images of blackout. Although, a decade ago and a continent apart, we can't help but see San Francisco in in these photos and if something similar were to happen here, that we would come together--not fall apart.

Last month Rob Dudgeon, DEM Deputy Director, visited Haifa, Israel [see his first blog about the trip Notes from the Field: Haifa, Israel]. In this second installment journaling his experience there, Rob shares his perspectives on the fundamental meaning of resilience through the lens of Haifa's mayor who led his city's resilience to the Second Lebanon war in 2006 when hundreds of rockets rained down on Haifa for a month.

Occasionally, staff members at the San Francisco Department of Emergency Management (DEM) have an opportunity to travel abroad. They frequently write back with their observations. The following is the first of brief series of blogs journaling the experiences of DEM Deputy Director, Rob Dudgeon, who last week participated in a San Francisco emergency management delegation that visited Haifa, Israel.

The act of terrorism that occurred at the Boston Marathon is every city’s worst nightmare. It shakes all of us to the core as it’s hard not to think about something similar happening within our own community.

We got up very early, we dressed in 1906 style, and we joined our fellow San Franciscans in commemorating one of the most significant natural disasters in California’s history. Please enjoy DEM’s photographs documenting our participation in an annual ritual filled with camaraderie and San Francisco pride. Special note of appreciation, acknowledgment and thanks to Michael Mustacchi for photographing this special event.