Are you disaster ready? Hundreds learn emergency preparedness at annual San Mateo Co. event

SAN MATEO COUNTY, Calif. (KGO) -- On the Peninsula, hundreds of people learned what to do and where to go in the event of an emergency.

It was all part of this year's Disaster Preparedness Day in San Mateo. The event comes days after a tsunami alert in the Bay Area, which got the attention of many of us.

The San Mateo County Sheriff's Department demonstrated its "Hi-Low" siren used for emergencies.

"Evacuate, evacuate, evacuate. Whis is a drill," said a sheriff's deputy over a loudspeaker.

Announcements like that are used to warn the public about extreme weather, wildfires -- even a tsunami threat, which the Bay Area got a taste of this week.

MORE: Tsunami warnings, watches, advisories were given to 1/4 of the Earth after 8.8 quake

"We had the earthquake in Alaska. We were anticipating the tsunami to hit the coastline of California," said one sheriff's deputy.

Luckily that never happened, but it got Kristen Engmann thinking: what would she do?

"We are right across the street from the beach, so definitely, we just learned sirens mean "hi-lo, it's time to go," easy to remember," Engmann said.

Hundreds came out for San Mateo County's 21st annual Disaster Preparedness Day event, with dozens of resources in one place.

"Typically, people get a little paralyzed, because they don't know what to do," said San Mateo County Supervisor David Canepa.

MORE: Was the Bay Area ready for a tsunami after Russia's 8.8 earthquake? Here's what we found

Canepa said he's helping families navigate the road to preparedness by having a plan.

"So what we're doing today is trying to help empower, educate and inform San Mateo County and Bay Area residents on what to do when an emergency happens," Canepa said.

Many were learning how to use a home fire extinguisher and safe ways to escape a smoke-filled building -- by staying low and crawling out.

"We have a solar-powered battery pack. You can charge your devices, solar-powered lanterns for power outages," said Ryan Reynolds from the San Mateo County Office of Emergency Services.

Don't forget your Go-Bags, filled with supplies, just in case.

MORE: California hit with tsunami waves after massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake

"in San Mateo County, the San Andreas Fault runs through the county, last big quake was 1989," said Canepa.

Knowing the basics of CPR could help safe a life in a medical emergency. There was a class for the public.

"It could take four to six minutes for EMS to arrive at scene so the public can help save a life with hands only CPR," said Gale Carli from American Red Cross.

Advice and information many hope they've never need but in a disaster, having a plan can be impowering.