Wildfire Preparation: Ready | Set | Go

Two sessions (similar content) are available to help you be ready to protect your family and belongings in case of wildfire:

• 9/11/20 MERRAG Training
  • Click here and use password: tR*2qtT. (including period)
• 10/8/20 Community Meeting
  • Click here and use password: 5mjW@P3h

COVID Readiness

Community partner SB Bucket Brigade has produced an excellent video summary of how neighborhoods can activate to safely support one another at the most local level. The segment running from 14:00 to 27:30 contains very practical—and safe—ways to reach out and support one another.

The Montecito Emergency Response & Recovery Action Group, (MERRAG; pronounced “mirage”) elected their new president and board members in December at their annual meeting, which took place at the Four Seasons Resort Biltmore in Santa Barbara. Here are your board officers and members for the coming year.

President: Troy Harris (PP)
1st Vice President: Keith Yeager
2nd Vice President: Vicky Harbison (PP)
Treasurer: Tom Schleck
Secretary: Sue Ziliotto (PP)
At Large: David Boyd
At Large: Sandy Lin
At Large: Phyllis Marble (PP)
At Large: Sandie Owens
At Large: Warner Owens (PP)
At Large: Bill Vollero
At Large: John Ziliotto
(PP) = Past President

New members and officers were sworn in by Chief Kevin Taylor of Montecito Fire Protection District, who also presented the Volunteer of the Year award to Sue Ziliotto. The newly elected Board looks forward to another year of service. 

The Montecito Emergency Response & Recovery Action Group (MERRAG) is an official volunteer auxiliary of Montecito’s three public service agencies. MERRAG provides crucial personnel and communications support during community emergencies as well as training for community members in recovery and response. Members play a critical role in helping to keep the public informed, whether with kiosks and maps during the Thomas Fire and subsequent debris flow, or in warning hikers heading up the trails of Montecito during peak heat and fire watch weather. MERRAG provided public information and was set up on the South Village lawn. Armed with bulletin boards, maps and handouts, MERRAG staffed the site until the area evacuations took place. They provided updated fire information as the fire approached, and vital pre-evacuation preparedness information. As the fire neared Montecito, MERRAG helped staff the public stations with incident public information officers.

The Montecito Emergency Response & Recovery Action Group, (MERRAG; pronounced “mirage”) elected their new president and board members last month at their annual meeting, which took place at the Four Seasons Resort Biltmore in Santa Barbara. Here are your board officers and members for the coming year.

President: Troy Harris (PP)

• 1st Vice President: Carrie Haffner
• 2nd Vice President: Gayle Tucker
• Treasurer: Tom Schleck
• Secretary: Sue Ziliotto (PP)
• At Large: David Boyd
• At Large: Vicky Harbison (PP)
• At Large: Phyllis Marble (PP)
• At Large: Sandie Owens
• At Large: Warner Owens (PP)
• At Large: Keith Yeager
• At Large: John Ziliotto
• (PP) = Past President

New members and officers were sworn in by Chief Chip Hickman of Montecito Fire Protection District, who also presented the Volunteer of the Year award to Sue Ziliotto. Mike McCaleb was recognized for his many years of service to MERRAG.

The newly elected Board is looking forward to another year of service. “MERRAG is weathering some challenging times. Yes, that’s a pun! We are seeing not only climate change, such as sundowners and resulting wildfires, winter storms, and debris flows, but also some human-dynamics sea changes.  We are evolving in the practice of emergency management,” said incoming President Troy Harris.

The Montecito Emergency Response & Recovery Action Group (MERRAG) is an official volunteer auxiliary of Montecito’s three public service agencies.  MERRAG provides crucial personnel and communications support during community emergencies as well as training for community members in recovery and response.  Members play a critical role in helping to keep the public informed, whether with kiosks and maps during the Thomas Fire and subsequent debris flow, or in warning hikers heading up the trails of Montecito during peak heat and fire watch weather.  MERRAG provided public information and was set up on the South Village lawn. Armed with bulletin boards, maps and handouts, MERRAG staffed the site up until the area evacuations took place. They provided updated fire information as the fire approached and vital pre-evacuation preparedness information. As the fire neared Montecito, MERRAG helped staff the public stations with incident public information officers.