The City of Orinda launched two new websites – DowntownOrinda.com and OrindaReady.com – created to support local businesses and provide residents with easy access to wildfire preparedness and emergency readiness information.
The City of Orinda has launched two new websites designed to support local businesses and help residents prepare for emergencies.
According to Orinda City Manager Linda Smith, the sites – DowntownOrinda.com and OrindaReady.com – were created to provide focused online resources for different community needs.
“The City recently launched these sites as part of our ongoing efforts to better serve residents, businesses and visitors through clear, accessible online resources,” Smith said.
OrindaReady.com launched in January, while DowntownOrinda.com went live last November.
Each site was created to address a specific community need.
“DowntownOrinda.com was developed to showcase the vitality of our downtown district and support local businesses, while OrindaReady.com was created to bring together critical wildfire preparedness and emergency readiness information in one easy-to-navigate place,” Smith said.
She added that the sites help residents and visitors quickly find important information.
“Together, these platforms help connect people to the resources, events and safety information that are important to daily life in Orinda,” Smith said.
Smith said DowntownOrinda.com is designed to highlight the vibrancy and charm of Orinda’s Village and Theatre districts.
“It promotes local restaurants, shops, arts and events, while also providing resources for entrepreneurs and business owners interested in opening or expanding in the area.”
The site includes information about development opportunities, planning contacts and partnerships with local organizations that support economic growth.
The OrindaReady.com website, however, serves as a primary source for information on wildfire safety and disaster readiness.
“It focuses on public safety and emergency preparedness,” Smith said. “It serves as a centralized hub for wildfire readiness resources, evacuation planning tools, alerts, home hardening information and available grants or incentives for residents.”
The site includes guidance on creating evacuation plans, preparing emergency “go bags” and signing up for emergency alerts. Residents can also find information about defensible space, home hardening and financial assistance programs related to wildfire risk reduction.
One feature of the site is the Ladris evacuation modeling tool, which allows residents to explore evacuation traffic scenarios based on factors such as fire location and road conditions.
“This helps people better understand how evacuations may unfold and plan ahead,” Smith said.
The sites took about six months each to develop. For the downtown website, the city partnered with Tripepi Smith and its web development team to design a user-friendly platform tailored to local businesses and residents.
The emergency preparedness website was developed by city staff with assistance from CivicPlus, the city’s website provider.
Staff also worked with community partners and local organizations to ensure the information reflected available emergency resources in the area.
The total cost for both websites was just under $20,000, covering design, development and implementation.
“The City views these platforms as evolving resources,” Smith said. “Staff will continue updating the sites with new information, events and tools, and we welcome feedback from residents and businesses to help guide future improvements.”
The city’s primary website also recently transitioned to a new address. The municipal site moved from CityofOrinda.org to CityofOrinda.gov.
Smith said the change aligns with best practices for government websites and helps clearly identify the site as an official government source.
“Orinda has a strong sense of community, and both of these websites were created with that in mind,” Smith said. “Whether someone is looking to explore downtown, support local businesses or prepare their household for wildfire season, these platforms are designed to make important information easier to find and use.”
