While living in Poway, California, Merrilee experienced two major wildfires. Frustrated by the total lack of response from the city council during the first disaster, she volunteered to run the evacuation center and fire relief. This experience compelled her to run for office herself. Over eight years on the city council, she revolutionized community preparedness by training every city employee as a disaster service worker, placing supply 'sea-tainers' throughout the city, and establishing cross-agency communication. When the second wildfire hit, the community was radically better prepared, moving from chaos to structured safety.