Prepare to evacuate

Assemble go-bags for home & car

Why? It's important to have a small stash of essential supplies available in a place where you can easily grab it if you need to exit your home quickly and in your office and/or car if there's an emergency situation while you're outside the house.

Resources: Be Alameda Ready | City of Alameda, Prepare Our Island Week 5: Go Bag (video), Prepare Our Island Week 5: Go Bags (PDF), Prepare our Island Week 6: Go Bag Car (video), Prepare our Island Week 6: Go Bag Car (PDF)

Personalize Evacuation Checklists

Why? If you need to evacuate, what you can do before you leave and how much you can take with you will vary depending upon how urgently you need to leave.

Resources: Be Alameda Ready | City of Alameda

Keep shoes & flashlight near bed

Why? If you need to evacuate at night and the power is out, a flashlight by your bed will come in mighty handy. Also, keep a sturdy pair of shoes near your bed. If there’s an earthquake, for example, your room may contain broken glass.

Keep your car ready to go

Why? It is important in event of emergency to always have at least a half tank of gas and if you have an electrical vehicle (EV), to keep it charged as much as possible. And make sure you know how to open your garage door in the event of a power outage!

Resources: How to manually open your garage door (video)

Do an evacuation drill

Why? It’s a good idea to have your family do an evacuation drill to iron out any kinks in your plan and make sure everyone knows what to do.

Resources: Sample emergency disaster drills (PDF)

Choose meeting places:

Why? Although evacuation shelters may be available during a disaster, it’s ideal to seek shelter with family or friends.

Resources: Emergencies | Alameda County

Map out multiple routes:

Why? It is important to plan the best route to each location and find other routes in case the preferred routes are not available.

Resources: Emergencies | Alameda County

Know who you will go with

Why? First responders may be overwhelmed by the disaster (and may be poorly equipped to handle disabilities) so if you can transport yourself, check with neighbors about their planning needs and assess if anyone will need your assistance. If you cannot transport yourself, it is important to have multiple methods of transportation as the disaster may make it difficult or impossible for your first choice to get to you.