Plan for communication

Make a Family Emergency Plan

Why? The best time to prepare for an emergency is before it happens. Have a place to organize your emergency prep actions.

Resources: Family Disaster Plan (PDF), Alameda County Ready Plan, Alameda Ready - City of Alameda, Prepare our Island - City of Alameda, Alameda CERT

Practice your Family Emergency Plan

Why? It is important to run through your plan with your family so that you all are prepared in the event of an emergency.

Resources: Alameda County Ready Plan, Alameda Ready - City of Alameda, Prepare our Island - City of Alameda, Alameda CERT

Get CPR/First Aid training

Why? You may one day find these skills are vital to help save a life, even if not related to a disaster. What could be more rewarding than that?

Resources: Fire Department Community Services - City of Alameda, Alameda CERT, Find a Course, Safety Training Seminars, Be the One Who Makes a Difference When "Minutes Matter"

Know your evacuation zone

Why? Learn which zone you’re in so you’ll know if your area is under threat by flood, earthquake, or power outages.

Resources: Know your zone tool, MyHazards tool

Sign up for AC alerts

Why? Receive urgent notifications by phone and/or text about local emergencies

Resources: AC Alerts

View City of Alameda alerts

Why? Stay up to date on road closures, public health, air quality, power outages, airport noise, and more.

Resources: City of Alameda Alerts

Know your local radio station

Why? Get weather and traffic information, as well as breaking news in an emergency.

Resources: City of Alameda radio stations

Have a self-powered radio

Why? If your power goes out, an emergency battery-powered or hand crank radio may be priceless (although your car provides another good option).

Resources: 10 Best Hand Crank Radios, NOAA Weather Radio [PDF]

Fill in contact information

Why? Know who to contact in the event of emergency.

Resources: Family Disaster Plan (PDF)

Take a basic phone number quiz

Why? Know the number if you lost your cell phone or your battery died and you had to call your kid or spouse or office from another phone.

Resources: Memorize a phone number tricks (video)

Have OK/HELP signs

Why? If you can’t leave your home after an emergency, first responders may not be immediately available. Here’s a great way to let your neighbors know how you are doing: Post a large OK or HELP sign on a mailbox, door, or window that’s visible from the street.

Make a neighborhood contact list

Why? Getting to know your neighbors and the resources you all could offer each other in an emergency and creating a list with contact information and resources for each household is crucial in the event of an emergency when first responders might not be able to get to you right away.

Resources: Team/Neighborhood Contact List (PDF)(PDF, 140KB)

Make a neighborhood check-in plan

Why? Keep yourself and your neighborhood safe by discussing how you will check in with each other in case of emergency, whether that's going to a central neighborhood meeting area and take roll call, putting “OK/HELP” signs in your windows, or sending a group text or use a phone tree.