FireSafe First Step
Personal preparedness
Personal Preparedness In:
Alert & Warning
In an emergency, officials may use different tools to share information and instructions. Get familiar with these tools and systems now, and sign up if needed, to be ready to get alerts in an emergency.
AC Alert
Berkeley’s main emergency alerting system, to get alerts about addresses of interest including locations you care about – such as your home, office, or a child’s school.
genasys protect app
With the Genasys Protect mobile app, follow a zone or turn on your location to get notified about danger wherever you are.
Fire Weather and Evacuation
When the risk of catastrophic wildfires is highest, that may trigger officials to urge residents to leave early. Anyone in wildfire-prone areas should stay informed and take extra steps to protect their family, home, and community when fire danger increases.
Make a household fire weather plan
Planning ahead helps you evacuate faster and more safely. Use our step-by-step guide to create your Household Fire Weather Plan.
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Leave as early as possible
The safest thing you can do during a wildfire is leave early. If you live in the Berkeley Hills, leave before a fire starts—when the Fire Department declares Extreme Fire Weather. Low humidity and strong winds make this weather the most dangerous for fires.
Some weather conditions make wildfire more likely. During either of the below alert levels, everyone should keep their phone on and avoid anything that could cause sparks (such as outdoor grills or chainsaws).
Red Flag Warning: Strong winds and low humidity increase fire risk. Be ready to evacuate.
Extreme Fire Weather: Very high winds and very low humidity make fire more likely and more dangerous. If you live in the Hills, the Berkeley Fire Department recommends you leave before extreme fire weather begins.
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Pick a few safe places you could go during an emergency, including places outside of Berkeley. Consider:
A friend’s or family member’s home
A hotel (Visit Berkeley can help you find one)
If there is a fire, emergency shelters will be opened in safe areas. They may be outside of Berkeley.
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Plan at least two ways out of your neighborhood and be flexible. In an evacuation, you may need to use any road that’s open.
If you don’t drive, ask a neighbor now if they can help. If you have a car, reach out to neighbors about carpooling during an emergency.
In a large evacuation, roads may be blocked or unsafe to travel. Emergency transportation and people you rely on may not be able to reach you. Your neighbors will be in the best position to be able to help you.
Avoid walking or biking if you can. Cars provide better protection against fire and traffic collisions. If you must walk or bike, leave early—when the Berkeley Fire Department declares Extreme Fire Weather.
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Have a go-bag ready in case you only have minutes to leave.
Pack essentials like: Flashlight, wallet, phone, map, water bottle, medication, important documents, sturdy shoes and socks, and any other items your household needs to stay safe.
Coordinate with household, neighbors
Plan ahead for anyone in your home who may need help to pack and evacuate—like children, older adults, or pets.
Make a backup plan in case normal helpers are not home when an evacuation is ordered. Work with neighbors to help each other pack and carpool out.
Never return to an evacuation zone. People have died trying to go back for others or belongings.
Never wait for someone to return home before evacuating. Make a plan now for where to meet and how to communicate if separated.
If your household is evacuating and you have children in school outside the evacuation zone, ask someone to pick them up and take them to a safe location. This can help your family evacuate faster.
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Get hands-on support with creating your household evacuation plan by attending a training from Berkeley Ready, our emergency preparedness team. Visit our Eventbrite page for upcoming trainings and click follow to get notified when new courses are posted.
Sign up for the Berkeley Ready newsletter for email updates about disaster readiness classes and events.
Build a Disaster Supply Kit
Be prepared to stay or leave in an emergency by building your own household disaster kit. A good rule of thumb is to have supplies for about 3 days, or 72 hours. You’ll be surprised at how much you already have.
Disaster response: Stay
Here’s what you will need when you have to stay in place.
Essentials
Water - Everyone enjoys a tall drink of water. Stay hydrated by storing one gallon per person, per day.
First aid kit - You might need to be able to patch up small scrapes until help arrives. Keep a first aid kit on hand.
Flashlight and extra batteries -Candles are great for ambience, but a good flashlight gives you freedom to navigate if the power is out.
Fire extinguisher - You didn’t start the fire. But you can help extinguish it. Stash a fire extinguisher with your supplies so that you can stay safe.
Manual can opener - Just like camping, in an emergency an old-fashioned can opener is just the ticket. Impress your friends with your canned culinary choices.
Non-perishable food - Next time you’re at the grocery store, add extra shelf-stable foods—that you like to eat—to your basket. We recommend at least 3 days of food per person.
Useful
These items represent things that many people want in an emergency—but don’t always think of. Stash them away, and you’ll get through the first 72 hours more easily.
Warm clothes and sturdy shoes - You never know when an emergency might happen—or what you might (or might not) be wearing. Be ready for the elements by setting aside warm clothes and walking shoes.
Radio (battery-operated or hand-crank) - Feeling safe starts with knowing what’s going on—so tune into the radio. Check 1610 AM for updates from the City of Berkeley —and your favorite radio station to pass the time.
Cash - In an emergency, credit cards might not work, and cash becomes important. Protect your purchasing power by stashing small bills.
Sleeping bag or blankets - Keeping warm is crucial. Blankets and sleeping bags will help you stay snug, even if the power goes out.
Cell phone charger (battery-operated or car plug-in) - A battery-operated phone charger, or one that plugs into your car, will help you stay informed, take photos, and communicate in an emergency.
Tools - A basic toolkit with items like a hammer and duct tape will help you turn off the gas, repair broken windows, or board up your home.
Personal
In addition to the standard supplies, certain things will help you—and only you—manage during an emergency. Set aside a few items that will give you and your family extra comfort.
Prescriptions - Plan for your personal health. Keep a 3-day dose of any medicine you take on a regular basis, in case the pharmacy is closed.
Sweet (or salty) treats - What non-perishable comfort food would lift your spirits? A supply of chocolate, dried fruit, or nuts with your emergency snacks might make you smile, and help you make friends.
Personal hygiene and sanitation items - Toilet paper, feminine supplies, hand sanitizer, a toothbrush, soap, unscented bleach, and heavy-duty garbage bags are a good place to start.
Personal documents - Upload copies of your driver’s license, passport, leases, titles, and contact list to the cloud. Protect your assets by going digital. Or make photocopies.
Children’s toys and games- What unique items would make your family feel better in an emergency? Favorite games? Special toys? Little things can make a big difference.
Pet items - Don’t forget to store dog food, toys, or extra water for your pets. See our Pet Preparedness brochure for more ideas.
Supplies for coming together
Emergencies are opportunities to come together and support those around you. Sharing a meal, book, or phone charger is even more meaningful in the days after an emergency. What items would you share with friends and neighbors? Some ideas:
Grill
Board games
Wine
Download the Emergency supply checklist in English or Spanish.
Disaster response: Go
In some emergency situations, you may have to leave instead of staying in place. Even if you generally don’t have to leave after an earthquake, you may need to evacuate if you are in the path of an oncoming fire. Your go-bag should have:
Flashlight/headlamp
Local map with walking paths
Water, snacks
Important documents
Emergency blanket
Cash
Portable radio and batteries
Sturdy shoes and socks
Whistle
Change of clothing
Add last minute: Wallet, cell phone
Check out the go-bag section of the Wildfire Evacuation Checklist—which is also available in large print.
Remember that you should be able to carry your go-bag because you might need to evacuate on foot.
Contents adapted from the San Francisco Department of Emergency Management’s sf72.org website.
Help for Those Needing Assistance
People with access and functional needs may need time or assistance during an evacuation. If you or a family member are likely to need help with evacuation, it is critical to pre plan and prepare in advance.
Are you signed up for alerts?
Do you have transportation?
During fire weather warnings, if you live in a hazardous area, it might be prudent to stay with friends or family if possible. Another option is to have a caretaker who can drive stay with you.
home insurance
Having insurance is critical to rebuilding your home and protecting your family after a wildfire. A large percentage of property owners who experienced loss of homes during Northern California wildfires were either uninsured or underinsured. Many were unable to rebuild after the fires.
Make sure you know how to shop for the right insurance coverage, what to do if your insurer doesn’t renew your policy, and what to expect during an insurance inspection.