We are now in the eighth and last week of Prepare Our Island, an islandwide, multi-week preparation roundup from the City of Alameda and the Alameda Unified School District.
People across the island have been reading and sharing information, collecting and storing supplies. By being prepared, we can make sure our household is safe, and we can help others be more resilient.
Your final task is to create and practice a plan for your household. Whether you live alone, with roommates, with a partner, or with children, having a plan means you and your household will know what to do and where to go in an emergency.
- Talk about where and how to duck, cover, and hold;
- Establish a safe place outside of your residence;
- Establish a safe place outside of your neighborhood;
- Come up with communication plan for your household;
- Run a drill
Where will you seek shelter during an earthquake? Inside, be sure to stay away from windows, mirrors and things that can fall. Outside, keep away from trees, light posts, utility lines and buildings.
In week 1, we asked people how worried they are about a significant earthquake hitting the Bay Area, and 72 percent of the people who responded said they were worried. However, only 33 percent responded that they felt prepared. Most people reported having three days of food and water stored away. Few people reported having copies of important documents and pet supplies. Ever fewer said they have “go bags” at home, in their car, or at work.
Are you more prepared today than you were eight weeks ago? Please take our one-minute survey: https://alamedaca.gov/survey.
Thank you for helping prepare our island!
Sarah Henry is the public information officer for the city of Alameda. She can be reached at email@example.com.