Easy Does It Emergency Services | Disaster Preparedness

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PREPARING FOR "THE BIG ONE" AND OTHER CITY-WIDE DISASTERS

The Bay Area faces a number of potential disasters of which earthquakes are only one. Our history of fires, flooding, and industrial accidents points to the need for preparation. Hurricane Katrina showed us that help from the outside may not come for days after a catastrophic event. As people with disabilities, we are in the best position to know our abilities and limitations. It's up to us to work with first-responders like the Berkeley Fire and Police Departments and with friends and neighbors to prepare for the next Big One.

Fill out the City of Berkeley Voluntary Emergency Registry Questionnaire.

Disaster Preparedness Links

Berkeley Voluntary Emergency Registry

Berkeley Fire Department, Office of Emergency Services

National Fire Protection Agency Emergency Evacuation Planning Guide for People with Disabilities.

Red Cross Information for Seniors and People with Disabilities

United Way Assuring that Non Profits can Serve During Disaster

US Department of Justice ADA Guide for local Governments

RTI International Nursing Homes in Emergencies

Caregivers and Families in Medical Special Needs Shelters During Hurricane Rita

Easy Does It Emergency Services (EDI) works with the City of Berkeley in compiling a voluntary BERKELEY EMERGENCY REGISTRY of individuals who self-identify as needing additional help due to disability or age after a disaster. If you fill out the questionnaire and return it to us you will be added to the Registry.

An important component of the Registry is the TWO HOUR LIST of individuals who indicate that they will need help within two hours of a power outage because they rely on life-sustaining equipment that runs on electricity.

The EMERGENCY REGISTRY is confidential and shared only with the Berkeley Fire and Police Departments.

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP PREPARE YOURSELF AND THOSE AROUND YOU?

Fill out the REGISTRY QUESTIONAIRE and return it to us. If you have questions or need help filling it out, call our office at 510-845-5513 and ask for Gina Sasso. Or complete the Registry questionnaire online at the Berkeley Police Department website. In the event of an emergency situation in your neighborhood, Berkeley Fire and Police will have this information to help you if necessary.

CITY OF BERKELEY CLASSES - The Office of Emergency Services offers free classes on emergency preparedness, known as Community Emergency Response Training (CERT) to anyone who lives or works in Berkeley. Classes include Basic Personal Preparedness, Disaster First Aid, Disaster Mental Health, Fire Suppression, Light Search and Rescue, Responding to Terrorism, Shelter Operations.

CREATE A "SELF-HELP TEAM" " (recommended by the American Red Cross) that includes people in your life that you spend the most time with or around. This network of individuals can include relatives, roommates, neighbors, teachers, co-workers, etc. These should be people you know and trust, because you will exchange information with them about your needs in a disaster. Create a "buddy system" that will know how to help you.

GET INVOLVED IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, especially in disaster preparedness and crime watch activities, both of which support community organizing to meet a disaster. Work with neighborhood groups planning for the next disaster (e.g. CORE in Oakland). Network! Add your skills to neighborhood disaster response plans.

HELP YOUR SELF AND HELP YOUR COMMUNITY TAKE ACTION - BE PREPARED!