Virtual Wildfire Drill Tomorrow and Saturday

 
 

The following is a message from the City of Berkeley:

Learn how to build your household's plan for extreme fire weather as well as firestorms and then use the plan in a virtual fire weather and evacuation drill with residents, students, and others across the City on October 8 and 9.

The virtual drill will start on October 8 with an AC Alert, drill-specific email warning for "Extreme Fire Weather," a Berkeley Fire Department label for very high winds and low humidity - conditions that have fueled California's most destructive wildfires and indicate to hillside residents that they should stay elsewhere.

During the next day's drill, we'll send three more rounds of AC Alert emails targeted to addresses affected by the scenario fire. You'll get different messages based on your address and the scenario's impact there. The emails will simulate phases of a fast-moving, destructive fire - a more frequent reality across California.

During the drill, which you can do entirely at home, you'll practice using your Household Fire Weather Plan by:

  • Reviewing real-time AC Alert emails

  • Deciding whether to leave early (before a fire starts) during Extreme Fire Weather

  • Using Zonehaven to practice assessing which zones are under evacuation warning or order

  • Practice assessing how one scenario affects your two car evacuation routes and two walking routes

  • Identifying how your neighborhood is affected

  • Checking your go bag

  • Packing your car

  • Contacting the place you'd stay during Extreme Fire Weather

  • Using social media to signal your status to loved ones

  • Taking other simple steps that you want to think through before a real emergency

Don't learn what to do in the face of a firestorm. Make a plan and practice it before an emergency so you can take control in a real emergency.

We're here to help you create and practice your Household Fire Weather Plan. Register for practice sessions on October 7 at 6pm.

On Saturday October 9, we’ll have a 30-minute briefing before we start sending messages describing the simulated extreme fire weather scenario. Following the active drill, you can join a debrief with the Berkeley Fire Department to learn more and share your drill experiences.

2021 Fire Season Community Drill

October 8, on your own

October 9, 9am-11am

Register online to get the link for the Zoom briefing and debrief.

Make sure you are subscribed to AC Alert. Have a computer, phone, or tablet ready to log onto the virtual 9:00 am briefing and 10:30am debrief. Sign up for October 9 Drill Briefing and Debrief in advance.

See all the details in the Participant Handbook and learn more on our Wildfire Readiness Web Page.

Plan and practice for your safety. Increase your control. Lower your risk.

Links

Jesse Arreguin