8 minute read
Community Safety
Be Ready to Evacuate
On June 26th, 2022, Albany experienced two fires in the Albany Hill area These fires were quickly contained by the Albany Fire Department and its neighboring agencies, Berkeley, Richmond, El Cerrito, and the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District The Albany Police Department handled the evacuation of residents and road closures within the impacted areas of the City The City of Albany would like to recognize the quick, coordinated response from these emergency responders
We would also like to acknowledge our residents, particularly those in the Albany Hill area that had to evacuate during the fires This type of situation can be incredibly stressful, and we appreciate your preparedness and partnership
Disasters like this happen, and Albany is working to be prepared Albany residents should always be ready to evacuate rapidly if needed This can be done by packing a go-bag filled with essentials, practicing evacuating with your household, and staying alert during fire weather Always keep your phone on and with you during a Red Flag Warning Put go-bags by the door and back into your driveway so it will be easier to get out quickly
What is a “go bag” anyway? Go Bags are a collection of essential items that you can take on-the-go if you need to leave in a hurry These bags have less supplies than disaster supply kits, which stay at home, so you can store items that would be too heavy to take with you Visit www.albanyca.org/disasterprep, for information that will help you better prepare for an emergency AC ALERT is the mass notification system for Alameda County
Those that sign up will receive the latest updates on evacuation orders and warnings in Albany AC Alert can provide notifications over phone, text message, and email
Sign up at acalert.org or download the Everbridge app to get push notifications for all AC Alert messages, including Red Flag Warnings
Albany CERT
The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program educates volunteers about disaster preparedness for the hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations To find out about trainings offered by Albany CERT Inc this Fall, visit www.albanycert.org
Albany CERT Inc is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, and an all-volunteer organization consisting of CERT trained people dedicated to the safety of Albany residents in a disaster, expanding CERT Training and supporting Albany’s disaster readiness
ReadyAlbany.org
Learn how to prepare for disasters and stay connected with the City in the event of emergencies by visiting
ReadyAlbany.org.
Need help subscribing? Visit www.readyalbany.org/acalertsignup-help for a step-by-step guide to sign up for Albany AC Alert
Zonehaven
In the event of an emergency, evacuation warnings or evacuation orders may be issued for impacted areas The City is a member of Zonehaven, which provides information that can be targeted to specific areas These notices are issued for a “zone” with an evacuation status Zonehaven provides evacuation resources and information to help residents stay informed, prepared, and safe
Bookmark community.zonehaven.com on your computer, phone, and tablet so you can quickly access it in the event of an emergency where evacuations are required
Improving Community Safety
Local Road Safety Plan
The City of Albany is developing a comprehensive Local Roadway Safety Plan intended to support the City’s efforts to enhance traffic safety for all modes of transportation and for all ages and abilities Following a detailed review of reported collisions and public input on safety concerns, the plan will develop priorities for projects and policies to address safety issues Updates on the effort can be found here:
www.albanysafestreets.com
Local Hazard Mitigation Planning
Like every City in the Bay Area, Albany is vulnerable to a variety of large scale disasters and hazards, ranging from wildfires, floods, and earthquakes To help Albany prepare effectively and recover quickly, the City is beginning the process of updating our Local Hazard Mitigation Plan If you are interested in participating in the preparation of the plan, please contact Lizzie Carrade at ecarrade@albanyca.org.
Retrofitting Albany Housing
Although it has been many years since a major earthquake has been felt in Albany, the risk of damage to our homes from earthquake remains If you are a homeowner, seismic retrofit is a relatively simple upgrade that in most Albany homes can be completed in a few days The City waives permit fees for retrofit projects and the California Earthquake Authority can provide technical assistance and grants
www.earthquakeauthority.com
To help protect renters, the City is exploring developing a program to retrofit soft-story apartment buildings that are vulnerable to damage in an earthquake For more information or to participate in the development of the City’s program, contact Michelle Plouse at mplouse@albanyca.org.
Protecting your home from Wildfire
The past decade, there has been a dramatic increase in destructive wildfires in California, which often spread by wind-blown embers landing against buildings, fences, and decks There are proven measures that can easily be completed to protect your home
1 Replace your wood roof and siding with fire resistant material If you have a tile roof, bird-stop open ends of tiles at the roof edge to reduce vulnerability
2 Pay special attention to the five feet immediately around structures and fences
• Remove flammable items from decks and balconies • Enclose the sides of decks to keep embers out • Upgrade your attic and crawl space vent screens to keep flying embers out • Keep tree branches and yard trimmings away from structures
For more information, go to www.firewise.org.
Child Safety Seat Inspections
The Albany Police Department is dedicated to keeping children as safe as possible As part of this goal, appointments for free car seat inspections are offered to the community An appointment must be made in advance Drop in inspections are not supported at this time
To request an appointment, please email the Albany Police Department at albanypolice@albanyca.org. In the email, please include your name, phone number, type of vehicle, and a picture of the car seat’s manufacturer label (often found on the bottom or side of the car seat)
What does a car seat inspection do and why should I do it?
As a parent or caregiver, you have the ability to make a lifesaving difference for a child by making sure that they are properly restrained The Albany Police Department is committed to helping parents and caregivers ensure that children are as safe as possible when traveling on our city’s roadways and beyond
As part of this commitment, trained personnel will help parents and caregivers by:
Ensuring that:
• Car seats are not subject to a recall
• The car seat is appropriate for the child
• The car seat is installed correctly
• Parents and caregivers understand best practices for keeping their child passengers safe
How to prepare for your scheduled inspection
Car seats must be installed prior to your inspection A police department staff member will inspect the car seat and provide guidance and instruction but cannot install it for you Please bring the owner’s manual for both your vehicle and the car seat Each inspection lasts approximately 30 minutes Please allow for enough time If you are pregnant, please bring someone with you to assist in adjusting your car seat
Vacation Home Watch Program
While you are away on vacation, the Albany Police would like to make an extra effort to check your home Visit www.albanyca.org/home-watch to fill out a Vacation Home Watch Form and turn it in at the Albany Police Department Forms must be submitted in person with a valid ID to the Albany Police Department prior to leaving
Residents requesting the vacation home watch service should be aware that every reasonable effort will be made to inspect the vacant property during your absence However, circumstances may not allow for checks to occur on any specific days or at all; daily property checks cannot be assured
NOTE: For the safety of your house guests and our officers, the residence will not qualify for vacation home checks if anyone will be staying in the residence during the time of the checks or if the home is vacant due to a sale or construction
See page 13, “Advisory Bodies to the City Council”, to find out more about Albany’s newest Advisory Body, the Policing Commission
Back to School Transportation Safety
As the school year begins again, we want to remind drivers to watch for an increase in students traveling to and from school Look carefully for pedestrians and cyclists Pedestrians have the right of way at any crosswalk or intersection, so yield and be prepared to stop
We also want to remind students and families whether walking, cycling or driving to school, it is extremely important to take proper safety precautions
Here are some tips to help safely travel to school
Walking to school
Review your family’s walking safety rules and practice walking to school with your child • Walk on the sidewalk, if one is available When on a street with no sidewalk, walk on the side facing traffic • Before you cross the street, stop and look left, right, and left again to see if cars are coming • Make eye contact with drivers before crossing and always cross streets at crosswalks or intersections • Stay alert and avoid distracted walking
Riding a bicycle to school
Teach your child the rules of the road and practice riding the bike route to school with your child • Ride on the right side of the road, with traffic, and in single file • Come to a complete stop before crossing the street, walk bikes across the street • Stay alert and avoid distracted riding • Make sure to always wear a properly fitted helmet and bright clothing
Driving to school
Stay alert and avoid distracted driving
• Obey speed limits and follow your school’s drop-off procedure • Make eye contact with children who are crossing the street • Avoid blocking the crosswalk when making a right-hand turn
