From earthquakes and wildfires to tsunamis and power outages, emergencies can always occur in Alameda. The key to staying safe is preparation.

We spoke with Pete Alimi, Alameda Health System (AHS) Environmental Health and Safety Manager, about specific steps you can take to stay safe during your next emergency.

Alimi says every family should have an emergency preparedness plan and kit. There are four things you need to prepare:

1. water. Fill the jug with at least 1 gallon of water per person per day. The minimum amount required is 3 days. It is important to have ready access to potable water in case public infrastructure fails.
2. preserved food. Keep a 3-day supply of nonperishable food on hand. If you plan to be home for the entire duration of the emergency, prepare up to a two-week supply.
3. First aid supplies and essentials. In emergencies where injuries are likely to occur, it is important to have up-to-date first aid supplies. Other essentials include a flashlight, radio, blanket, and dry clothing. Alimi recommends checking the full text American Red Cross Earthquake Kit Safety Preparation Checklist.
4. Plan for phone service interruptions. Plan a meeting place with your family in case you can’t reach them.

Earthquakes are not just a threat to individuals. It is important that Alameda Hospital remains open and able to continue operations in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake.

To that end, AHS is helping the Alameda Medical District make critical seismic retrofits to the Alameda Hospital building. The contractor in charge of seismic retrofitting has already begun construction, and planning, verification, and project coordination are underway. Read more about planned earthquake updates here.

AHS is also prepared for other emergencies that may impact Alameda residents and area hospitals. Preparing for power outages and infectious disease outbreaks is a top priority. Alimi said the team regularly trains for these scenarios so they can act quickly in the event of an emergency.

His department has also worked to digitize and improve communications. “Communication is the most important thing during a disaster,” Alimi says. “How we collaborate internally will determine how effective we can be.”

While local residents prepare to keep their families safe, hospitals are preparing to continue providing life-saving care despite the crisis.

“Our mission is to care, heal, teach and serve all people, and preparedness is part of that promise,” Alimi said. “We have worked diligently to prepare for disasters so that we are ready when our communities need us most.”

Healthy Alameda is a health care column brought to you by Alameda Health System (AHS), a public safety-net health system serving all residents of Alameda County. AHS operates five facilities in the city of Alameda, including Alameda Hospital, Creedon Advanced Wound Care Center, Park Bridge Rehabilitation and Wellness, South Shore Rehabilitation and Wellness, Marina Wellness and Surgical Associates.