A place for Oak Ridge Road neighbors to discuss evacuation readiness and neighborhood-specific questions.
Possible discussion areas include:
- Personal and household evacuation plans
- Alert systems and emergency communication
- Transportation or mobility needs
- Preparing pets
- Helping neighbors who may need assistance
- Observations or questions about local evacuation routes
Household preparation
- Choose more than one evacuation route and an out-of-area meeting place.
- Designate an out-of-area emergency contact.
- Plan for children, older adults, disabilities, mobility needs, and transportation.
- Practice the plan and keep important information somewhere accessible.
Go bag: what to pack
Prepare one lightweight, clearly labeled backpack for each household member. It should be easy for that person—or a helper—to carry.
Pack:
- Copies of identification, insurance information, emergency contacts, and other important documents in a waterproof pouch
- Necessary medications, a medication list, and backup eyeglasses or contact lenses
- Phone charger, charging cable, and a charged power bank
- Flashlight or headlamp with spare batteries
- Battery-powered or hand-crank radio
- First-aid supplies, N95 masks, hygiene items, and a whistle
- Water and nonperishable, ready-to-eat food
- A paper map showing at least two evacuation routes
- Cash in small bills, an extra set of car and house keys, and a multipurpose tool
- A change of clothes, sturdy shoes, work gloves, and an emergency blanket
- Personal items needed for children, older adults, disabilities, or medical equipment
Keep pet carriers, leashes, food, water, medications, and records together with or beside the household go bags.
Where to keep it
- Keep the primary go bags together near the exit normally used to reach your vehicle—not buried in a closet, basement, or garage.
- Make sure every household member knows exactly where the bags are.
- Keep sturdy shoes, clothing, and a flashlight or headlamp beside each bed for a nighttime evacuation.
- During fire season, check the bags regularly. During a Red Flag Warning, place them immediately beside the exit or load them into the vehicle if it is secure and safe to do so.
- Keep a larger wheeled container of additional water and food near the exit for vehicle evacuation. CAL FIRE recommends preparing for up to three days away from home.
- Do not leave heat-sensitive medications, original documents, electronics, or valuables permanently inside a hot vehicle. Attach a short last-minute checklist to the bag for your wallet, phone, keys, daily medications, and glasses.
- Review the bags at least twice a year and replace expired food, water, medications, batteries, and outgrown clothing.
City of Berkeley go-bag guidance: Build a Disaster Go Bag and Stay Kit | City of Berkeley
CAL FIRE go-bag guidance: https://www.readyforwildfire.org/prepare-for-wildfire/emergency-supply-kit
Pet preparation
- Keep a labeled carrier, leash or harness, food, water, medications, cleanup supplies, and a pet first-aid kit ready.
- Maintain current identification, microchip information, vaccination records, and a recent photo.
- Identify a trusted neighbor or friend who could help if you are away.
- Practice loading and evacuating with your animals before an emergency.
Parking and emergency access on Oak Ridge Road
Oak Ridge Road is a dead-end street with a hairpin turn. During an evacuation, vehicles making three-point turns could create dangerous delays for everyone.
- During fire season—and especially during a Red Flag Warning—all vehicles must be parked facing out toward the street entrance, ready to leave in the direction of evacuation.
- Residents should make sure visitors and service providers follow this practice as well.
- Larger vehicles must always be parked as close to the wall or road edge as can be done safely.
- At all times, park so that fire engines, ambulances, and other emergency vehicles have a clear route to every house.
- Never block driveways, hydrants, turning areas, or the travel lane.
- Follow any posted parking restrictions and instructions from police, fire, or emergency officials.
Facing vehicles outward avoids three-point turns when seconds matter. Keeping the road clear protects both evacuating residents and incoming emergency responders.
Oak Ridge neighbor support
- Know your neighborhood pod and agree on a simple check-in plan.
- Identify neighbors who may need transportation, mobility, communication, or pet assistance.
- Exchange contact information privately—by direct message or offline.
- Do not publish home addresses, access codes, cache locations, or other security details in this public topic.
- Search-and-rescue activity should be left to trained responders or conducted only under current CERT direction.
Start with Berkeley Firewise’s Prepare Yourself guidance: 🚨 Prepare yourself: topics 🚨
Printable checklist
The attached BerkeleyFirewise wildfire evacuation checklist can be printed and completed in advance.
In an emergency, leave immediately when ordered and always follow instructions from public-safety officials. Information shared here is for community planning and does not replace official directions.
Wildfire Evacuation Checklist BerkeleyFirewise.pdf (80.1 KB)