Councilmember Susan Wengraf

Red Flag Warning!

December 6, 2020
Dear friends and neighbors,

==Every morning when I get up, I ask myself, "Can things get any worse?"

==I thought we were finished with fire season when December arrived, but wildfires are burning in Southern California, and we now have a red flag warning here.

==With climate change, it seems that fire season is now year-round.

==Please take the necessary precautions, and follow the suggestions below.

Take care,
ALERT: Red Flag Warning!
Red Flag Warning Issued

11pm Sunday 12/6 through 11am Monday 12/7

== The National Weather Service has activated a Red Flag Warning from 11 PM Sunday evening to 5pm PST Monday for gusty offshore winds for the North and East Bay Hills as well as the Santa Cruz Mountains and coastal San Mateo.

==A Red Flag Warning is issued when conditions that may result in extreme wildfire behavior will occur within 24 hours. A Red Flag Warning is the highest alert. The conditions include low relative humidity, strong winds, dry fuels, the possibility of dry lightning strikes, or any combination of the above. Extreme heat is not a major factor leading to a Red Flag Warning, but heat does dry out vegetation faster.

Please do the following:

  • Sleep with your cell phone on and by your bed
  • Subscribe to AC ALERT, the emergency notification system
  • Turn on your battery powered radio to 1610AM
  • If you see or smell smoke, call 911 immediately
  • Remain alert and monitor conditions around you
  • Review your Go-Bag and ensure that it is complete, packed, and accessible
  • Have at least 1/2 tank of fuel in your vehicle
  • Park facing the street or downhill
  • Be sure to leave at least 14 feet street clearance for emergency vehicles.
  • Be ready to assist your neighbors if an evacuation is ordered
  • DO NOT smoke or use power tools or grills/barbecues or create any source of flame or spark outside

==If an evacuation order is issued, the Police Department will direct you to a safe place. Follow their instructions.

If you ever feel unsafe or that you may be in danger, leave if you can. If in doubt, get out! 
Emergency Notifications
==AC Alert will be Berkeley's primary emergency alerting system for the public. It is one of the tools the City of Berkeley uses to communicate emergency information and instructions to the community. AC Alert can send:
  • Voice alerts to phones
  • SMS text messages
  • Email
  • TTY/TDD messages
   Listed AT&T "land lines" are automatically included to receive voice messages from AC Alert for emergency warnings. Community members must sign up to receive voice or text alerts on cell phones, VoIP phones, unlisted phones, TTY/TDDs or through email.

   If you want to receive emergency alerts and updates, sign up for AC Alert.
311
  • Need a new refuse can?
  • Have a favorite pothole you want filled?
  • Want to report illegal dumping?

CALL 311
Susan Wengraf
Berkeley City Council District 6
(510) 981-7160