Emergency Management Services Division

The Emergency Management Services Division (EMSD) is part of the Oakland Fire Department. We are responsible for the City of Oakland's response, recovery, and mitigation to any hazard that affects our community.

We build community resilience through:

Making a Plan: We help create emergency plans for the city, and support neighborhoods & businesses in making their own plans.
Building Teams: We bring city staff, volunteers, and community groups together to work as a team during disasters.
Training: We train the community on how to prepare for a disaster.
Exercising and Evaluating: We run drills to test our emergency plans and learn what works well and what needs to be improved.

Ready Oakland

Are you Ready, Oakland? Before the next disaster hits Oakland, make sure your household is prepared with supplies, knows how to stay informed during a disaster, and has an emergency plan in place. Click here to learn more!

Communities of Oakland Respond to Emergencies (CORE) Program

Learn about the CORE Program - Communities of Oakland Respond to Emergencies. Find ways you can volunteer, attend personal emergency preparedness training (PEP), CERT training, and more.

Oakland's Emergency Plans

Learn about the City of Oakland's plans for mitigation, response, and recovery for hazards that affect our community. See our Emergency Operations Plan, Hazard Annexes, and Local Hazard Mitigation Plans.

Quick Links

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the City of Oakland prepare for disasters?

The City of Oakland has several plans in place to prepare for a variety of major emergencies. Our Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) was last updated in 2023. Along with this are several Hazard Annexes that each detail specific information for specific hazards.
The City maintains a Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) which is currently being revised for 2026. Our recent public comment period and community and technical town halls provided valuable feedback to help inform our revision. More updates will be posted on the LHMP page as they become available.

How will I be advised of an emergency event affecting the city?

The most important thing to do is to sign up for AC Alert. This opt-in service allows you to subscribe to alerts that can be targeted to a specific part of town. See our Stay Informed page for additional ways to get information in an emergency.

Who do I contact for a media inquiry?

You can contact the City of Oakland PIO team by emailing OaklandPIO@OaklandCA.gov. If you would like to speak to someone in Emergency Management regarding a specific event, please make sure you note that in your email so that it can be directed to us.
To find a news or press release, visit the City of Oakland's News & Updates.

Who do I contact for someone having a behavioral health issue?

Call 9-1-1 for any emergency.
Call 9-8-8 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
Oakland Fire Department’s MACRO team is able to assist with a variety of non-violent, non-emergency, non-criminal requests including behavioral health issues, individual well-being, and certain types of community disturbances.
- You can reach MACRO by calling (510) 44-MACRO which is (510) 446-2276
- For further information about the MACRO program, including operating hours, visit Mobile Assistance Community Responders of Oakland (MACRO)

Where can I get CPR - First Aid training?

The Oakland Fire Department does not provide CPR and First Aid training. Several community organizations and community colleges offer CPR and First Aid training at low or no cost. The Oakland Fire Department has no recommendation for any programs.

Looking for Information about Fire Prevention and Safety Education and Community Outreach?

Please visit the Fire Public Education and Community Engagement page for more information regarding:

Fire Prevention and Safety Education for Schools, Senior Centers, Health Fairs, and Neighborhood Events
Smoke Alarm Installation Program
Fire Station Tours for schools and kids
Annual Fire Prevention Day events
Fire Safety for High-Rise Buildings

For questions regarding fire safety and prevention education, please email PublicEdOFD@OaklandCA.gov

Contact Us

Email CORE@OaklandCA.gov for general inquiries about the CORE/"Ready, Oakland?" program including:

Community Outreach and Presentations related to Disasters and Emergencies (see below for other community outreach types)
Personal Emergency Preparedness (PEP) Training
Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Training
Other general "Ready, Oakland?" program and CORE program inquiries

Email EmergencyPlanning@OaklandCA.gov for general inquiries about the City of Oakland's emergency plans including:

The Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP)
Oakland's Emergency Operations Plan (EOP)
Emergency Support Functions (ESFs) and Hazard Specific Annexes