Staying safe during an emergency is a team effort that involves you, your community and the City of San José. This diagram shows exactly how each of these groups plays a role in remaining resilient.

Once you’ve made an emergency plan, built a kit and are aware of the hazards in your area, you may be ready to get involved by helping your community better prepare for disaster. Here are some suggestions on how to do that:

Volunteer for the City of San José Office of Emergency Management to deliver emergency preparedness information yourself. These are usually quick 30 to 90 minute presentations you can give to schools, retirement homes and other small groups. Contact our department for more information at 408-794-7055.

If you’re looking to volunteer in a more active way, opportunities exist with the following groups:

• San José Police Neighborhood Watch Program is another great resource for group meetings and offers valuable information regarding local crime prevention.
• San José CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) training is a 20-hour, nationally recognized course which prepares individuals to help prior to, during and after a large scale disaster and is ideal for those hoping to become part of the City’s disaster response.
• Join NextDoor. It is a great way to talk to your neighbors and stay informed about what is going on in your neighborhood — whether it is finding a last-minute babysitter, planning a local event, or sharing safety tips.
• San José RACES (Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service) provides disaster communications for the City during an emergency.

Additional training opportunities.