Emergency Preparedness

No one knows when disaster will strike. The city of Los Altos encourages residents to be prepared—whether the emergency is as simple as a power outage, or as serious as a major earthquake.

Residents are advised to prepare to be without basic services—water, gas, electricity, phone service—for at least 72 hours, as emergency resources may be overwhelmed in the event of a large-scale emergency. By gathering basic supplies and developing basic emergency preparedness skills to be self-sufficient for a few days, residents can allow emergency services to be used by those who need them most.  

The city of Los Altos is committed to preparing, responding, and recovering from emergencies. The City adheres to the “All Hazards Approach” to enhance the ability of emergency services, private sector businesses, and community volunteers to work together in responding to and recovering from emergencies. 

City of Los Altos Emergency Operations Plan (Council Report)