Alameda emergency plan revision expands ADA guidance, aims to improve notifications and shelter support for residents with disabilities

Captain Dallas Andrews, Alameda's fire captain and emergency manager, told the Commission on Persons with Disabilities on Nov. 12 that the city is revising its Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) to add incident-specific annexes and substantially expand ADA and functional-needs guidance.

Andrews said the current EOP dates to March 2019 and the city hired outside consultants for the 2025 revision; a draft is expected in the first quarter of 2026. "The key with this document is it's a guiding document to the city and our response and it empowers staff to make decisions based on their professional experience and judgment," he said.

Why it matters: Commissioners and public commenters flagged gaps in the prior plan's ADA coverage, which Andrews said had been a single paragraph in the old EOP and drew critical findings during the ADA transition assessment. The revised plan will separate a basic (broad) plan from annexes for specific incidents such as earthquakes, tsunamis and transportation events, and it will include detailed appendices on notifications, mobility during evacuations and shelter logistics.

Notable details Andrews described: - Draft timing: consultants'draft expected Q1 2026; staff review, commission review, then city council ratification. - ADA section: expanding from a single paragraph to multiple pages to address notification strategies, mobility and shelter logistics for people with functional needs. - Notification and communication: plans for multi-channel alerts (considering language and device access) and two-way confirmation strategies so that the city can confirm receipt and comprehension where feasible. - Mobility options: planners will consider options ranging from AC Transit buses to school buses and ambulances depending on individuals' needs. - Access database (VOCC): the city uses an "access and functional needs" database embedded in its virtual Emergency Operations Center software; entries require annual re-submission and are accessible to a limited number of city staff. Andrews said the city will mail and email reminders and run outreach (including a planned 2026 survey mailing) to boost participation. - Security and limitations: Andrews said access to the database is restricted to a small number of employees and that the data are refreshed yearly to protect accuracy and privacy.

Community and commissioner input: Former commissioner Lisa Hall, speaking during public comment, urged continued attention to housing and health insecurity faced by people with disabilities and offered a statistic to underscore urgency: "Nearly half of all seniors, 46% will become disabled in their lifetime," she said. Commissioners pressed Andrews to broaden outreach to newly disabled people and aging residents who may not find the online form; Andrews said the city offers interpreter support for several languages and planned mailers to reach nonrespondents.

Volunteer and neighborhood support: Andrews highlighted the CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) program'more than 200 trained volunteers in the community'and said staff can plot registered addresses on maps to prioritize assistance. Commissioners suggested library-based in-person sign-up sessions and neighborhood champions to boost enrollments.

What happens next: The city will circulate the draft to staff and the commission when ready, then present it to city council for ratification and public comment. Andrews said the draft will include more detail on ADA and functional-needs planning than the prior EOP, and staff expect follow-up presentations and public outreach once the draft is complete.