(PLEASANTON, Calif.) – Pleasanton officials are expanding emergency preparedness efforts ahead of a potentially strong El Niño, focusing on emergency management, staff training, and wet-season readiness.
At an October 6 City Council meeting, Pleasanton Emergency Services Manager Leo Lopez informed the Council that the city launched its “Be Ready, Pleasanton” campaign. According to Lopez, the plan focuses on three areas: emergency management projects, training and exercise updates, and wet-season preparedness.
Photo Credit: City of Pleasanton / Emergency Services Manager Leo Lopez presenting emergency preparedness updates on October 6.
The effort follows the Little Fire, which burned approximately 1,000 acres in nearby Sunol in July.
“We noticed that during the Little Fire, we wanted to make the evacuation maps more prominent,” said Lopez while referring to the city’s emergency preparedness webpage. “We are doing some continual improvements to make it easier for the community to find information on this site to stay prepared and to stay ready.”
The “Be Ready, Pleasanton” campaign was launched in September, National Preparedness Month. The city shared information about emergency alerts, evacuation preparedness, earthquake preparedness, and the importance of getting involved with the community.
According to a chart that Lopez displayed in the meeting, 68% of Pleasanton residents were using the Alameda County emergency alerts system, 36% of residents used Nixle and 8% were not using anything for local alerts.
Photo Credit: City of Pleasanton / Statistics on Pleasanton residents' awareness of emergency alerts.
The chart shows an increase in residents signing up for emergency alert systems since 2025. According to the city, 36% of residents did not know about any emergency alert services in 2025. Although the figures measure different things, the city said that 8% of residents were not signed up for any alert services in 2026.
About 80% of city staff have completed Disaster Academy training, which included programs like the BEACON communications exercise, AC Alert training and exercise and a fire season functional exercise.
Lopez said that the fire season functional exercise that took place in May benefited the response to the Little Fire in late July.
According to the California Department of Water Resources, the wet season runs from October through April, when rainfall is more common in the state. “The Public Works Department has already started preparations for the wet season,” said Lopez. “They haven’t started leaf loading, but they are prepared to do so.”
The City of Pleasanton will also provide sand and sandbags to residents in case of flooding. Zone 7 Water Agency, a Tri-Valley-based water wholesaler, will host its annual flood-preparedness event at its Livermore headquarters. Lopez encouraged the community to participate in the event.
Councilmember Julie Testa raised concerns about the homeless population and residents living near water. “Is there any component that addresses our unhoused and our residents who are living in a creek when we’re having flooding and extreme weather?” said Testa. Testa noted that the city provides a temporary housing shelter, the City of Pleasanton Library and the Pleasanton Senior Center for sheltering, but her concern is who will be able to check on these communities when the weather gets severe.
Lopez responded that the Pleasanton Police Department has outreach programs to check on the homeless community when it comes to severe weather. “We also share information about the library being open during its regular hours, especially on hot days,” said Lopez. “Folks can come and cool off, it’s not a formal shelter activation, but it is a public building where we encourage folks to get out of the elements.”
Residents can learn about emergency alerts, evacuation zones, and other preparedness resources through the City of Pleasanton’s emergency preparedness webpage.
To add to or correct any information in this report, please contact me at joel.m@lead4earth.org or leave a comment below with your thoughts.
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