Carmel Prepares for Emergencies 

For non-emergencies, please contact Police Dispatch at: 831-624-6403
Report a Problem to Carmel-by-the-Sea City Hall HERE
For PGE Outage - status is available HERE
For Bay Area Weather Forecasts available HERE
For EMERGENCIES, including downed power lines or if you smell gas, dial 9-1-1
Sandbag location - at Vista Lobos at Torres & 4th

 

2025 Christmas Days Storm - wind and rain bought power down for 3+ days

Power went out Dec 23rd at 10:30 PM, and restored for most but not all of us, Dec 26th around 6:30 PM
The City also posted email updates throughout, HERE is the standing page with community guidance. Our thanks to City Staff, Public Works, Police, CERT, VIPS teams and others (as per local non-profits) for their work on our behalf. The Carmel Foundation (from 9am-5pm each 3 days) and the Carmel Youth Center (from 5-10pm each day) opened their doors to the community for for warming, battery/phone charging and other services throughtout. 

HERE is a KSBW Video from Jan 8th, 2026 "Carmel-by-the-Sea tackles cleanup and communication after holiday power outages"
HERE is the Dec 26th 2025 Carmel Pine Cone issue (pdf only) with the cover article on the first days of our storm.
HERE is the Jan 2nd 2026 Carmel Pine Cone issue with muliple cover articles on the storm (plus see letters to the editor pages).  The Jan 9th 2026 Carmel Pine Cone issue continued to see additional letters to the editor (page 21) expressing thanks HERE
HERE is a Dec 26th YouTube Interview between Council Member Hans Buder with the PG&E VP in charge repair services - very educational/informational
HERE Our CRA Facebook page also updated the community throughout this outtage

 

Outage & Services Communications during this Storm from City Staff and Council Members

JBaron Dec 26 PM PGE Outage Update.pdf
---Below primarily providing Community updates on warming center services---
Note:  if you haven't signed up for the City "Friday Letter", please do so HERE.  This will also put you on the list also for any emergency notifications.  You can also sign up for other topics of your specific interest. 
November 8 2025 Saturday - Carmel Prepares Session Held, with focus on CPR

  

September 6 2025 Saturday - Carmel Prepares Session Held

   

August 21 2025 Thursday - Forest & Beach Commission Meeting

HERE is the Staff Report for this meeting in City Hall. 
HERE is the Staff Report for this timely and important topic "Presentation of the Carmel Fire Defense Plan by Monterey Fire Department"
HERE is the YouTube of this presentation by Chief Justin Cooper 
HERE is the full report link - This report includes: Proposed Fuels Mitigation Maps & Project plans for Mission Trail Nature Preserve, Pescadero Canyon and Forest Hill Park. Additional maps are also included. Fuels Reduction Schedules for the Roadside, Empty and Built Parcels. And Emergency Use (exit) Roads & Signage.

June 30 2025 - City Council Special Session - Consent Agenda Item - Approved

HERE is the Staff Report on this topic - that approved these maps and supporting ordinances.
HERE is a public letter submitted in advance seeking resident clarifications, that have not yet been provided.
Council mentioned that a July 30th Public Workshop will be held especially covering the efforts tied to heavily forested areas of our Village, and possibly other efforts.  Council approved this Consent item as provided.

June 24 2025 - For Very High and High Properties Monterey Fire Inspections are underway

"The Monterey Fire Department began vacant lot, defensible space, and home hardening inspections as part of the Monterey Fire Department’s proactive efforts to reduce wildfire risk and enhance community safety. Defensible space is the buffer zone created by clearing flammable vegetation and other combustible materials around homes and structures.
Fire department personnel will be inspecting properties in the high and very high Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ) ensuring compliance with local and state defensible space regulations and vacant lot guidelines.
Visit www.monterey.gov/fire for more information."

HERE is this above map as a pdf
The above official State-wide interactive map is HERE

June 21 2025 - Carmel Prepares Community Session

Held in the Carpenter Hall focusing in on how to best prepare your property for possible Fires & WildFires. This session covered Defensible Space, Home Hardening and Fire Extinguisher Training.  Thanks all!


Here is great video showing the results of Home Hardening - click on below image to open Youtube

June 3 2025 - Carmel City Council - FireZone Maps Approval & Ordinance to Adopt

Additional updates will follow, however these were approved as presented. 

HERE is the Staff report for this topic
HERE is the Presentation prepared in advance
HERE is the YouTube from this topic
- PRESS Coverage - 
HERE is the 6/26/25 Monterey County Weekly article on Fire Prevention
HERE is the 6/20/2025 Carmel Pine Cone cover article on this topic
HERE is the 6/5/2025 KOIN546  Video report on this topic 
HERE is a 5/27/2025 Article in SFGate/Cronicle "A lot of hysteria': Wealthy Calif. coastal city is now a high-risk fire zone"

As copy/paste from slide 4 (see link above)- California Fire Code Chapter 49

•Vegetation Management – New Landscaping
   •Fire Resistant Vegetation
   •Proper Spacing
      •Shrubs – 6 feet or Less in Height
      •Shrub Grouping – Maximum Aggregate Diameter of 10 feet and 30 feet from Structures
      •Trees – 10 feet from Combustible Structure
     •Non-Fire-Resistant Tree Exception – 30 feet from Combustible Structure
•Defensible Space – Existing Landscaping
   •Maintenance and Fuel Reduction
   •Tree limbs/branches Must Be 10 feet from a Chimney or Stovepipe Outlet
   •Vegetation Adjacent to or Overhanging a Building Must Be Free of Dead or Dying Wood
   •Roofs Must Be Free of Leaves, Needles, or Other Vegetation
•New Structures Require Hardening
•Property Transfer Disclosure

May 5th 2025 - Carmel Ciy Council - Fire Zones and new Regulations, 5ft Defensible Space etc

HERE is the Staff report for this topic
HERE is the Presentation prepared in advance on this topic
HERE is the YouTube from this topic
HERE is the 5/9/2025 Carmel Pine Cone - cover article on this topic

This session generated significant discussion with the public and Council. Council agreed to recommendation #1 of only approving the FireZone Maps, but to explore a possible citizen committee to work with Staff on the implications of the increased impact on landscaping, buidling requirements and our urganized forest - with the overall feel of our Village. This will come back before Council in the next 2 months. 

February 6th 2025 - CRA Hosted "Wildfires and Emergency Preparedness - Live Q&A with the Chiefs"

With the devastation in Southern California, this raises local concerns to know how our Village is prepared and preventing the possibilities including property owners, residents, businesses and the City teams.  The format for this community briefing was interactive Q&A with our Police Commander Todd Trayer and Fire Chief Andrew Miller and City Administrator Chip Rerig with staff.  Our thanks to all of them for their support.

HERE is the YouTube of our CRA Feb 6th Wildfire Readiness Q&A Program



Plus on February 3rd Our City Chiefs+ presented plans and resources at the Special City Council. [items covered include: Wild Fire Protection Plans, Evacuation plans, Carmel Prepares programs, ongoing Staff efforts (forest & buildings) and others]  

HERE is the YouTube of the Feb 3rd City Council Wildfire Preparedness Update
HERE are the Slides presented on Feb 3rd.
HERE is the Carmel Pine Cone Article (page 1) from this session

Community "Carmel Prepares" Sessions are held two times per year. 
Here are helpful items for your readiness.

Overall Emergency Status
* Sign up for Monterey County emergency alerts and advisories. Includes phone, text and email notifications. (use zip 93921 for Carmel-by-the-Sea)  Circumstances of an emergency may change evacuation route guidance.
* Carmel/Monterey/Pacific Grove Fire Department - Spring 2025 Newsletter <-- GREAT READING!
* Carmel Emergency Evacuation Routes
* Carmel Emergency Operations Plan
* Monterey County Emergency Evacuation Guide  
* Wildfire Protection Plan for Cities of Monterey, Pacific Grove and Carmel-by-the-Sea as of 2024
* CalFire - Fire Zone Maps
      Fire Hazard Severity Map Guide page HERE  (now outdated)
      Fire Hazard Maps Q&A Dec 2024 HERE
* Check PG&E outage map.  Phone 1-800-743-500 (use cross streets for your location)
* Sign up for California Earthquake Alerts 

What You Can Do to Protect Your Home & Be Prepared <-- Full of great tips
* Defensible Space Recommendations (flyer) Monterey Fire, HERE is a helpful YouTube 
* Wildfire & Home Fire Preparedness Video (30 min) 
   Emergency (to go) Kits, for your compilation & readiness
     Items (for you, your car, your pets, etc) published by joint Carmel Prepares teams (here)
     Important Financial/Recovery Documents, online or printed (here)
* NEW - PG&E's "Safety Action Center" (here)

Coming soon from our Carmel Police Department - Portal to register local individuals with limitations needing assistance in an Emergency.

Weather Updates
* National Weather Service Monterey forecast page  
* Central California weather radar by AccuWeather

Roadway Status Updates
* CHP traffic incidents and road closures.
* Caltrans Monterey County road closures and travel alerts.

Village Phone Numbers ( dial 911 with urgent needs)
   Carmel Police Department Non-emergency 831-624-6403
   Carmel Fire Department 831-620-2030
   Carmel Public Works 831-620-2070 

National Resources and Programs
* Firewise Programs - "How To" become a Firewise Community HERE
* FEMA - Federal Emergency Management Agency 
* American Red Cross HERE
* www.ready.gov - is a Federal Government side providing guidance for all emergency needs & services

Insurance Coverage Concerns
* Research from Stanford covering: Wildfire Health Risks, Insurance coverage/costs, Achieving Resilliance, and much more! 
* VERY HELPFUL - California Insurance Commissioner Mary Beth Bykowsky presented Jan 2025 in Carmel Valley by an area local Firewise team. Here are the Slides, here is the YouTube Video 

Visit the City "Carmel Prepares" webpage...more  HERE 
with readiness tools, video's, slides etc are shown below.

Videos from June 2024 and Nobember 2024 Carmel Prepares Sessions 

Here is a video report from KSBW 2/6/2024 

Read on for comprehensive information provided to the community January 6th 2024... 

Whether it be storms, fire or other emergencies - the City teams have programs, tools and plans that serve us all.  They host events that review all of these tools and take our questions.  A recent event under "Carmel Prepares" was held in the Carpenter Hall of Sunset Center, specifically on Saturday Sept 6th, 2024. 

Visit the Carmel Prepares webpage here - on https://ci.carmel.ca.us/carmel-prepares -  for details and updates.


Here’s a list of good first steps you can take today to start on the path of preparedness for yourself and your loved ones:

  • Notification: Sign-up for Alert Monterey County and sign up for Nixle, a free notification system used by our police, fire, and city to advise subscribers of road closures and other emergencies with real-time updates on your cell phone, email, or both. Simply text your zip code to 888777 to enroll for free.
  • Information: Check out Ready Monterey County from the Department for Emergency Management for guides on making plans, building an emergency kit, and much more. 
  • Evacuation: Know (and share with your neighbors) the evacuation routes.
  • Participation in Events & Trainings: Attend preparedness events, including trainings, organized by the City and Carmel CERT throughout the year.