DISASTER RESPONSE RESOURCES

Learn more at Ready.gov

Are you wildfire ready? Knowing what to do before, during and after a wildfire can empower you to take action.

Be Informed

• Sign up for local emergency alerts.
• Visit your county emergency management website.
• Follow local emergency services on social media.
• Sign up for the FEMA app for real-time alerts from the National Weather Service for up to five locations nationwide.
• Pay attention to air quality alerts.
• Have a battery-powered AM/FM emergency radio.
• Create community by talking to your neighbors about emergency plans.
• Exchange contact information and ask for help if you need it or offer help if you can provide it during an emergency.
• If you must evacuate, follow the instructions from local authorities. They will provide the latest recommendations based on the threat to your community and appropriate safety measures.

Have a Plan

• Develop an Emergency Plan. Discuss the plan with your household, loved ones, friends and neighbors. Make sure everyone knows and understands what to do if you need to quickly evacuate. Practice the elements of the plan so you’ll be ready when disaster happens.
• Identify evacuation routes from home, work, school, daycare and other frequent locations.
• Establish a Family Communication Plan that designates an out-of-area contact, a family meeting place outside of the hazard area, and how you’ll contact each other if you are separated during an emergency.
• Make sure your insurance policies and personal documents, like ID, are up to date. Make copies and keep them in a secure password-protected digital space. Consider making a home inventory and take a video or photos of the inside and outside of your home for insurance purposes.
• Plan for pets and large animals such as horses and other livestock. Prepare a pet evacuation kit in a tote bag or pet crate. Pack food, water, leashes, bedding, identification, medication, vaccination or medical records. Plan for transportation of large animals and identify safe shelter options.
• Seniors, people with disabilities, and others who may need help to evacuate should consider individual circumstances and specific needs when planning for emergencies and disasters. Plan what to do and who to contact, especially if you need help from others to evacuate. Create a support network of people who can help you during an emergency. Make plans for how you will communicate, any equipment needed, transportation and service animal considerations.

Make a Go-Kit

• Visit Ready.gov or American Red Cross for recommended emergency kit items.
• Assemble a go-kit of essential supplies for your health, safety, and identification.
• Pack an easy-to-carry backpack or bag for each member of the family.
• Include the Six Ps for evacuation:
  • People and pets (food, water, hygiene, sanitation, clothing, and comfort items).
  • Prescriptions (medications, eyeglasses and medical devices).
  • Phones, personal computers, hard drives or disks, and chargers.
  • “Plastic” (ATM debit and credit cards) and cash.
  • Papers and important documents (photo identification, birth certificates, social security cards, passports, visas, insurance policy, mortgage deed or rental agreement, medical records, banking or financial records).
  • Priceless items, including pictures and other irreplaceable memorabilia.

Make Other Preparations

• If you have more time, gather and pack additional items.
• Don’t wait to evacuate if you feel unsafe.
• Keep your cell phone charged when wildfires could be in your area. Purchase backup charging devices to power electronics.
• Prepare your home: Find an outdoor water source with a hose that can reach any area of your property. Create a fire-resistant zone that is free of leaves, debris or flammable materials for at least 30 feet from your home. Clear needles, leaves, and other debris from roofs, gutters, porches, and decks.
• Keep your vehicle ready: Make sure the gas tank is full. Carry your keys with you at all times. Back your vehicle into your parking space to leave quickly. Load your emergency supplies into the vehicle. Be cautious when carrying flammable or combustible household products that can cause fires or explosions if handled wrong, such as aerosols, cooking oils, rubbing alcohol and hand sanitizer.
• Take or safeguard guns; remove ammunition and move 30 feet away from house.
• When smoky conditions exist but you don’t need to evacuate: Designate a room that can be closed off from outside air. Close all doors and windows. Set up a portable air cleaner to keep indoor pollution levels low. Use high efficiency filters in your central air conditioning system to capture fine particles from smoke. If your system has fresh air intake, set the system to “recirculate” mode and close the outdoor intake damper. If available, store an N95 mask to protect yourself from smoke inhalation.