Are you Prepared for Fire Season?

Living in California, it is important to have a plan in place for Wildfire Season. The details below are from the Cal Fire website to protect your family in the event you need to evacuate.

Your Wildfire Action Plan Checklist

Create an Evacuation Plan that includes:

A designated emergency meeting location outside the fire or hazard area. This is critical to determine who has safely evacuated from the affected area.
Several different escape routes from your home and community. Practice these often so everyone in your family is familiar in case of emergency.
Have an evacuation plan for pets and large animals such as horses and other livestock.
A Family Communication Plan that designates an out-of-area friend or relative as a point of contact to act as a single source of communication among family members in case of separation. (It is easier to call or message one person and let them contact others than to try and call everyone when the phone, cell, and internet systems can be overloaded or limited during a disaster.)

Be Prepared:

Have fire extinguishers on hand and train your family on how to use them (check expiration dates regularly).
Ensure that your family knows where your gas, electric, and water main shut-off controls are located and how to safely shut them down in an emergency.
Assemble an Emergency Supply Kit for each person, as recommended by the American Red Cross. (See the next section for details.)
Maintain a list of emergency contact numbers posted near your phone and in your emergency supply kit.
Keep an extra Emergency Supply Kit in your car in case you cannot get to your home because of fire or another emergency.
Have a portable radio or scanner so you can stay updated on the fire.
Tell your neighbors about Ready, Set, Go! and your Wildfire Action Plan.

Prepare your Family

How to Prepare to Evacuated from a Wildfire:

Evacuation plans for families with young children should include helping toddlers understand how to quickly respond in case of fire, and how adults can escape with babies. Prepare ahead of time by practicing your family’s fire escape plan, and what to do to be safe when there is a wildfire nearby.

It is important to talk to toddlers and small children at a level that they understand and that does not frighten. Here are a few resources that offer guides and tips for families with young children about fire safety and preparing for a disaster:

A Parent’s Guide to Fire Safety for Babies and Toddlers : The U.S. Fire Administration’s information site for parents and caregivers to help prevent fire death of young children.
Let’s Get Ready! Planning Together for Emergencies : Sesame Workshop campaign with tips, activities, and other easy tools to help the whole family prepare for emergencies.
Ready.gov Kids : FEMA’s site for older kids to prepare and plan for a disaster. Includes safety steps, tips, and games to help children learn about and be ready for an emergency.
Smokey Kids : U.S. Forest Service’s interactive Smokey Bear site with games, information and resources on how to prevent forest fires.

Preparing Seniors and Disabled Family Members:

Seniors and people with disabilities also need special consideration when preparing for a disaster. Below are several resources that help individuals and families with special needs plan and prepare for an event such as a wildfire.

Special Populations Fire-Safe Checklist : U.S. Fire Administration’s fire safety guide for individuals with special needs to help them protect themselves and their home from fire.
Disaster Preparedness for Senior by Seniors : The American Red Cross booklet designed by and for older adults to prepare them for a sudden emergency.
Disaster Preparedness for People with Disabilities : American Red Cross Disaster Services booklet with information and resources to help people with physical, visual, auditory, or cognitive disabilities design a personal disaster plan.
Emergency Preparedness for People with Disabilities and Other Vulnerable Populations : Inclusive Preparedness Center website with information and resources for emergency planning.
Personal Preparedness Guide : Resource site for people with disabilities that gives information on necessary supplies, evacuation procedures and how to assist pets and service animals in the event of a disaster.

ASSEMBLE AN EMERGENCY SUPPLY KIT

Put together your emergency supply kit long before a wildfire or other disaster occurs and keep it easily accessible so you can take it with you when you have to evacuate. Plan to be away from your home for an extended period of time. Each person should have a readily accessible emergency supply kit. Backpacks work great for storing these items (except food and water) and are quick to grab. Storing food and water in a tub or chest on wheels will make it easier to transport. Keep it light enough to be able to lift it into your car. Ensure you plan with COVID-19 in mind.

Emergency Supply Kit Checklist:

Face masks or coverings
Three-day supply of non-perishable food and three gallons of water per person
Map marked with at least two evacuation routes
Prescriptions or special medications
Change of clothing
Extra eyeglasses or contact lenses
An extra set of car keys, credit cards, cash or traveler’s checks
First aid kit
Flashlight
Battery-powered radio and extra batteries
Sanitation supplies
Copies of important documents (birth certificates, passports, etc.)
Don’t forget pet food and water!

Items to Take if Time Allows:

Easily carried valuables
Family photos and other irreplaceable items
Personal computer information on hard drives and disks
Chargers for cell phones, laptops, etc.

Always keep a sturdy pair of shoes and a flashlight near your bed and handy in case of a sudden evacuation at night.

ARE YOU FINANCIALLY PREPARED FOR A WILDFIRE?

A home is generally your largest asset. Protect it. Insurance is the critical back-up plan enabling you to rebuild your home after a wildfire. Federal catastrophe grants are not enough to rebuild a home. Make sure your family’s financial safety net is in place, in case disaster strikes. Follow these TIPS as part of your Ready, Set, GO! wildfire preparedness plan:

Insurance Policy:

TIP 1: Conduct an Annual Insurance Check-Up Call your agent or insurance company annually to discuss your policy limits and coverage. Make sure your policy reflects the correct square footage and features in your home. Consider purchasing building code upgrade coverage.

TIP 2: Know What Your Policy Covers The details matter. Understand if you have a replacement cost policy that pays to replace all your items at current market price or an actual cash value policy that takes depreciation into account and pays less for aged items.

TIP 3: Update Your Policy to Cover Home Improvements If you make home improvements, be sure to call your agent or company to update your coverage. Make sure your insurer knows about the changes, so the new countertops, floors or room are covered if you must rebuild.

TIP 4: Maintain Insurance If your home is paid off, be sure to maintain homeowner insurance. Without insurance, do you have the money to rebuild your home? Check with loved ones whose homes are paid off to be sure they continue to carry homeowner insurance.

TIP 5: Get Renters Insurance Renters can lose everything in a fire and be left to start over. Many insurers bundle renters insurance coverage with an auto insurance policy at affordable prices.

Make a Home Inventory:

Recovery is easier if you have an accurate home inventory. Document the contents of your home before a fire occurs. Use your smartphone to video your belongings. Keep your inventory & photos outside home or in the cloud.

TIP 1: Video or photograph each room of your home. Remember to document drawers and closets.

TIP 2: Describe your home’s contents in your video. Mention the price you paid, where and when you bought the item.

TIP 3: Remember to note important or expensive items. Video your electronics, appliances, sports equipment, TVs, computers, tablets.

TIP 4: Save receipts for major purchases. Store key documents in the cloud or fireproof case. Keep home inventory offsite or in the cloud.

TIP 5: Video the Garage Don’t forget to video or photograph what is inside your garage.