By Lorie Ham
With all of the extreme weather and fires happening all over the country right now, it is a good idea to have an emergency plan in case they come your way. Many think those types of emergencies won’t ever happen to them, but one can never really be sure and it is better to be prepared. Fires and storms can move quickly, so you need to be ready if the sheriff comes knocking at your door telling you to evacuate.
According to a recent article on Fox Weather, by early June, California wildfires had burned 34,394 acres, four times the five-year average amount of land consumed by this time of year. An article on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) website states that they are forecasting a range of 17 to 25 total named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher) during hurricane season this year which runs from June through November. Of those, eight to 13 are forecast to become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including four to seven major hurricanes (category 3, 4 or 5; with winds of 111 mph or higher). On the West Coast, you also have earthquakes to consider, and with high temperatures all over the country power outages also become a greater concern.
It would be easy to be stressed about all of this, but it is much better to be proactive and prepared. Cal Fire has a Wildfire Action Plan and many of their points work for other emergencies as well. They include:
- Have a meeting point: A predetermined meeting location outside high-risk areas to determine who has been evacuated even if you are split up in the process.
- Plan escape routes: Have several escape routes known to all in your household. Practice these often so everyone knows where to go.
- Make animal arrangements: Specific arrangements for pets and larger animals, like horses and other livestock.
- Communication plan: A family communication strategy names someone outside the area to be the main contact point for all family members if you get separated or have trouble with phone networks.
Cal Fire also has a list of the six P’s of Evacuation (a list of important items to take with you) which includes: important papers, prescriptions and other medications and supplements, irreplaceable pictures, personal computer, and plastic (credit and debit cards) and cash. You can also find disaster preparedness plans on the Red Cross website for diverse needs such as for seniors or those with disabilities.
The PG&E website has a great list of things to remember when making an emergency plan. These include having a backup generator in case of power outages (especially if you have medical equipment you can’t do without or live in a high-heat area), make sure you have plenty of non-perishable food and water on hand, flashlights and batteries, and make sure your mobile phones are charged (you can also purchase a portable charger for your phone but make sure it is charged as well). They suggest that you also sign up for outage alerts from PG&E, and know where there are cooling centers and shelters if needed.
Ready.gov has some other great tips for evacuating, such as making sure you have a full tank of gas and an emergency kit in your car. And if you don’t own a car, have a transportation plan. They also recommend having a go-bag and making sure everyone in the house knows where that is. Their website has a checklist of things to include in the go-bag/kit which include items already mentioned here, and things such as a mask to filter out contaminated air, local maps (in case you can’t access GPS), a manual can opener, activities for the kids, hand sanitizer, and a wrench or pliers.
It is also a good idea to make sure you have the proper insurance coverage in case those disasters impact your homes and property. Mennonite Insurance is happy to answer any of your questions about such coverage (559) 638-2327. Be prepared and be safe!