Prepare Your Family for a Wildfire

Residents and visitors need to be prepared to evacuate in the event of an emergency. Take the time to prepare a wildfire action plan and use this checklist to prepare your family and home.

Wildfire Action Plan

• Meet with household members. Explain dangers to children & work as a team to prepare.

• Discuss what to do about power outages & personal injuries.

• Post emergency phone numbers near phones (cell service may be down in an emergency)

• Learn how to turn off the water, gas & electricity.

• Select a safe meeting point in case you are separated.

• Complete a family communications plan that includes contact information for family members, work & school.

• Teach children how to make phone calls.

• Complete an inventory of home contents & photograph/ video the house & landscape. Place files in your Go Bag & store a second copy elsewhere.

• Make sure all vehicles, trailers & pet carriers needed for evacuation are serviced & ready to be used.

• Assemble a pet Go Bag.

• Identify escape routes & safe places. Draw an escape plan highlighting two routes out of each room. Be sure everyone in your family knows them.

• Prepare an EVACUATED sign (provided in this guide). Select a site to post signs where they will be clearly visible from the street.

• Prepare to address the special needs of vulnerable populations, including the elderly & people with medical problems or disabilities.

• If the family member is dependent upon medications, equipment or has special dietary needs, plan to bring those items with you. Documentation about insurance & medical conditions should also accompany the person.

• Plan transportation in advance for anyone with special needs.

• Make sure dogs & cats wear properly fitted collars with identification, vaccination, microchip & license tags.

• Exchange veterinary information with neighbors & file a permission slip with the veterinarian authorizing emergency care for your animals.

Follow The Six Ps For Immediate Evacuations

People & pets

Papers, phone numbers & important documents

Prescriptions, vitamins & eyeglasses

Pictures & irreplaceable memorabilia

Personal computer hard drive & disks

Plastic (credit cards, ATM cards) & cash

LONG-TERM DISASTER KIT

Prepare a disaster supplies kit in case of an extended evacuation at an emergency shelter or for returning to a home without functioning electricity and water. Details available in the digital edition of this guide at issuu.com/TheTahoeWeekly.