Making a Plan

As with many natural disasters, wildfires are unpredictable. Evacuation planning should be done well ahead of time and parts of it should be rehearsed.

• Establish an evacuation plan and practice fire drills with your family. Plan several escape routes off of your property in the event that the main access roads become block by fire. Practice fire drills that include all aspects of your evacuation plan.
• Pre-plan an emergency community fire procedure and an alert system with your neighbors. 
• Have a place to go. Make arrangements with friends or relatives who live in town or in another area. Establish meeting places in case you get separated. If all of your family members are not at home when a wildfire threatens, it is vitally important that you have an arranged for a place to meet that is in a safe location away from your property.
• Children should know who to call and where to go in the event they are home alone when a wildfire threatens. Most schools will have an evacuation plan for students. Find out what it is ahead of fire season.
  Know your fire protection district; post their number by all telephones. Have contact information for all your pre-arranged locations readily available, and program these numbers into to you and your children’s cell phone contact list. Designate a relative or friend outside the area as a common contact if you cannot reach each other after evacuation.
• An emergency kit should be packed and easy to access. Your kit should include:
  • Food and water for three days and/or special dietary foods.
  • Baby or pet supplies including special food, sanitary items and play items.
  • Toilet articles (soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, etc.)
  • Prescription medicines, medical equipment and important medical records.
  • Clothing for several days. Include socks, boots or close-toed shoes, long-sleeved shirts and long pants. You could add leather gloves, a bandana and a hat as well.
  • Blankets, pillows, and towels.
  • A battery-powered radio.
  • Flashlights with extra batteries.
  • Phone chargers and extra phone batteries.
• List all of your important documents and valuables and place them where they are easily found and accessible. Documents and items to include:
  • Identification, drivers license, cash, debit and credits cards.
  • Wills, living wills, power of attorney, insurance policies, contracts, deeds, stocks, bonds, and tax returns.
    Passports, social security cards, immunization records.
  • Bank account numbers.
  • Credit card account numbers and companies.
  • An inventory of household goods.
  • Photo albums, external hard-drives.
  • Jewelry.
  • Important phone numbers/address book.
  • Family records (birth, marriage, death certificates).
• If you have pets or livestock, make arrangements for them as well. Many counties have emergency evacuation plans for pets and livestock in place. Find out what they are. If no plan is in place contact your local veterinarian for locations to brings your pets and/or livestock.