If you have not yet assembled an emergency plan, now is the time. No matter where you are in California, it’s important to be prepared for the worst-case scenario.
When a wildfire evacuation is ordered, departing immediately and efficiently is paramount. If the crisis has already struck and you’re scrambling to respond, it can be hard to get the evacuation information you need. A matter of minutes can make a huge difference to your safe escape from a fire zone.
To stay as up-to-date as possible, there are a few things you can do:
• Determine your evacuation zone in advance, and monitor evacuation maps online. Here are the current maps for Sonoma and Napa counties, where the Glass Fire is burning:
Sonoma County
Napa County
• Check local media, including TV and radio, for updates.
• The Nixle emergency messaging service has become a vital service for many Northern California residents. Text your ZIP code to 888777 to opt in, or register online to receive email, text or voice messages with alerts and advisories from local public safety departments.
• Sign up for the state’s emergency alert system at CalAlerts.org.
• Following Cal Fire on Twitter can help in a time of emergency.
• Another resource to monitor, especially during fire season, is this Twitter list compiled by UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain of accounts that tweet about wildfire and its impacts. You can also search Twitter for meteorologists and other weather experts who focus on your local area.
Most importantly, public safety officials stress that it’s critical to keep up-to-date with local information in your county. Cal Fire spokeswoman Lynne Tolmachoff recommends following local law enforcement websites because they’re the ones that put evacuation plans into action.
Here is a county-by-county list of resources for information and alerts:
Napa County: Check on evacuation orders and see the evacuation map at the county’s website. Check the county’s Twitter feed for the latest evacuation information. Residents can also call the Cal Fire public information line for Napa County: 707-967-4207.
Sonoma County: Check on the county’s evacuation orders here and view the county’s evacuation map here. The county recommends signing up for SoCo Alerts and registering with Nixle.
Alameda County The latest evacuation information is at the county’s emergency site and Cal Fire’s incident site. Sign up for the AC Alert system here.
Contra Costa County Check out the county’s Community Warning System here. You can also follow the county’s Twitter feed.
Marin County: Check the Marin County Sheriff’s Office website for current emergency information. Sign up for Alert Marin notifications here. Incident information is also provided via Twitter and Facebook.
San Francisco: To sign up for emergency alerts via AlertSF, text your ZIP code to 888-777 or visit www.alertsf.org. Follow the Department of Emergency Management’s Twitter account for emergency public information.
Santa Clara County: Check on county evacuation information here. Here’s a map. The hotline for residents under evacuation orders is (408)-808-7778. You can sign up for AlertSCC emergency alerts here.
Solano County: A map of evacuation orders can be found here. Also check out the Solano County Sheriff’s Twitter feed. If you have questions, call (707) 784-1634 or (707) 784-1635. You can sign up for Alert Solano emergency alerts here.
Preparing for a fire
If you live in California, it’s important to be ready for a fire emergency at any time. Weather and fire conditions can change quickly, so the earlier you prepare for a possible evacuation, the better. Here are the things you need to do.
Assemble a plan. If you live alone, coordinate with friends and family to figure out the best possible evacuation plan and potential route you will take. If you live with others, decide on a meeting point in case you’re not all together at the time of evacuation, and designate an out-of-family contact who will be kept up to date on the family’s evacuation whereabouts. You should come up with at least two evacuation routes and decide where you’re going to stay — options include someone else’s house, a hotel or an evacuation center. Be mindful of risks from the pandemic: Don’t stay with anyone who’s sick and be aware of underlying conditions. Choose the decision that will make the most sense and get you out of danger as quickly as possible.
Prepare your emergency go bag. Tolmachoff, of Cal Fire, recommends having a go bag prepared by the door regardless of what county you’re in or how close you are to a fire. “You always want to have a bag ready if you have to leave your house for any reason, natural or man-made disaster,” she said. “It’s just part of life in this state.”
When assembling your emergency preparedness bag, give thought to the essentials. Cal Fire has a helpful checklist, but the basics include:
• Face masks or coverings (N95s, P100s and surgical/cloth masks for COVID-19 protection)
• At least a three-day supply of non-perishable food and three gallons of water per person (make this seven-day if you can)
• Clothing (long sleeved, long pants no matter the weather) for seven days
• Electronics (cell phone, chargers, laptop, hard drives)
• Important documents (property deeds, birth certificates, marriage license, tax papers, driver’s licenses, insurance information, passport, extra set of car keys)
• Money (cash, checkbooks, wallet)
• Health items: (any prescription medications, first-aid kits, hearing aids, dentures, glasses, medications for pets)
• Flashlights, portable radio, extra batteries
• Sanitation supplies: hand sanitizer, soap, wipes
• Food and supplies for babies and/or pets
If time allows:
• Family photos, other irreplaceable items
• Jewelry, other sentimental items
Store all of the above in a convenient location, ideally near the door. Important documents should be filed together. Make sure your car’s gas tank is at least half full, and that you are wearing evacuation-ready clothes (long sleeves, long pants, heavy cotton or wool no matter how hot). Long hair should be tied back, and you should wear a bandana over your N95.
Evacuation time: Warnings and orders
An evacuation warning means you should prepare to evacuate. An evacuation order means you should evacuate immediately.
Evacuation warnings give you time to put your contingency plan in motion and load your car — but keep in mind you can evacuate anytime if you feel unsafe. If conditions deteriorate, don’t wait for the order: It’s better to leave early if you’re unsure.
Evacuation orders are mandatory. If you receive an evacuation order, go. If the evacuation takes place during the night, you might hear the “Hi-Lo” siren — it should be loud enough to wake you up. But it’s important to have your phone on and notifications loud in case an alert comes through while you’re sleeping. Sometimes, fire personnel will come knocking on your door — but not always, and you should not wait for this to happen.
If a fire is nearby, even if you’ve not yet received a warning or an order, it’s important to have your vehicle loaded and ready to go. Back it into the driveway for an easier way out.
Keep in communication with friends or family. If you decide to stay at a hotel, it may save time to have someone book the room for you while you’re packing.
If you’re under an evacuation warning and packed, consider some other tasks in or around the house to help with your evacuation. FireSafe Marin has a comprehensive checklist. They include:
• Place combustible outdoor items in garage of 30 feet from structures.
• Shut off gas at the meter or propane tank.
• Clean your gutters, blow leaves away from house.
• Connect garden hoses with squeeze-grip nozzles to outdoor spigots for firefighter use.
Once you’ve evacuated and are in the car:
• Drive slowly and defensively.
• Choose the evacuation route you know best.
• Turn on headlights, close windows, turn on inside air and AC, tune in to local radio.
• Stay far from vegetation.
• Look for wide roads, parking lots, playing fields, etc., if roads are impassable or you are trapped.
• Evacuate on foot only as a last resort.
Evacuation centers during the pandemic
Because of coronavirus risks during the pandemic, evacuation centers and shelters have become last resorts for many fleeing wildfires.
Jennifer Adrio, chief executive officer for the Red Cross in Northern California’s coastal region, said that while the shelters are still open, her organization is encouraging people to have a plan for a safe place to go.
Finding a trusted family member or friend to stay with is considered the best option. Alternatively, Red Cross volunteers are stationed at dozens of “temporary evacuation points” where they can help people find shelter and secure meals. Many people are turning to dorm rooms, hotels, or parking lots where people can sleep in their cars in lieu of crowding in shelters.
However, such options may not be possible. If you do decide to go the shelter route, it may be helpful to call your county ahead of time to get more information on pandemic preparedness at emergency sites. Shelters should have strict protocols already: personal protective equipment, temperature checks at the door, tables 6 feet apart, masks and hand sanitizer.
The CDC also issued guidelines for how you can protect yourself in a public shelter.
Annie Vainshtein is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: avainshtein@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @annievain
———
©2020 the San Francisco Chronicle
Visit the San Francisco Chronicle at www.sfchronicle.com
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
