It's a poignant reminder that fire season is here.
News Flash
June 18
Did you know this past weekend, we had the first Sonoma County mandatory evacuation order?
It's a poignant reminder that fire season is here
It's unlikely very many residents near Lake Sonoma began Father's Day weekend thinking they might need to evacuate. But within hours of the Point fire starting emergency evacuation orders were given. If you don't have much time to plan, prior planning can make a big difference.
Are you ready? Below are key areas to assess for you and your family.
Sign up for Alerts
If you didn't get alerts blowing up your phone Sunday, go to the Safer West County emergency preparedness page and sign up for alerts here.
If you are not already on a community automated call system, now is a good time to organize your neighborhood. Fire Safe Occidental uses the One Call Now and all Occidental residents should talk to their neighborhood leader to make sure they are on the list.
Is your Go Bag packed?
There are a lot of items you can have packed before an evacuation occurs, so you can grab a bag and go. Things like a change of clothes, water, shelf-stable foods, wool blankets, and other items can already be in your preferred evacuation vehicle. You can also create a detailed list of last-minute things to grab like medications, so you don't have to think of them while worried and in a hurry.
For more info on go bag essentials, go to the Safer West County page section on preparing yourself for emergencies.
Do you and your roommates and family have a plan?
During an evacuation is not the time to coordinate what needs to be done before you leave, plan meeting places, or write down people's phone numbers outside of your phone. But those are all things you need to know.
To help you be better prepared in case of an emergency Safer West County has prepared a resource list of what to do before evacuating depending on how much time you have and also a list of things to discuss with family now, before you need it. Click here for the list.
Do you remember your evacuation zone?
Finding information, like your evacuation zone, will be stressful in an emergency and possibly impossible if your power is out. Learn your evacuation zone, put it on your refrigerator, in your phone, and any other place you need now– before you need it.
Look around your home for ways to improve its safety. Move firewood away from your house, trim back vegetation up close to your house–especially anything overhanging your roof and eaves.
If you live in Forestville, Monte Rio, Camp Meeker, or Occidental, you can get a $1000 rebate for defensible space work. Learn more at https://saferwestcounty.org/grants/
