Evacuation Planning for a Wildfire

Preparing now for a possible wildfire can help save your family’s lives.

Draw a home escape plan and discuss it with everyone in your home.
Practice the plan at least twice a year.
Know at least two ways out of every room.
Have an outside meeting place located at a safe distance.
Teach children how to escape on their own.
Close doors behind you as you leave.
Discuss temporary housing options with friends or relatives.
Have an evacuation plan for pets and livestock.
Prepare an emergency supply kit that you can grab on the go. Keep an extra kit in your car.

Plan ahead – don’t wait until it’s time to go. In the planning ahead stage which is NOW:

Keep your gas tank on full
Do you have livestock? Where will you move them if needed?
Plan for your pet’s evacuation. Where’s the cages, the leash, food, water to go etc.
Do you have a safe place to store your RV? Maybe move it to there now.
Get important documents gathered together and all in one place
Prepare ample water in containers to go
Gather all your medicines in one location easy to pack up and go
If you had to evacuate, do you need assistance? Contact the Sheriff’s Office and let them know who you are, where you are and that you would need assistance.
Remove the pine needles and debris from your roof and from around your house and out buildings. Remove from your property.
Plan ahead for water needs in case the power goes out
Know where your flashlights are and have fresh batteries ready
Take pictures of all of your belongings, inside and outside
Pack some clothes to take with you

If there is a need for evacuation, know the levels and what they mean.

Level 1 – Be Ready: Prepare and monitor. Pack your valuables

Prepare and gather in one place everything you will take with you. Clothes, documents, medicines, valuables, water, food/snacks, pets transport cages etc.

Level 2 – Be Set: Be set to evacuate at a moment’s notice

Load up all the valuables you have gathered and be ready to go. Move your RV and livestock to safe location. Set sprinklers. Remove patio furniture to storage. Move BBQ with propane tank away from house. Take down curtains and shades in house.

Level 3 – Go: Leave Immediately

Turn off your propane, turn on the water to sprinklers, close all windows and doors, leave a light on in the house, spray a huge red X on your driveway or front door and leave. Follow the Sheriff’s instructions which way to go to get out.

The Sheriffs Department will be conducting the evacuation, notifying you when to prepare, then when to go and which way to go.

Available safe locations:

Download Evacuation Planning for a Wildfire