It’s essential to be prepared in case you need to evacuate your home. Preparing now and having a go-bag ready can make the process easier and less stressful. The guidance below applies whether you’ve been warned you need to be “Set” to evacuate or if you need to “Go” and evacuate suddenly.
Being prepared means you have a wildfire-ready kit or go-bag, which could include the following (based on your needs):
📱 Phones and laptops (with chargers)
💧 3-day supply of non-perishable food (with utensils) and 3 gallons of water per person
😷 P100 or N95 masks to protect yourself from smoke inhalation and gas-phase toxins from wildfires
🗺️ Map with at least two evacuation routes
👕 Change of clothes and extra eyeglasses/contact lenses
🩹 First aid kit, medicine/prescriptions, and sanitation supplies (including for babies and young children)
🧸 If you have children, toys, and other comforting items
🥫 If you have pets: food, water, and medicine
♿ Specific items needed for people with disabilities
🖼️ Pictures, essential documents (such as passports), and irreplaceable items
🔦 Flashlights and a battery-powered radio with extra batteries
💵 Cash, credit cards, and ATM cards
🔑 Extra car keys/fobs
Additionally, take these steps to prepare BEFORE you may need to evacuate:
📸 Take photos and videos of your possessions; store digital copies of essential documents in the cloud (birth certificates, marriage documents, furniture, electronics, valuables, etc.).
🥾 Near your bed, have sturdy shoes, a change of clothes, and a flashlight ready for sudden night evacuations.📋 Practice and prioritize how you would pack your vehicle and how much time it takes to do so ahead of time, so you don't delay your evacuation.
📌 Internet/GPS access may become an issue, so take screenshots of evacuation maps on your phone.
🙋 Check on neighbors who are elderly or have access or functional needs to see if they need help evacuating. 🛣️ If you need help evacuating, post to Nextdoor to ask for help → https://nextdoor.com/news_feed/?open_composer=true&hashtag=evacuationhelp
For more information on emergency supplies, visit www.ready.gov. If you have additional tips, share them in the comments and 'Repost' to ensure everyone in our community is informed.
