What Communities Should Know: Wildfires

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- -- Whether a wildfire, a home fire or any emergency that calls for community evacuations, the more a family readies beforehand by preparing supplies and important document, planning escape routes and communication, and practicing those plans so everyone knows what to do, the more successful all can be at weathering any disaster. Every family needs to: -- Prepare: o A Grab and Go Pack that includes extras of any important medications, copies of important documents (insurance, Passports IDs) and a list of desired valuables and keepsakes to take. o A Secondary Meeting Place, if evacuation happens during the day and family member are dispersed. o Specially needed items for pet care, young children or the disabled to ensure their comfort during prolonged evacuations. -- Plan: o Create an Evacuation Plan with at least two escapes routes from your dwelling and your neighborhood and include contingencies like night and day evacuations and car vs. foot. o Discuss a Family Contact Plan, with out of state contacts and a designated "family point person" that all family members can call or text during emergencies. o In emergencies, you won't have time to remember what you'll need. -- Practice: o Discuss each plan and "drill" regularly. Each family member should know what they are supposed to do and what they can expect other family members will do. o Regularly check smoke detectors once a month and clear out brush from around your dwelling. -- Working together with the American Red Cross, the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services and other emergency responders, Team SAFE-T is committed to encouraging students, families and community members to bear responsibility for personal safety, and the safety of our communities. -- For more information on how to prepare and plan for emergencies in your home or community, please visit the California Office of Emergency Services Web site (http://www.oes.ca.gov) or the Team SAFE-T Web site (http://www.TeamSAFE-T.org) to access evacuation plans, checklists, and local resources available in your area.