Preparedness Thoughts - Fire

Once again we see a disaster scenario in the news that has affected thousands of lives. Once again, many homes have been destroyed and lives have been lost. For some disasters, you prepare your home, your pantry, etc. In the case of fire, preparation includes having an evacuation plan.

While we have never had to evacuate, years ago a wildfire very near our home prompted us to prepare for evacuation. One dry summer, a fire started only a mile from our house, just outside the tiny town in which we lived. The wind was blowing towards our home and the rest of the town. My husband was a volunteer fire fighter and had told me how fast some fires can move. As a precaution, I had the kids grab their go-bags and we loaded them into the car, just in case. We were getting ready to load the Tulle with other items when the wind changed direction. We were fortunate that day that we had so many fire volunteers and that the wind changed direction. They were able to put the fire out before it endangered any homes. I was also grateful that each of us had a go-bag already packed. It made the decision of what to load in the car first very easy.

A Few Takeaways from the California Fires

1) You can prepare for a disaster and still loose everything. Prepare anyway - you may end up being one of the few in a position to help your neighbors.

2) It is nearly impossible to be completely prepared for every possible scenario. 

3) A sprinkler system may or may not help in a fire scenario.

4) Have a go-bag pre-packed and stashed somewhere in your house that is easy to reach.

5) Don't wait too long to evacuate. Roads will quickly become congested with everyone else evacuating.

6) Know as many routes to and from your home as possible. You never know when one road will be cut off and you will have to use another.

7) There are people out there who will take advantage of a bad situation (looters, etc.). 

Action Items You Can Take Now

The fires in California have reminded me of that day long ago. We live in the mountains now, surrounded by forest. There is the danger of wildfire here as well and we have seen numerous fires in our area. Even though we had a fire close to our home long ago, I admit that I haven't updated my go-bag in probably three years, nor has anyone else in the family. Here are a few things we are doing, that you can do, too, to prepare:

1) Put together a go-bag. - This recent disaster has prompted me to pull out my go bag and give it an update. What is a go-bag? A go-bag isn't necessarily a survival bag nor is it a vehicle emergency bag. A go-bag usually isn't stocked with as many survival type items as the previous two. With that being said, some people prefer to have only one bag that is a combination of a survival bag and a go-bag. 

A go-bag is usually stocked with items you will need for a few days away from home should you have to evacuate to a friend's house or a hotel. Some of the basic items we have included are a change of clothes, a few personal items (toothbrush, soap, washcloth, towel, feminine items, a pocket size Bible, a rosary, etc.), some cash, photocopies of documentation (driver's license, passport, etc.), a small first aid kit, and snacks and water for the road (you may be on the road a while). A camp mat and sleeping bag would be nice additions in case you have to sleep on the floor somewhere as would a phone charger in case you forget to grab yours on the way out. If you wear glasses and have an extra pair, these would also be a good idea.

2) Identify several escape routes. - Identify several possible routes to drive in and out of your place. How many ways can you think of to get out of your neighborhood/town/region? Think of alternative modes of transportation as well. If you are near a waterway, can this be used to get out in an emergency? If you live near an airport, is flying out an option? This last one may seem a bit far-fetched, but there are some people, ranchers, for example, who live in very rural areas who have access to a plane or helicopter and their own airfield.

3) Decide where you will go should you need to evacuate. - It would be helpful to identify a few places you could go in a few different directions. If you plan to stay with family or friends, this is a conversation you may want to have before hand. You don't want to just show up at your buddy's house, expecting him to take you in. He may have ten family members already camped out on his living room floor. It would be a courtesy if he knew ahead of time that you might be on your way.

This is just a place to start. We would love to hear your thoughts and ideas.