While we don't experience hurricanes, tornadoes, or frigid winter months, California is prone to seasons of wildfires. Here are steps to take before, during, and after a major wildfire emergency to keep you and your family safe.
Planning Before
The best thing you can do to keep yourself and your family safe in the event of a wildfire is to plan ahead. Work with your family to craft an evacuation plan ahead of time, both for getting out of the house and evacuating from your neighborhood. Plan several escape routes, as traffic and unpredictable fires can impact possible routes.
Keeping your home safe throughout the year can also help during dry seasons. Clear dead plants and debris from gutters, overhangs, and around the front and backyard. Cal Fire offers landscaping recommendations for preparing your front and backyard against wildfires.
During an emergency
If fires do begin, the most important thing is to remain calm and act quickly. If an evacuation warning does happen in your community, it’s important to get out of the area as quickly as possible.
If there are fire warnings near your home, start planning. Take detailed photos and videos of the inside and outside of your home. If a fire does damage your home, taking photos beforehand can help significantly during the rebuilding and insurance claims process.
Unfortunately, pets are often forgotten about when a wildfire arrives, so make sure you have a plan for them, including packing their food, bringing a crate or carrying case, and making plans with family or friends who can keep them safe.
Have a go-bag packed and ready to take with you. Check out CalFire's go-bag checklist on what to pack. Important documents to pack and scan include: birth certificates, passports and visas, insurance documents, social security cards, marriage licenses, and personal family photos.
Before you evacuate, Calfire recommends turning on the lights so firefighters can see smoke in homes and turning off the gas at the meter.
After
After large natural disasters like wildfires, there is often an uptick in insurance fraud. Be cautious of those calling claiming to be representatives from your insurance company. They often reach out using strong, time-sensitive language related to important home policies to trick you into giving up personal information. To protect yourself, don't answer any numbers you don't recognize. Instead, look up your insurance provider's official contact information and reach out directly.
If you do receive a suspicious message, you can report this information to your insurance provider and local law enforcement to stop those taking advantage of the situation.
