Multi-agency emergency evacuation plan to be unveiled at City Council meeting Tuesday

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - South Lake Tahoe had a printed evacuation plan that was well though out by regions and neighborhoods, but many found it confusing and it did not include the areas of the county that are neighbors to the City. And it was for fires.

South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue (SLTFR) and the South Lake Tahoe Police Department collaborated with the El Dorado County Sheriff and the Office of Emergency Services (OES) to prepare an all-hazard community evacuation plan in cooperation with the CHP, Cal Fire, Fire Safe Council, American Red Cross, and the Lake Tahoe Regional Fire Chief’s Association. This will help citizens to be prepared to evacuate their neighborhood or confine to their home should a disaster strike.

"We're doing this as one," said STLFR Chief Clive Savacool during this week's Coffee with the Mayor of the united effort on the evacuation plan.

Savacool will present the plan and map to City Council on Tuesday, August 3 and its 9:00 a.m. meeting.

This community evacuation plan will help citizens to be ready before, during, and after a disaster. Heading to lake won't always be an option, especially since fires create winds, visibility could be low, a drought and low lake levels doesn't allow for boats to come in close for rescue, roads couldn't handle everyone going to the shore, and not everyone can walk into the lake easily.

The focus of Coffee with the Mayor with Savacool and Mayor Tamara Wallace wa, fire and safety, especially with the recent Tamarack Fire and smoke from the Dixie Fire filling the Lake Tahoe Basin.

"Fire behavior is not like its ever been seen before," said Savacool of his teaming with OES. He stressed the public to be prepared, and the evacuation plan will be one part of preparation.

"Be Prepared" is what everyone should be if they live in the Sierra - maybe its a power outage, or something more serious like a large fire, preparedness is key.

Ways to be prepared:

Everyone should sign up for emergency alert notification. For the South Shore in California, sign up for Code Red/Reverse 911 at https://public.coderedweb.com/CNE/en-US/BF6E025EBFDC. Also sign up for the City's notification system at http://www.cityofslt.us/list.aspx.

Be prepared for "Shelter in Place." You never know how much time you'll have to get out. It means selecting an interior room or rooms within your home, or ones with no or few windows, and taking refuge there. In the event of an emergency, Shelter-in-Place where you are unless directed otherwise by response officials.

- Close all doors, windows, and sky lights.
- Turn of thermostats and air conditioners.
- Listen to the local radio and check for EAS Alerts on KRLT 93.9 FM or KOWL 1410 AM, local television station (Channel 21), or City website for further information.
- Have a bag packed in the event the strategy changes from Shelter-in-Place to Evacuation.

Always have your devices charged and gas tanks filled.

Have medication and important papers in your "go bag" along with enough supplies to last 72 hours. Savacool said people need to support themselves for that long in case they can't get to everyone right away.

Build a network of friends and/or neighbors so you can watch out for each other.

It is best to leave at the beginning signs of an emergency and not later when roads could be clogged with first responders and other residents. Turn off the water, gas and electricity at your home on the way out. Also, a sign on your front door helps those looking for people left behind. State on the note you left, your phone number and where you went, any helpful hints like power and gas is off, where nearby water resources are. Not all people responding to an emergency will be from the South Shore and not aware of things locals know.

More fire preparedness tips and the evacuation map will be shared in the coming weeks.