Top three things to do to prepare for evacuation during a wildfire
Submitted by paula on Tue, 08/17/2021 - 10:04am
Douglas County - https://douglascounty.onthealert.com/
Washoe County - https://www.washoecounty.us/em/RegionalAlerts.php
Placer County - https://www.placer.ca.gov/2426/Placer-Alert
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - While the Caldor Fire isn't in the Lake Tahoe Basin, its a good reminder how we can all take actions today to be safe and informed. As Winston Churchill said, "He who fails to plan is planning to fail."
1. Sign up for Emergency Alerts. In South Lake Tahoe, sign up for both El Dorado County Code Red and the City of South Lake Tahoe if living on the California side of South Shore. If visiting, sign up for your time in Lake Tahoe. Emergency notification systems are used by counties to send a prepared message via text, email or telephone to people in the affected area about potential evacuations. Users can set up multiple forms of contact, such as a home phone or email address, in case cell towers fail during an emergency. Remember to have text messaging enabled on your cell phones so important alerts won't be missed.
City of South Lake Tahoe - https://cityofslt.regroup.com/signup
Douglas County - https://douglascounty.onthealert.com/
Washoe County - https://www.washoecounty.us/em/RegionalAlerts.php
Placer County - https://www.placer.ca.gov/2426/Placer-Alert
Follow all emergency and local media Facebook, Twitter and other social media forums to have to most information available.
2. Keep your vehicles with a full tank of gas and all electronics (phone and laptop) charged. You never know when you'll be able to fill up, how long you'll have to idle when evacuating, and when you can charge your phone. Have cash on hand as ATMs may be down. It will be key to be able to leave and stay informed.
3. Make a Go Bag - We have helpful information from previous stories in English and Spanish (HERE) and the attached brochure from El Dorado County Emergency Services. Have supplies to last 72 hours. Hopefully you won't need them, but preparation is key. There may not be motels with vacancies where you go, so you may have to be in your car. Here is a printable checklist for your go bags.
If you have animals, don't forget to plan for them with food, leashes and collars, medication if needed and carriers. Can you imagine having to get your panicked cat into the car?
Other tips from the Tahoe Network of Fire Adapted Communities on how to prepare can be found here - http://southtahoenow.com/story/05/22/2020/tahoe-network-fire-adapted-communities-weekly-tip-8-your-p....