It’s that time
again - the Spring 2015 observance of America’s PrepareAThon!, a national
campaign that helps us all be a little more prepared for emergency situations.
The goal of the
program is to increase the number of individuals who:
v
Understand
what kinds of emergency situations or disasters could happen in their
communities
v
Know
what they can do to protect against them and stay safe &
v
Take any
action to increase their personal or family preparedness
Do you know your hazards?
Let’s focus on a few that could happen in Monterey
County:
With the
prolonged drought continuing to dry out and increase potential fuel sources
throughout the county, we must be aware of the increased risk for wildfires to
occur and spread quickly.
In fact, Monterey
County is home to 2 of the top 10 largest wildfires in modern-day California,
with both the Marble Cone and Basin Complex fires each burning over 250 square
miles.
“Fire season” is now a lot
longer than it used to be.
A few easy ways to be more prepared for
wildfire:
*
Create
“defensible space” around your home by reducing the amount of material that can
burn easily. Clear away excess yard debris and other flammable materials, and
try to use fire-resistant landscaping when able.
*
Review
your renters or homeowners insurance policy to check coverage levels for your
property and personal belongings.
*
Know
your evacuation routes. How can you get out of your neighborhood and community
if needed? Find a good way (and a backup route or two) and make sure everyone
knows about it.
*
In a
dangerous situation, your first thoughts will be about the safety of your
family and friends. Know how you all can communicate – keep important numbers
written down somewhere safe and designate a meeting spot for everyone to get
back together.
*
Know
how to stay informed. When “the call” goes out to let you know that your
neighborhood is being evacuated, will you receive it?
Alert Monterey County, our local
emergency notification system, allows you to choose how and when you get
messages – phone calls to landlines, cell phones and even VoIP, text or email.
Go on and register your information today to keep you and your family informed.
Want more
detailed information and some great resources?
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And while we
typically get a break from extreme fire conditions during our rainy periods,
earthquake “season” is 24/7/365 for California residents.
As a quick
reminder, we can’t predict these events,
but we can prepare for them.
Being prepared is all about what works for
you. Think about your daily routine and all that
you count on to get you through it. Who counts on you to get through theirs?
The key is being
able to then take that daily routine and identify what you and your loved ones
will need to be ready.
*
What
information do you need access to? What if it wasn’t available? Where else
could you go?
*
What
“things” do you use? What do they need to continue to function? (Hint:
BATTERIES)
*
What
about extra clothes? Toiletries? (Hint #2: Kids GROW)
*
Health
considerations? Medications?
*
Entertainment
and/or comfort items?
The bottom line
is that it has to meet your needs. There’s a lot of info out there on “making a
plan and having a kit” but it doesn’t do or mean anything if it’s not tailored
to you and your own specific requirements.
Except for
water….everyone needs water.
Don’t be like
Thirsty Cat:
For more resources on getting prepared, visit Ready.gov or the Monterey County Office of Emergency
Services
To sign up for emergency alerts, visit AlertMontereyCounty.org
Have a great weekend!
