Emergency Preparedness Committee: Disaster Prep.

WOW! Since our last notes on Emergency Preparedness in this column, not only did the horrific hurricane after-effects continue, but the disastrous fires in California presented us with an unbelievable loss of life and property along with great personal suffering.
Let’s revisit the chances of this type of firestorm happening along the coast here in the Shores. While San Bernardino and Riverside Counties have the highest fire hazard areas in Southern California, that does not place us in a safe zone.
Remember in the early 1990s when Laguna Beach was hit with the loss of over 400 homes due to a very rapid fire storm? Can it happen in the Shores? Well, while less likely nowadays due to many homes converting to composite roofing and exterior fire-retardant siding, and re-landscaping using different types of plantings, IT CAN STILL HAPPEN. One bad day of low humidity, high temperatures, high wind conditions and an errant flame that starts from a hot lawnmower, BBQ grill or faulty electrical wiring can easily spread rapidly to adjacent homes.
What preventive measures can you take to minimize these situations? First and foremost, on the exterior of your home, eliminate or reduce vegetation that is dry or near the eaves and wooden areas. Remove firewood, propane tanks, and cooking grills to a more remote location. Never stack paint cans or flammable liquids near the house, and eliminate other combustible items such as newspapers, cardboard, dry brush and cuttings.
Inside the house make sure you have working smoke alarms inside bedrooms, outside sleeping areas, and even in the garage. Have a family plan for evacuation and DON’T ever go back into a burning home to retrieve personal items if a fire is in progress. Also, always think of what’s most important to you in case you have to evacuate your home: pets, legal papers and records, precious photos, irreplaceable family heirlooms. Create a “Go-Bag” with items you might need if you have to leave fast (for example, some ready cash, a change of clothes, energy food bars and water, medications list, phone charger, a flash drive containing copies of your documents and valuables). Plan ahead where you might find housing for family and pets if disaster strikes. Make arrangements to have your computer files backed-up automatically by one of the cloud servers like Carbonite.com so your information and photos will not be lost. Set up a contact method to communicate with family if home phones are not available (for example, a Facebook page or text message or email group where you can check in with others).
For good advice on emergency preparation, see the websites of the American Red Cross www.redcross.org or the Department of Homeland Security www.dhs.gov/how-do-i/prepare-my-family-disaster.
Simply take precautions now to BE PREPARED, as you’ve read all the horror stories of the thousands of Californians that have gone through our recent fire tragedies.
—Kent Wellbrock