You’ve received notice of a wildfire evacuation in your area. It’s time to leave – right away, without delay. What do you grab on your way out? Ideally, you’ve planned ahead and pre-packed the important things. If not, that’s okay – here’s a brief list of items to quickly gather before you go, if you can do so safely.
Emergency Kit
Assembling an emergency kit in case of a wildfire is something you should do ahead of time. Have your kit prepared as a “go bag” that you can easily grab and take with you in a sudden evacuation. It should contain essentials such as a first aid kit, battery-powered flashlight and radio with extra batteries, sanitation supplies, N95 respirator masks, a change of clothes, extra contact lenses or glasses, and a map with evacuation routes.
Medications
Take all prescription medications and medical devices you use in your daily life and those you need in case of emergencies. This may include insulin, EpiPens, inhalers, oxygen tanks, hearing aids and mobility-assistive devices. Be sure to include any medications needed by children, elderly loved ones or pets in your household, as well.
Food and Water
Bring enough nonperishable food for at least a three-day supply, as well as three gallons of water per person. Keep these food items and water in your emergency kit to quickly grab during a wildfire evacuation (without having to rummage through your cabinets). Don’t forget to bring food and water for your pets, as well.
Pets
Put your pets and service animals in carriers and place them by the front door as soon as you receive the evacuation notice. Don’t wait until the last minute, as pets may be scared and hide, making them difficult to find in a hurry. Remember to grab leashes, harnesses and other necessary pet supplies.
Financial Items
Grab what you need to make purchases – your wallet, credit cards, any cash that’s in the house and cashier’s checks. Aside from not wanting to have to replace these items later, you want to be able to pay for transportation, a hotel, food and other necessary supplies while you’re displaced. Keep receipts for these “additional living expenses,” as they are often vital pieces of evidence used by a California wildfire lawyer to ensure you are fully reimbursed by insurance companies or negligent parties.
Important Documents
Keep a backpack handy with all of your important documents and files inside. Anything that is difficult to replace should go into the backpack, such as your Social Security card, passport, birth certificate, financial and tax documents, driver’s license, insurance policies, medical records, property deeds, and estate plan.
Additional Items (Only If There’s Time)
If evacuations are recommended but not yet mandatory and you have time before leaving – and only if you have time – you may be able to gather other items that are important to you. Do not put yourself in danger by trying to take nonessential items if you are under a mandatory evacuation, and do not wait to leave until authorities are knocking at your door.
If there’s time, you may wish to take easy-to-carry valuables, family heirlooms, expensive or meaningful jewelry, collectibles, laptops and computers, hard drives or thumb drives, family photo albums, device chargers, extra car keys, and anything irreplaceable to you. Again, take time for these items only if the fire is not an immediate threat.
Wildfires happen suddenly and without warning. Prepare as many items as you can in advance for a fast, safe and effective getaway. Contact Bridgford, Gleason & Artinian for help with your wildfire claim.