When a fire or other disaster occurs and residents must evacuate, what should you take with you?
Several large fires have swept through Los Angeles County in Southern California, destroying homes. The largest fire is located in Pacific Palisades, where tens of thousands of people have been ordered to evacuate. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has warned that the wildfire situation is expected to worsen on Wednesday, January 8.
The out-of-control Palisades fire is burning at a rate of about five football fields per minute, consuming over 2,900 acres of land. Los Angeles has declared a state of emergency, with firefighters warning that “tornado-like” strong winds are making firefighting efforts more complex.
Many people have been forced to abandon their cars in the streets between Malibu and Santa Monica, leading firefighters to use bulldozers to clear the mountains of vehicles trapped in traffic jams during evacuations.
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection urges residents to prepare an “emergency kit” for evacuations. The emergency kit should include the following items:
– A map marked with at least two evacuation routes
– Necessary medical supplies such as prescription drugs or glasses
– Spare car keys, cash, or credit cards
– Basic first aid kit
– A flashlight and a radio with spare batteries
– Copies of important documents such as passports or birth certificates
In addition, the emergency kit should also contain three days’ worth of non-perishable food and water per person, as well as food and water for pets. N95 masks can help filter out harmful particles in wildfire smoke, and spare cellphone batteries or chargers are also essential.
“Your plan should be like preparing for a seven-day trip,” advised Jesse Torres, the Camp Director of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. “The emergency kit should include clothing, toilet paper, toothbrush, soap, and towels.”
Develop an emergency action plan. A family emergency action plan helps ensure that all family members know exactly what to do and where to go in the event of a wildfire.
Protect your home. If time permits, the U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends connecting hoses and filling containers like trash cans, bathtubs, and pools with water to assist firefighters when they enter the property.
Do not wait for evacuation orders, but leave immediately.