WrightwoodCalif.com Forum
Public Forums => Disaster Awareness & CERT => Topic started by: Wrightwood on Oct 23, 07, 04:34:54 AM
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If you've been asked to evacuate, officials plead, evacuate immediately. Don't wait to be asked a second time. Your life is worth more than all your possessions.
First - and only if you have the luxury of time - take photos or videos of each of your rooms. This way, if the worse happens, you will have something to show to your insurance company. And you will have a keepsake.
Here's what to pack:
* Medications
* A few changes of clothing, toiletries and cash -- maybe even some stuffed animals for the kids
* Pets (Make sure you know exactly where they are. Set up the pet carrier by the front door.)
* Pet identification numbers - (License #'s)
* Eyeglasses
* As many important documents as you can grab, including:
birth certificates
passport
financial papers
insurance forms
mortgage papers
car's pink slip (title)
banking-account numbers
vital medical prescriptions
savings bonds or certificates
drivers license
* Receipts for valuables:
(if you keep receipts in one place and can grab them quickly)
appliances
furniture
vehicles, trailers, motor cycle, etc
electronics
* Key to your safety deposit box
* Family photos
* Address book or phone numbers for your insurance agent, mortgage lender, doctor and family and friends
* Car and house keys
* Cash
* Computer and/or Data
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:2thumbsup: This is very important and timely. Thank you, Wrightwood. I have printed it out and am posting it on my fridge so it is always available. :2thumbsup:
Most of our important paperwork is actually in a fire-resistant safe in our coat closet. This way, should the worse happen and we are not here, at least these are safe. I like the idea, though, of keeping them offsight in a safe deposit box.
Also, it doesn't hurt to make a video of your home and possessions and place it with the important papers, thus saving you a step in the process you document above. :cam1:
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If you've been asked to evacuate, officials plead, evacuate immediately. Don't wait to be asked a second time. Your life is worth more than all your possessions.
First - and only if you have the luxury of time - take photos or videos of each of your rooms. This way, if the worse happens, you will have something to show to your insurance company. And you will have a keepsake.
Here's what to pack:
* Medications
* A few changes of clothing, toiletries and cash -- maybe even some stuffed animals for the kids
* Pets (Make sure you know exactly where they are. Set up the pet carrier by the front door.)
* Eyeglasses
* As many important documents as you can grab, including birth certificates, passport, financial papers, insurance forms, mortgage papers, your car's pink slip, banking-account numbers, vital medical prescriptions and any savings bonds or certificates
* Receipts for valuables, appliances and furniture (if you keep receipts in one place and can grab them quickly)
* Key to your safety deposit box
* Family photos
* Address book or phone numbers for your insurance agent, mortgage lender, doctor and family and friends
* Car and house keys
Don't forget any cash you may have stuffed in your mattress :2thumbsup:
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Good point!
It's been added!
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At the top of my list is my computer tower.
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I agree Cathy.
In fact when we went over what should be on our list this morning - cash and computers with data were priority items for us.
Computer and/or data was added to the list.
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"Most of our important paperwork is actually in a fire-resistant safe"
These safes can help, but the contents will burn with enough heat. I've seen 2 such safes full of ashes after structure fires.
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A few more items have been added to the list at the top of this topic: (in blue)
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Someone I know who got evacuated in 2003 said to make sure to have cash in different denominations, since you may find that when you need to use it, the person you are buying something from doesn't have correct change. If you only have 20's -- well, you might end up paying $20 for something that normally would cost $5.
Also of course to have a full tank of gas.
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pet food
litter box (Could get ugly otherwise. :P )
snacks
water
fire extinguisher
camp chairs would be nice
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Definitely pet food, especially if your pets have a special diet.
We have dog and cat food in our emergency kit.
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Here's another well prepared list:
http://www.wrightwoodfsc.com/documents/Evacuation_Guideline.pdf
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When we got evacuated in 2003, we were sleeping, it was 3:30 AM. What a way to wake up! It was terrifying! We had prepared somewhat thank goodness. I did find that when faced with "get out now", and you have embers flying thru the wind, you just grap your kids and animals...and you leave!! I cannot understand people staying behind, and taking chances to get "things"...We did get to go home, and it was at that time that I realized what would have been lost had our house burned. But still...it was just things....
Right now, we have a friend and his dog staying with us who was evacuated from Crestline. His wife just died from cancer 3 weeks ago...my heart breaks for him, I hope he can go home again.
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What you can do to prepare for a fire evacuation
By Mary Engel, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
October 24, 2007
If you have to evacuate your house, put life before property -- your foremost concern is to get your family out, and after that, your pets, emergency officials say.
Before an evacuation order:
If you know that wildfires are burning in the area, listen to a battery-operated radio for reports and updates.
Make sure your car has a full or near-full tank of gas. Park it in the direction of escape with the key in the ignition. Shut (but do not lock) car doors and roll up windows. Disconnect automatic garage door and gate openers.
Round up pets and confine them in one room. Make sure identification tags are attached to collars.
If you do not have an emergency kit prepared, assemble the essentials: water; food that won't spoil; prescription medicines; eyeglasses; diapers, formula, bottles and other supplies for infants; a change of clothing; and blankets.
Have credit cards and cash ready, along with cellphones and chargers. Know where your valuables and important family documents are (insurance policies, bank account and credit card numbers, deeds, passports, birth and marriage certificates). Line up leashes, crates and carriers for your pets.
Find medical records to show that their vaccinations are current in case you need to house them in a kennel or animal shelter.
If you are asked to evacuate:
Leave as soon as possible. Early evacuation reduces traffic jams and makes it easier for firefighters to do their jobs.
If you have to leave a pet behind, put it inside the house, if possible, with food and water. Place a sign on the door or in a window saying where the pet is, along with your phone number or other contact information. If you can't find a pet, leave the sign with information about the pet and how to contact you.
Wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes, long cotton pants, a long-sleeved cotton shirt (polyester and rayon can melt) and gloves -- and put a bandanna over your face to keep from breathing ash. Call a friend, relative or co-worker to let someone know when you left and where you are heading. Lock your home.
Be aware of your surroundings and alert to changes in the speed and direction of fire and smoke.
To protect your home, if you're sure you have time:
* Shut off gas at the meter. Turn off pilot lights. Turn off propane tanks.
* Open fireplace dampers. Close fireplace screens.
* Close windows, vents, doors and noncombustible window coverings. Remove lightweight curtains.
* Move flammable furniture away from windows. Move combustible patio furniture inside.
* Use a garden hose to wet the roof. Wet the ground within 15 feet of the home.
* Leave lawn sprinklers on. If possible, set sprinklers on the roof or near above-ground propane tanks.
If you go to an emergency shelter:
You can expect the shelter to provide food, bottled water, cots and blankets. But it will it be nowhere nearly as comfortable -- or private -- as even a cheap motel. Members of your family will be able to sit and sleep next to one another -- but in a large room of strangers, all of whom are likely as stressed as you are.
You will have to stand in line for meals and to use the restrooms. The shelter is not likely to offer showers, and you may not be able to change clothes for several days. But expect shelter workers to hand out small kits with toothbrushes and toothpaste and to pass around so many bottles of hand sanitizer that the air will smell as antiseptic as a hospital.
Look for volunteers to ask about toys for children, mental health counseling and medical services.
Sources: California Office of Emergency Services, American Red Cross ( www.redcross.org/services/disaster)
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Added to 1st list: Pet identification numbers - (License #'s)
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since I don't have two legged kids, my priority is my 4 legged ones... I have an older dog that is on a lot of meds. I have the vet give me a month's supply in advance and keep them in an evacuation bag along with prescription food, collapsable bowls, supplements, can opener, extra collar (with i.d.) and leashes, animal care instructions, copies of important vet records (vaccinations, etc.). If my dogs have to be evacuated, I can just grab the bag, open up the car door and we are off (my guys LOVE to ride in the car). Also, if my neighbors have to evacuate them, they can just grab the bag and go and not worry if they have everything and have instructions for the feeding/medication regime. I figure I can always buy clean underwear for me at Target.... :P
When the meds in the cabinet get low, I order new and put the new into the evac. bag and the ones that are a month old go in the cabinet. that way, the stuff in the evac bag stays fresh. It was a little frustrating and a hassle getting it set up in the beginning, but now I am ready to go at a moments notice. I grab the important papers fire safe, doggie bag, and my key photo albums and I'm ready to go. I can evacuate all my important stuff in 15 minutes (I need 5 to put the topper on my Subaru).
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What an important topic, thanks!
We lost our home in 2003, since then, we do a couple things differently:
1. we keep copies of important paperwork in a different location (my hubby's place of employment). The fire that burned our home melted fire safes...
2. I try to keep an updated video of our home and possessions with my very small box of picture negatives, so it's easy to grab. Because believe me, it is not possible to remember everything that you had or to recall all the details of your home when it is gone.
3. I try to keep all my pictures uploaded to a site such as snapfish or kodak easyshare.
4. I don't worry about any stuff. 4 years later we have accumulated so much I can hardly believe we didn't own anything then.
And always - make sure your insurance is updated for rising costs!!
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Topdog can you describe the type of fire safes that melted?
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FYI, I posted a new thread in this area on selecting a Fire-proof Safe. Like anything else, you must be a smart shopper and also know the limits of what they can really do, ie fire-resistant vs fire-proof and what that means, limits to what some companies may do for their testing, etc.
Fire-proof Safes (http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/forum/index.php/topic,10185.0.html)
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You also have to be careful of WHERE you store the safe. If you store it under a big beam that lands on it and burns at high temps for a long time, it won't be as effective as if it is not near large combustable materials.
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I'm sorry - I cannot. Belonged to a neighbor of mine. I agree that you need to be a smart shopper as there are many kinds.
The grand prix fire was hot, and burned our canyon for a relatively long period of time. Many different metals melted, including copper. Glass melted and many other materials disintegrated. And our neighbor's car melted - not sure which material that was. Only a few things "survived" at our house: a concrete shower stall; our wood-burning stove which fell into our rock-walled basement; the rock walls.
Of course, our home was in a narrow canyon, which is a more severe situation than would occur in most of wrightwood. I would trust a good fire safe for perhaps a fire that started in the home that did not have time to get so hot. But I personally would not bank on one saving things from a hot wild fire. If you have a safe deposit box or other safe place away from home, I would use it.
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One thing I know from working with the evacuees at the Orange Show is that you need things that show your PHYSICAL street address....not just your PO Box as many of our documents do. In you evac kit have a copy of your deed...mortage papers...tax bills that show a physical address. Bills are ok if they show the street address for the property....the official stuff is better. Always have an official photo ID also...drivers license...fire department ID, school Id with pictures.
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Thank you, Wildman. I just looked at my CDL and it only has my PO Box. I will make sure we have what you suggested above.
:D
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Thank you, Wildman. I just looked at my CDL and it only has my PO Box. I will make sure we have what you suggested above.
:D
How long have you had that CDL? I don't believe DMV will let you get away with just a P.O. box anymore. I just changed my CDL residence to Mono county to avoid being fined for dodging jury duty and they insisted I must list a street address on my CDL. I was also surprised when they handed me my old CDL back to me.. The address is important when it comes time to prove you live in an area where they are only letting residence in.
My address change also cut my vehicle insurance in half :)
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My CDL only has a PO box on it.
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Thank you, Wildman. I just looked at my CDL and it only has my PO Box. I will make sure we have what you suggested above.
:D
How long have you had that CDL? I don't believe DMV will let you get away with just a P.O. box anymore. I just changed my CDL residence to Mono county to avoid being fined for dodging jury duty and they insisted I must list a street address on my CDL. I was also surprised when they handed me my old CDL back to me.. The address is important when it comes time to prove you live in an area where they are only letting residence in.
My address change also cut my vehicle insurance in half :)
Just had my licenced changed in July...they allowed only a PO box.
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Just got mine updated with my married name and it is only the POB, it has to be the mailing address.
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well that shoots that theory down...
Last year I had to give my CDL to the Sheriff when someone crashed into one of my rental proprieties and the deputy told me my CDL was invalid because it didn't show my resident address, it showed my business address. The deputy said "you don't live at this address". I replied well I'm there more then I'm anywhere else and I feel like I live there. At that point he got a little miffed and my tenant stepped in and said Bob lives here with me. He then went on to tell me he could take my CDL since it didn't show a valid residence address.. I told him if he wants to do that he'll need to get out of my kitchen and finish his report out in the cold. I went on to ask him what if I'm homeless? He said "oh you don't want to tell me that, I can take you to jail for being homeless".
My whole point is it could be difficult to get past a residence only road block without a residence address on your CDL or some other proof of residency.
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The issue as I understand with some of the people I know in Crestline with the resent fire is that the PO box they have shows the town where the post office is like Rim Forest so when Evac order was lifted in only the Crestline portion of the Mtn they had no proof that they actually lived in Crestline. At least here it shows Wrightwood as the town. But even then it is a good idea to carry a proof of residency address with you.
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There is room on your license, I believe for both your po box and your street address. There is an extra line provided when you change or apply.
The other thing to do is put it all on one line:
1234 Pine, PO Box 670
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I asked the question about Proper ID on the "Keller Peak Emergency Net" tonight. The answer they (several law enforcement officers) gave, "ALWAYS have a utility bill with your physical address in each vehicle. If you own more than one home have a utility bill for each address."
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Here's a work in progress from feedback on this forum topic and the disaster preparedness communications net.
So let's hear some feedback and remember this is not a survival kit! It is a list of what should be taken if you have only minutes to evacuate your home and the home may not be left standing when you return.
Here's a printable PDF file:
http://www.wrightwoodfsc.com/documents/15minEvacuation.pdf
(http://www.wrightwoodfsc.com/documents/LG_15minEvacuation.JPG)
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I asked the question about Proper ID on the "Keller Peak Emergency Net" tonight. The answer they (several law enforcement officers) gave, "ALWAYS have a utility bill with your physical address in each vehicle. If you own more than one home have a utility bill for each address."
I'd have to say these guys on the net need to broaden their view. Hams usually do better then that;) The need to also accept propriety tax bills. I have two houses I call home, both have no mortgages and no connection to any utilities. One is powered by wind and solar, the other is entirely solar and both are on wells. Telephone service is voip provided by a complimentary ISP connection. I can't get trash service at either location, but I'm currently taking that up with the county board of supervisors.
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There is room on your license, I believe for both your po box and your street address. There is an extra line provided when you change or apply.
The other thing to do is put it all on one line:
1234 Pine, PO Box 670
What about licenses that don't have the current address printed on them? The DMV is well aware of where to send the vehicle license renewal notices, and I've filed the appropriate form to change my license address (or so I thought), but the license itself doesn't expire until May 2008.
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From the CA DMV website:
How to notify DMV when I change my address
Law states that you must notify DMV within 10 days of changing your address. There is no charge to change your address, and you may notify DMV by any of the following ways:
1. Complete your change of address online.
2. Call any DMV office at 1 (800) 777-0133 and request that a change of address form be mailed to you. It will take 5 days for you to receive it. Complete the information required on the form, then mail it to the address listed at the top of the form.
3. Download the Change of Address form DMV 14, complete the information, and mail it to the address listed at the top of the form.
4. Visit any DMV office, complete a change of address form, and give it to a technician. The technician will give you a Change of Address Certificate card (DL 43) to complete and carry with your license.
If you do 2 or 3 above, type or write in ink your new address on a small piece of paper, sign and date it. Carry this piece of paper with your license. Do not tape or staple the change of address information to your driver license.
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There is also a place on the back of my current license to write the current address. I've written both street address and P.O. Box in the appropriate area.
I checked another portion of the DMV website to see if they had my current address. Apparently they do not, and I submitted a change of address form electronically. It takes three business days for the new address to propagate into the DMV system, so I'll check it again next week to see if it made it through.
If interested in checking your own information, here is that website:
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/online/coa/welcome.htm
You have to go through a couple of layers of information before you actually get to the page that allows you to either CHECK your address, or INPUT a new one.
Peace