|
|
Post by mylittlescholar on Oct 26, 2019 18:44:34 GMT -5
This weekend the fire danger is unprecedented. If you live anywhere in the west, its good to take this opportunity to make a PLAN in case you ever have to evacuate. You may have no notice. From my own experience, its really hard to think clearly, let alone make life and death decisions, at times like these. My family has "go bags" for everyone.
Here's why it is so dangerous right now:
I am particularly sad because my folks built a home at the edge of the evacuation warning zone, and lived there for 23 years. Its a gorgeous area. They sold it about 15 years ago, but I have a lot of memories there, and feel so badly for my ex-neighbors who are so stressed right now.
If anyone wants any support in getting evacuation ready, I volunteer!
|
|
|
|
Post by casper on Oct 26, 2019 21:28:47 GMT -5
Living in a wildfire danger area I always have my cat carriers right out and ready to go.
|
|
|
|
Post by mylittlescholar on Oct 26, 2019 21:43:11 GMT -5
That’s an excellent idea casper! Thanks for mentioning it. |
|
|
|
Post by doodles on Oct 27, 2019 0:37:59 GMT -5
This is a great thread mylittlescholar for all of us - not just those poor folk facing natural disasters. If an emergency came into our lives do we have the basics ready, able to found easily and all set to go? Most of us would struggle I reckon. That is a good point casper, what about an emergency plan for our dependent critters? This is an uncomfortable but important topic. |
|
|
|
Post by joyinvirginia on Oct 27, 2019 12:33:20 GMT -5
I feel for these folks. I'm used to hurricanes, but you know they are coming and know the possible track days ahead. Fires and tornadoes scare me, because it can happen so suddenly. Hoping everyone is able to get out of the danger zone
|
|
|
|
Post by Unswamping on Oct 27, 2019 15:41:04 GMT -5
Excellent thread mylittlescholar. I hope the house your parents built and the people living there are ok.
A big issue that evacuees have is documentation. If you have access to a scanner, scanning documents as pdfs and saving on a flash (thumb) drive is a great idea. Packing that in your go bag will save alot of headaches. The red cross or other shelter can help you to access the documents. Documents you want to have copies of:
Birth certificates/citizenship cards
Social security card
Drivers license or other photo id
house deed/apartment lease
Car titles or loan documents
Insurance policy binders and id cards for vehicles and home
Medical insurance cards
Passport if you have one
Pet vaccination records
Personal vaccination records especially date of last tetanus booster
Voter registration card
Utility bills (at least two different ones, as proof or residence)
Any other important documents specific to your situation
You want to keep the originals in a safe place either home safe or bank safe deposit box. In the event of an emergency evacuation you might not have time to collect the originals. Having a scanned copy will make getting new originals much easier and in the meantime, it will help you with proof of identity, insurance info etc. Do not attach the flash drive to your key chain, its too easy for it to fall off and get lost. I had to replace my birth certificate after the original was lost. My birth state asked for the certificate number in order to quickly replace it. If i had a photocopy of it at the time, that would have been easy to provide. Instead i had to make a trip to the issuing office and provide all kinds of documentation plus information that was on the certificate itself (not just mothers maiden name but date and time of my birth and information on mothers pregnancy history-how many previous live births, stillbirths etc).
Also having a printed list of phone numbers for family, friends, doctors, insurance companies, utilities, banks, etc is very helpful. Cell phones dont always have service during a disaster. Maybe it cant be charged and the battery is out of juice. Think about who you might need to call if you cant get back to your house. Include account numbers too.
For anyone worried about security, they make password protected thumb drives that cost just a bit more. You dont need a terabyte of storage for this. You can get by with the smallest storage available.
Put a note on calendar to review documents every six months and update as needed.
|
|
|
|
Post by doodles on Oct 28, 2019 16:13:52 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by mylittlescholar on Oct 28, 2019 17:12:49 GMT -5
While in the process of collecting your documents, or if you want to go the low-tech route, as you are scanning them save a copy of everything and put them in a binder and label it VITAL RECORDS. Just having account numbers can help!
I noticed that the emergency services page on PG&E includes a list of charging stations. Another thing we discovered during the previous fires, is that certain grids (like that have hospitals and government offices) are prioritized when the power comes back on, so we all flocked to the venues in those areas for COFFEE as well as power. (the entire city was in withdrawal, and it was another unexpected challenge!)
Also, take pictures of your prescription bottles. Pharmacies will often refill in an emergency if they have that documentation.
|
|
|
|
Post by lostchild on Oct 28, 2019 20:34:18 GMT -5
I have been boxing up all of our documents! I am at five boxes! One and a half our new son’s and another one completely autistic son’s and hubby had half a crate of medical records alone! Have food and water at teach and everyone has already been told all cell phone 📱 must be kept charged, all laptops and tablets immediately available packed with their go bags! Could make it out in about ten minutes!
|
|
|
|
Post by mylittlescholar on Oct 29, 2019 6:01:57 GMT -5
Congratulations, lostchild ! and what a huge burden of vital paperwork that you have to keep track of! My DM is my DB's conservator, so I know how onerous it is with just one person to document.
A cheap option for small valuables is WWII ammo boxes. They are cheap at army surplus stores, were meant to protect AMMO from going off in firefights and all manner of weather, so were the highest, portable tech available at that time. Lets just say that if pirates had them, they might have buried their treasure in them...
which brings to mind be sure to include some cash in your go bag, because ATM's may be out of power as well.
|
|
|
|
Post by mylittlescholar on Oct 29, 2019 6:06:19 GMT -5
And also, scan the contents of all of the cards, front and back, in your wallet while you are at it, in case you ever lose it. (it's handy to have near your computer for online purchases, as well.)
|
|
|
|
Post by casper on Nov 1, 2019 19:45:23 GMT -5
Netflix just added a documentary called "FIRE IN PARADISE".
I live very close to that area and the film is a very good depiction of how fast things move.
How very little time you may have to evacuate.
You may even have to abandon your vehicle and any packed up possessions and try to outrun the fire on foot.
|
|
|
|
Post by lostchild on Nov 3, 2019 19:38:12 GMT -5
Frankly mylittlescholar and doodles the only thins irreplaceable are my family and the dog and cat! Cat difficult to catch so might lose him! Sad but true! Nothing else is truly irreplaceable but that! |
|
