SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - Fire Prevention Week arrives during what is typically a warm and dry month in San Diego County.
Santa Ana winds can wreak havoc on dry brush, which is especially built up after last winter’s heavy rains.
ReadySanDiego created a four-step process to help you prepare your family for a disaster.
Make a Plan
Survivors of the 2007 Cedar Fire had just minutes to escape flames right at their doors, leaving belongings behind. Experts say you should have items to get through three days independently, along with the family heirlooms you can’t replace.
Creating a plan also involves a discussion with your family. You’ll want to determine a reunion location and practice evacuating over several routes.
The County of San Diego created a form to help you. Learn more here.
Build a Kit
Do you know what you would need to get through the first 72 hours after a fire? In addition to basic supplies like medicine, cash, and flashlights, comfort items like blankets and earplugs could make an evacuation shelter more tolerable. You also need to remember items for your pets.
See the full checklist here.
Stay Informed
Alert San Diego is the phone system to notify you of any emergency or disaster.
You must register your cell phone, VoIP phone number, and email address. Landlines, whether listed or unlisted, are automatically part of the system and do not need to be registered.
Sign up for Alert San Diego here.
Get Involved
The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) was created to help you keep others safe during a crisis. The course is an all-hazard training designed as a realistic approach to an emergency.
Learn more here.
