If an evacuation order is issued, pack your belongings immediately so you don’t forget any essentials.
Fires have been burning across large swaths of Los Angeles County since Tuesday morning, prompting the evacuation of tens of thousands of people in the Pacific Palisades, Altadena and Pasadena communities.
Firefighters were battling three blazes, starting with the Palisades Fire, which had burned more than 11,000 acres as of Wednesday morning. In the hills above Altadena, the Eaton Fire broke out the same day, scorching more than 10,000 acres. The Hearst Fire near Sylmar had burned more than 500 acres, with no evacuations as of Wednesday afternoon.
Experts advise that the sooner you evacuate after an evacuation advisory is issued, the longer it will take you to get to safety. Leaving early also helps emergency responders avoid traffic jams, according to the Los Angeles Emergency Management Agency.
According to Lady L.A. County, there are three types of evacuation warnings: shelter-in-place, evacuation warning, and evacuation order.
Sheltering in place means staying indoors with all windows and doors closed. Under this order, you must prepare to be self-reliant until further notice or until further direction is sought from emergency authorities.
An evacuation warning means there is a potential threat to life and/or property. People who need time to evacuate and people with pets or livestock should evacuate immediately.
An evacuation order means there is immediate danger to life. This is an immediate eviction order and the area is closed to the public.
If you receive a shelter-in-place or evacuation advisory, you should start preparing your “take-out bag” if you don’t already have one. This is a bag that you can put your important documents, spare medicines and other essentials in for easy access if you need to go out in an emergency.
If you are evacuating your home, or preparing for the possibility, you should have the following items on hand:
What to pack in your “go bag”
A “go bag” can be any sturdy backpack or bag.
The contents of the “go bag” are as follows.
Water and non-perishable food, cooking utensils and can opener, flashlight and spare batteries for it, first aid kit, fire extinguisher (try to buy a small one designed for cars and homes), damp towels, garbage bags, Toilet paper, plastic ties for hygiene (a damp towel can also be useful for wiping up soot and ash) Whistle for help Battery operated or hand-crank radio GPS In case the printed area map is not working or you should look for an alternative route
Your “on-the-go bag” should also include the following items:
Face masks (N95 and KN95 masks are more effective against smoke and air pollution than cloth masks) Batteries and chargers for cell phones and other portable devices Several days’ worth of clothing – coats, pajamas, underwear, socks, toes Comfort items and time-killing items such as blankets, stuffed animals, board games, and books, including sturdy closed shoes.
For small households or single-person households, it may make sense to keep everything in one bag. For large families, these things may go in separate “to-go bags.”
Firefighter staff 6P
In addition to your personal belongings, be sure to pack what the Los Angeles Fire Department calls the “Six Ps.”
1) People and pets: All living things in the house.
2) Documents and phone numbers: This includes important documents such as birth certificates, passports, immunization records, insurance information, and a list of required phone numbers. While you’re out and about, your cell phone battery may run out or your cell phone service may be unavailable. There’s never a better time to realize you don’t know the phone number you’re heading to. Be sure to have phone numbers for family, friends, bosses or co-workers, doctors, veterinarians and pediatricians if applicable, out-of-state contacts, attorneys, insurance agents, landlords, and other destinations. When evacuating, please keep hotels and designated evacuation sites in mind.
3) Prescriptions: This includes medicine bottles, but also glasses, contact lenses, and other health-related items you may need. Also think things like vitamins, toothbrushes and toothpaste, feminine hygiene products, and contact lens cleaning solution. If you are evacuating with an infant, be sure to prepare diapers and wipes. A first aid kit in your “go bag” should contain the standard supplies, including bandages, gauze, medical tape, antibiotic cream, antacids, antidiarrheals, antihistamines, and over-the-counter medications. Please double check that it is. painkillers.
4) Photos and personal items: This category includes everything you couldn’t bear to lose. Pack photo albums, framed photos, memorabilia and heirlooms, video game consoles, musical instruments, plants, jewelry, and more. Anything is fine as long as it doesn’t delay your evacuation or take up space in your car that could be used for more important supplies.
5) Personal Computer: Most of our lives involve computers, so make sure you have one in your car. If you don’t want to carry your entire desktop PC with you, save copies of important documents to the cloud or a flash drive.
6) Plastic: This includes ID, credit cards, debit cards, and cash.
Stay informed with alerts
Stay up-to-date on alerts and warnings by signing up for your local emergency notification system.
Los Angeles County residents can sign up for Alert LA County, Notify LA, and Nixle to receive notifications by text message or email. Stay up to date on weather forecasts by listening to local news stations or checking the National Weather Service Los Angeles office website.
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