Fire Emergency Plan Checklist Blog

Are you Prepared for Fire Season?

SAFETY FIRST: DISASTER PLANNING 101 Northern California is no stranger to natural disasters. When you live at the foot of nature, you’re bound to get in its way a time or two. Evacuation orders have become so commonplace, it’s easy to get a bit complacent in the routine – especially when you typically return to find things just as you left them. If your “plan” is more or less, “slippers by the bed, La Croix in the fridge, and a flashlight somewhere, I think” – you may be interested to learn that the average government response time to a major emergency is 72 hours. That means, for 72 hours, you’re essentially on your own. It might be time to flesh out that plan a bit. We’ve put together customizable checklists for simple yet effective disaster planning, as well as a comprehensive Emergency Kit guide that can be accessed here. Don’t be daunted if you feel woefully unprepared; just take it one step at a time. These recommendations are intended to empower you toward positive preparedness and peace of mind.

MAKE A PLAN: Select your “emergency buddies” – a small group of friends and loved ones you’ll meet up with in the event of an emergency. Decide on a public meeting spot like a park or major landmark. Practice escape routes, evaluating each for ease of access. Keep a flashlight next to your bed, along with rubber-soled slippers or a pair of shoes. SAFEGUARD YOUR HOME: Locate your gas shut-off valve – you will want to act fast after an earthquake, so hang a wrench nearby if possible and make sure you know how to use it. Secure large furniture, mirrors, and frames to the wall. Learn about defensible space zones and implement them in your yard. PROTECT YOUR FINANCES: Closely examine your insurance paperwork to determine the full scope of coverage. GET INVOLVED: Join your Community Emergency Response Team to learn basic disaster response techniques and find out who amongst your neighbors is equipped to help. Sign up for local emergency text alerts. Visit https://oaklandfiresafecouncil.org/programs/ for emergency preparedness education and real-time information. EMERGENCY KIT CHECKLISTS YOU NEVER KNOW WHERE OR WHEN A DISASTER MIGHT STRIKE, SO KEEP ONE KIT IN YOUR HOME AND ANOTHER IN YOUR CAR. HOME EMERGENCY KIT: Food: Forego the granola bars in favor of something more lasting like freeze-dried food, canned items, or MREs (Meals Ready to Eat.) Tea and coffee are always a good idea – throw in some Dripkit Pour Over packets for a just-add-water caffeine buzz you’ll actually enjoy. Kitchenware: Can opener, utensils (this is where sporks really shine), plates, bowls, dual-burner stove – anything you need to prepare and consume the food you packed. Water: A case of Sparkletts won’t quite cut it if you’re stranded for a week. You’ll want at least a gallon per person per day, not including cooking or bathing. Food-safe water barrels hold up to 55-gallons and have a shelf life of five years. First-Aid Kit: Think beyond band-aids and look for one equipped to stop bleeding and control serious trauma, like Adventure Medical’s Trauma Pak with QuikClot. Clothing: Pack comfortable clothing for varying temperatures, sturdy shoes, a durable jacket, multiple pairs of socks, and underwear. Hygiene: Stock up on wipes for hand cleaning and waterless showers. Duplicate your dopp kit basics, and don’t forget your toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss. Other easy to miss essentials include deodorant, sunscreen, liquid and bar soap, feminine products, hair accessories, a nail file, and clippers. Sanitation: You may find yourself without working plumbing. Invest in a portable toilet and toilet waste bags – and don’t forget the two-ply. Highly recommended extra: Bio-Blue Toilet Deodorant. Sleep Stuff: At minimum, you’ll want a sleeping bag and plenty of blankets, but you may want to add a tent and air mattress, just in case. An eye mask and ear plugs may help the Zzzs come a bit quicker. Technical Supplies: Work gloves, paracord (military spec rope), waterproof safety matches, gorilla tape, tarps, clear plastic sheeting, multi-tool pocket-knife – basically the suburban garage starter kit. Father really does know best. Fire Extinguishers: Keep one near every room, if possible, along with smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Search & Rescue Tools: A basic whistle can be a huge lifesaver. You should also keep recent photos of family members or housemates in sealed Ziploc bags in case anyone gets separated. Explore all-weather notebooks and pens to leave waterproof messages that won’t run or turn to mush. An ax and folding saw might seem a bit heavy-handed, but you’ll be glad to have them if you need to clear trees. Lighting: You’ll likely need more than just the flashlight beside your bed. Put a couple more flashlights with rechargeable batteries in your kit along with a headlamp and emergency candles. Communication: Long-range walkie-talkies are a great alternative when cell towers are down or overloaded – just make sure to charge their batteries somewhat regularly. Power: It’s stressful enough keeping your phone charged on a normal day. Fortunately, portable chargers have come a long way. For max power, select a solar or gas-powered generator – the latter can even keep a mini fridge running. Rechargeable AA and AAA batteries are good to have on-hand as well. Personal Items: Remember your first overseas trip without your parents? Everything your mom put in your carry-on goes in this kit, or at least upload it to the Cloud – copies of your passport, birth certificate, insurance policies, medication information, proof-of-address, an extra set of keys, and at least one hundred dollars in cash. (ATMs might be out of commission for a while.) Entertainment: Cards, board games, Mad Libs, coloring books, the Great American Novel – anything that can serve as a fun distraction from a very stressful reality. EStorage: Stow your kit in a water-resistant plastic storage container, preferably in the yard outside your home in case the structure collapses. Include gallon size Ziploc bags and mesh storage sacks to keep loose items dry, organized, and easy to take on the go. EMERGENCY CAR KIT: Food & Water: 6 flameless MREs and two gallons of water are the recommended minimum for two people. If you typically travel with more passengers, adjust the amount accordingly. Mask: We’ve all become well-acquainted with these lately. For your emergency kit, look for an N95 or similar particulate respirator to prevent dust and debris from entering your lungs. Survival Blanket: Mylar blankets help you retain your body heat, providing exceptional warmth – especially if you have to sleep in your car or outside overnight. Technical Supplies: Keep an escape hammer and knife in your door pocket in case you need to break the window and/or cut your seatbelt. Basic supplies like a tarp, duct tape, and pocket-knife can go in the trunk with the rest of your kit. First Aid Kit: You’ll want a well-organized first aid kit with supplies for a variety of injuries, such as bleeding, blisters, fractures, sprains, and open wounds. Search & Rescue Tools: Light sticks are great for signaling and marking locations; throw in an emergency poncho in case you have to wait for assistance in the rain. All-weather tactical notebooks and pens let you leave waterproof messages that repel sweat, grease, and mud. Local Emergency Numbers Simone Koga Group Realtor® | DRE #: 01897985 | www.SimoneKoga.com M: 415.706.1586 @ThatEastBayLife Simone@SimoneKoga.com Statistics are generalities, essentially summaries of widely disparate data generated by dozens, hundreds or thousands of unique, individual sales occurring within different time periods. They are best seen not as precise measurements, but as broad, comparative indicators, with reasonable margins of error. Anomalous fluctuations in statistics are not uncommon, especially in smaller, expensive market segments. Last period data should be considered estimates that may change with late-reported data. Different analytics programs sometimes define statistics - such as "active listings," "days on market," and "months supply of inventory" - differently: what is most meaningful are not specific calculations but the trends they illustrate. Most listing and sales data derives from the local or regional multi-listing service (MLS) of the area specified in the analysis, but not all listings or sales are reported to MLS and these won't be reflected in the data. "Homes" signifies real-property, single-household housing units: houses, condos, co-ops, townhouses, duets and TICs (but not mobile homes), as applicable to each market. City/town names refer specifically to the named cities and towns, or their MLS areas, unless otherwise delineated. Multi­county metro areas will be specified as such. Data from sources deemed reliable, but may contain errors and subject to revision. All numbers to be considered approximate. Many aspects of value cannot be adequately reflected in median and average statistics: curb appeal, age, condition, amenities, views, lot size, quality of outdoor space, "bonus" rooms, additional parking, quality of location within the neighborhood, and so on. How any of these statistics apply to any particular home is unknown without a specific comparative market analysis. Compass is a real estate broker licensed by the State of California operating under multiple entities. License Numbers 01991628, 1527235, 1527365, 1356742, 1443761, 1997075, 1935359, 1961027, 1842987, 1869607, 1866771, 1527205, 1079009, 1272467. All material is intended for informational purposes only and is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdrawal without notice. No statement is made as to the accuracy of any description or measurements (including square footage). This is not intended to solicit property already listed. No financial or legal advice provided. Equal Housing Opportunity. Photos may be virtually staged or digitally enhanced and may not reflect actual property conditions.

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