When the following natural disasters occur: forest fires When a hurricane occurs, people in at-risk areas are often asked to evacuate. It is important to be prepared, heed evacuation warnings, and remember the 6 Ps of evacuation. In other words, it is a checklist of essentials to pack or take with you when evacuating from a fire or other natural disaster.
These types of checklists are commonly circulated on social media and are often posted by local officials during national disasters. The six Ps included can vary, but they all address important things you don’t want to lose or leave behind in the event of a disaster.
1. People and pets
CalFire’s six P’s list includes action items to include in your emergency preparedness plan. A gathering place where families can join each other after evacuation should be chosen to be safe and away from high-risk areas. You should also plan and rehearse your escape route so your family knows where to go.
Make a plan to safely evacuate any pet that may be scared.
You may also want to choose someone who lives outside the risk area to check on you in case family members become separated or some phones no longer work.
2. Documents, phone numbers and important documents
Documents or important documents may be damaged. Wildfires and other natural disasters. You must bring your ID, passport, insurance card, and social security card. You can also carry a list of important phone numbers with you. When your phone is turned off, you cannot access your contact list.
This tip applies to any disaster that could result in the destruction of important documents, such as a hurricane.
3. Prescription
Pack your complete and current prescriptions in case you can’t get to the pharmacy. It’s also a good idea to bring other health supplies, such as vitamins, eyeglasses, and extra contact lenses.
4. Photos and personal items
Especially during disasters like the Southern California wildfires, which can destroy entire homes, take pictures of your family and small keepsakes that you don’t want to lose and that are irreplaceable.
You will also need space to store other personal items, such as toiletries, snacks, and water. The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends carrying enough water and food for two to three days.
5. Personal computers and hard drives
If your work or personal documents are digital, bring a hard drive or laptop computer. Computers can be damaged by fire or storms such as hurricanes.
6. Plastic – credit cards, ATM cards, cash
Lastly, take your credit cards, debit cards, and cash with you. In many cases, people do not know when they will be able to return home. If there is a power outage, even your ATM may not work, so it is important to have cash or other means of payment ready when you leave home.
Preparing to evacuate
In a large forest fire Devastation of several areas of Los AngelesThousands of people were told to evacuate. Some even left on foot, leaving almost everything behind.
The Los Angeles Fire Department recommends making a plan to evacuate your family and pets out of the area, packing an emergency supply kit, talking to loved ones about your communication plan, and following local officials like the LAPD for evacuation updates .
Cal Fire has an interactive map showing various evacuation zones resulting from the Palisades Fire, Sunset Fire, and Eaton Fire, which have burned tens of thousands of acres and are threatening thousands of structures.
There are two levels of territory: In red zones, evacuation is mandatory and required by law. Yellow zones are marked with evacuation warnings and a mandatory evacuation may be imminent. People who find it difficult to leave this area must leave immediately.
Authorities will notify the public of evacuation plans, but CalFire says it is safer to leave before police issue mandatory orders to enforce evacuations.
