Emergencies come in all shapes and sizes, and Southern Californians are often reminded about dangers that include wildfires, earthquakes, flash floods and Santa Ana winds.
Preparation is important, safety experts say, when it comes to taking the edge off anxieties and also lessening the blow if tragedy happens.
If peace of mind isn’t motivation enough, consider that September is National Preparedness Month. National Fire Protection Week, Oct. 9-15, follows. They serve as important reminders that there is no better time than the present to formulate a home disaster plan or to revisit one.
“Now is the time to prepare, before forecast winter storms trigger debris and mudflows, especially in the recent burn areas,” said Jeff L. Reeb, director of Los Angeles County’s Office of Emergency Management.
And with more than 4,200 fires already reported across the state this year – considerably higher than the average of about 3,000 – there’s plenty of potential for added disaster this winter. The recent Blue Cut fire alone burned more than 37,000 acres and 320 homes and other structures, and was the 20th most destructive fire in California history.
Ken Kondo of the Office of Emergency Management says Southern Californians potentially face many hazards beyond the familiar ones such as earthquakes and wildfires. Others include floods (both rural and urban), power outages, chemical spills at ports, petroleum and natural gas leaks and even excessive heat and cold.
“The most important thing is to be prepared for any type of hazard or threat,” he said, adding that a great place to start is by identifying the potential threats where you live, work or go to school.
A fire involving even a single house can be devastating. The American Red Cross responds to almost 70,000 disasters a year, most of them house fires. On average, seven people in the country die every day in house fires.
The Governor’s Office of Emergency Services recommends that everyone become familiar with their risks and tailor a family disaster plan with them in mind. Remember those with special needs, such as seniors or infants, and also any pets. Learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation or basic first aid from a local hospital or a chapter of the American Red Cross.
“We need to remind everyone that disaster preparedness should be something to work on now, not tomorrow,” said Raul Claros, executive director for the American Red Cross’ Northern Valleys Chapter.
HOW TO PREPARE FOR Trouble
In Southern California, as recent wildfires have painfully demonstrated, emergencies can happen in an instant and get out of control just as quickly. Here are some things you can do now to prepare for emergencies you may encounter later:
Inside the house
• Put together an emergency kit. Stock water, flashlights, a transistor radio and a fire extinguisher. Get extra batteries. Buy or create a first aid kit. Store water and nonperishable foods.
• Purchase a high-capacity battery pack that can keep smartphones and other devices charged in the event of a power outage.
• Store things that matter most. Everything might seem important in the face of loss, but family documents are essential in the recovery process. Gather birth certificates, insurance papers and mortgage documents. Keep some cash on hand. Then store everything in one convenient place where you can grab it in an instant.
• Check/maintain all home smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. Change batteries as needed. The National Fire Protection Association recommends replacing smoke alarms altogether every 10 years. Determine the age of ones in your home by looking at the date of the manufacturer on the back of the alarm. If it reads 2006 or before, replace.
• Locate where the utility connections are and learn how to shut off the gas, electricity and water if necessary.
• Clean and maintain clothes dryers (a potential source of house fires). Always use a lint filter and clean it before or after a load of laundry. Make sure to clean lint around the drum.
Outside the house
• Clear leaves and other debris from roofs, gutters, decks, patios or porches.
• Trim all trees near the house, particularly getting rid of overhanging branches, and cut back shrubs and bushes.
• Walk around the house and remove anything that might burn that’s within 30 feet of the structure.
• When landscaping, create a buffer around your home. Use hard, nonflammable surfaces such as tile or concrete in appropriate places. Use plants that aren’t likely to burn easily. It’s called firescaping. “While no plant is fireproof, simple firescaping can be the solution, whether it’s choosing plants with fire retardant abilities, knowing proper defensible landscape maintenance or keeping irrigation systems in excellent shape,” Gary Jones, Armstrong Garden Centers’ chief horticulturist, said in a statement. “Vegetation can either lead a fire to a structure or stop it.”
OTHER IDEAS
• Develop or update a family evacuation plan.
• Choose an out-of-the-area friend or relative to be a contact person.
• Ensure your vehicle is in working order and always has gas.
• At work, learn your company’s emergency plan and practice it.
• Parents of school-age children should keep contact information up to date and learn the school’s disaster plan.
