Get Ready For Fire Season – Part 9

This article brought to you by Prime Properties, The Real Estate Place

By Scott Limpus

June 18, 2019

POWER OUTAGE INFORMATION

This is Part 9 of a twelve-part series on getting ready for the fire season. The San Bernardino County Fire Department (SBCoFD) and California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection’s (CalFire) READY! SET! GO! Campaign addresses three key areas that residents should address before a fire starts.

To get READY! for a wildfire, in Parts 1-3 of this series we discussed creating a defensible space around our homes, the steps needed to harden your home, and the vegetation that homeowners can plant that will make their property more fire resistant.

To get SET! for a wildfire, in Parts 4-7 we looked at how to prepare yourself and your home for the possibility of having to evacuate, how to create a Wildfire Action Plan that includes evacuation planning for your home, family, and pets, how to assemble an Emergency Supply Kit for each person in your household, we filled out a Family Communication Plan that includes important evacuation and contact information, and what should be done to be financially prepared for a wildfire.

To GO! when a wildfire does happen, in Parts 8-12, we are going to discuss evacuation guidelines.

Plan for Power Outages

Power outages may occur before and during the threat of a wildfire. It’s important to be prepared and know what actions to take when leaving your home. Along with the pre-evacuation preparation steps, these are a few ways to be ready in case of a power outage during these critical times:

• Learn how to manually open your automatic garage doors or gates—this is extremely important!
• Be familiar with your home’s utility boxes (electricity, water and gas).
• Keep shoes near your bed in case you need to evacuate during the night.
• Build a supply kit  — and more than just a First Aid Kit. Include prescription medications and check the expiration dates. Include water, a battery-operated radio, flashlights and batteries (or a rechargeable flashlight), coolers or ice chests, and external rechargeable battery packs for your cellphones and include an extra charging cable. Also keep non-perishable food and a manual can-opener in your kit.
• Always keep the gas tank at least half full in your vehicles.
• Make your safety preparedness plan now and make sure your family knows each step and role they will play during this time.
• Don’t forget your pets! Have an action plan ready for them, too, and know how they will be cared for.
• If you have a power generator, be sure you know the safety guidelines of your model, including where to connect it, which electrical cords to use, and what the electrical load rating is. An improperly installed generator can electrocute you or an electric utility worker.
• Keep your cellphone charged.
• Keep a supply of bottled water.

During a Power Outage