City News

Letters

Colleges

More Sports

Sunday Slant

Entertainment Extras

Directories

Sell

Research and Tools

Parts & Service

Find a Job

Quick Search

For Employers

Yahoo! HotJobs Local Search

Importance of being prepared stressed

By: JOHN HALL - Staff Writer | Tuesday, October 23, 2007 12:04 AM PDT ∞

The danger is real.

In a short period of time, flames devoured much of Southern California, forcing hundreds of thousands of people from their homes. Most may not even know if they have a home to return to once it is safe.

That's why fire officials stress the importance of being prepared as the need to evacuate could happen in an instant.

Since Southwest County wasn't hit by the raging fires, residents have a chance to get ready.

"We are seeing today why individual preparedness is so important," Mary Moreland of the Riverside County Office of Emergency Services said Monday. "People need to have their evacuation kits ready to go."

Riverside County fire officials urge people to prepare an evacuation checklist, detailing critical items long before any threat exists. Then, should an evacuation be imminent, you know what to pack and place in your car, officials said.

Cheri Patterson, spokeswoman for the Fire Department, said an easy way to remember what should be in those kits is to think of a series of things that start with "P."

She lists prescriptions, papers, photos, pets, personal phone book and purse ---- which Patterson said is a reminder to have cash.

"Think about documents, such as legal papers, and photos that you can't live without," she said.

Plan to take several changes of clothing, toiletries and pet food should you be taking pets with you.

"You should have what you need for a week, 10 days, even two weeks in backup items for oneself and one's family," Moreland said.

When evacuation looks like it could be a strong possibility, officials say to do the following:

Back your vehicle into the driveway or point it toward the escape route and keep the keys with you

Load your evacuation kit with the important items into the vehicle

Gather your pets and have them ready to go quickly

Connect garden hoses at the front of the house and place buckets full of water around the house

Move propane tanks and outdoor barbecues away from the house

Wear long pants, long-sleeve shirts, preferably made of cotton, and have a bandana to cover your face, if possible

Arrange temporary housing at a friend's or relative's home outside the area.

If you do evacuate, officials say to notify someone close to you that you have left and where you are headed, then leave the lights on in your home, leave your home unlocked with the windows closed and the air-conditioning turned off and disconnect any automatic garage doors.

Patterson said having people evacuate when told to do so not only saves lives, it also allows firefighters to concentrate on fighting the fire.

"We've had people actually hide in their homes as if they had evacuated and then firefighters are put at risk when they have to go back inside to rescue them," she said.

When there is enough advance notice that evacuations are imminent, residents in many areas may receive a telephone call on their home phone alerting them.

The county Office of Emergency Services, as well as the city of Temecula, are among the agencies that have their "reverse 911" systems ready if needed.

The calls will typically tell the resident that the evacuation is coming with other pertinent details.

Moreland said the county system is capable of placing 250,000 calls in one hour.

Grant Yates, Temecula's deputy city manager, said the city's system "literally could start making calls within minutes."

The system can key in on specific geographic areas that may have been determined at most risk or can make mass notification and call every resident in the city, he said.

Yates said Monday that city staff members have met in preparation for any potential issues in Temecula, whether it be a fire or an influx of people who have been evacuated from elsewhere.

He said city and county officials are working together.

"We recognize that any major emergency can impact this county," he said.

"We're not sure where this is going to take us," Yates said. "We are ready to deal with whatever happens."

Contact staff writer John Hall at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2628, or jhall@californian.com.

Prepare to evacuate pets

Make sure you have a carrier available for each pet.

Get all medications together and ready to take with you.

Have at least a one-week supply of bottled water for each member of your family and your pets.

Have your pet's food ready to take with you.

Ensure that all pets have identification secured to them, preferably with a microchip, but at least a tag, in case you become separated from them.

For horses and livestock, have transportation provisions arranged ahead of time as well as necessary items such as feed, halters, leads, etc.

Source: Riverside County Department of Animal Services