Emergency preparedness: Are you ready for a fire?

Markleville residents are faced with the possibility of having to evacuate if the Washington Fire comes towards their town.

Skyland residents recently took part in a neighborhood fire drill, being told they had to evacuate their homes in 10 minutes.

What would yo take?

That plan should start now, before you are faced with that time of fear and panic.

Prepare a 'Disaster Preparedness Kit.' Items in this kit should last you and your family for three days:
1. Water - 1 gallon per person per day that is stored in unbreakable containers. Identify the storage date and replace every six months.
2. Food - A supply of non-perishable packaged or canned foods with a manual can opener. If you have animals, don't forget about their food and water needs.
3. Anti-bacterial wipes or gel.
4. First Aid Kit - A first aid book and required prescription medications.
5. Blankets or sleeping bags - at least one per person.
6. Battery powered radio, flashlight and plenty of batteries.
7. Fire extinguisher - ABC type
8. Credit Cards, cash and change.
9. An extra set of car and house keys.
10. Extra pair of eyeglasses.
11. Toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo and toilet paper.
12. A list of family physicians.
13. List of family information with phone numbers.
14. Special items for infants, elderly or disabled family members.
15. Large plastic bags that can be used for trash, tarps or rain ponchos.
16. Bar soap and liquid detergent.
17. Work gloves.

Keep these items in a plastic tub in a place that you can get to easily. Check it every few months to ensure items are still working and not stale dated.

I worked during the Angora Fire to assemble 500 bags of items the Red Cross would use to hand out to people evacuated. Each bag contained a wash cloth, bar of soap, tooth brush, tooth paste and shampoo. Whenever I travel I save the small bottles of shampoo and bars of soap at hotels. These are perfect for use in an emergency.

Prior to an emergency take photos of your belongings. Save these to a cloud, a fire-proof container, in your emergency kit or leave in a safe deposit box. Before an emergency is also a good time to safeguard items that you cannot replace. Take a photo of the following and keep in a cloud or other safe spot: Identification, Social Security Cards, Passports, medical history information and insurance cards, immunization records, marriage, birth and death certificates, records of bank accounts, credit card information, insurance policies, a list of important or valuable belongings, wills, contracts and deeds, records of stocks, bonds or retirement accounts, back up of key computer files. Make sure trusted family members know where these items are stored.

You should also plan on taking a recent power bill (sometimes you have to prove your address), copy of house insurance and identification.

Take a visual inventory of the items in your home that you want to save in case of a fire. If you know what you want to grab it will be much easier should you ever have to evacuate. When panicked and scared our minds don't always think clearly.

South Tahoe Now will have a series of "Be Fire Safe" articles, tips and suggestions all fire season.