6 SIMPLE STEPS TO SURVIVE A WILDFIRE
The 6 Ps of Disaster Preparedness
It's all about the 6 P's:
1. People and Pets
2. Papers
3. Prescriptions
4. Personal Needs
5. Priceless
6. Plastic
Read the whole story here and get the full list of tips and suggestions, that start
with defensible space and being in touch with your local fire department.
NOTE: Have a plan; tell everyone in your immediate family; practice it; be ready to survive. Wildfires have no conscience. And as a retired Fire Chief, I will tell you what I told countless evacuees; if you can replace it; leave it when someone says evacuate! Do not die for stuff.
A DRAFT
PLAN FOR THE 6 P’S
PEOPLE and
PETS
1. TEXTS:
Tell everyone to stay on top of texts (better than phone calls) during fire
times in the area – no matter what, stay in touch.
2. EVAC
ROUTES: Designate a north, south, east, and west escape route and meet-up
location, depending on your roads. Brief your family.
3. PETS: Have
a plan to get them and their needs/food to safety.
4. FOOD and
FREEZERS: During evacuations, you may be able to leave a generator running to
keep foodstuffs from spoiling. Do not store extra gas anywhere near your
structures. But food can be replaced. Check with local fire officials to make
sure you are not making the problem worse.
5. LIGHTS:
Turn on every light in the house, inside and out. Make your home visible in
smoky conditions.
6. WINDOWS:
Close all windows and vents. Stop any drafts.
7. FURNITURE:
Move flammable furniture to the middle of the rooms. And make sure you have no
firewood or other flammables stacked against the house.
8. CURTAINS:
Remove flammable curtains.
9. HOSES:
Hook up every hose you can, and fill any tubs or trash cans with water stored
near your house.
PAPERS
1. Bring
laptops, tablets, and hard drives if you store valuable documents in them.
2. Bag up and
have ready to transport any documents you cannot replace.
3. Bring your
password list for financials and accounts.
PRESCRIPTIONS
1. Bag up and
have ready to transport your key medical needs and instruments.
2. Bring
extra batteries for any devices you rely on.
3. Have your
pain meds ready to go with you.
4. Do not
forget your vitamins.
PERSONAL
NEEDS
1. WATER:
Have extra bottled water ready for transport.
2. PHONES:
Gather up and have ready, spare cords, and chargers.
3. CLOTHES:
Bag up some comfy clothes, like for a camping trip. Include boots, hats,
sunglasses, swimwear if appropriate, and skin lotions.
4. FOOD:
Prepare a Go-Bag with some food, canned or dried, for a few days. You can buy a
commercial one as well. Bring hand snacks and trail mixes.
5.
FLASHLIGHTS: Have an assortment of extra flashlights packed up and ready to go,
with batteries.
PRICELESS
1. PICTURES:
Put irreplaceable pics in the fire safe now; or safe deposit box. Otherwise,
have them stacked and ready to move with you.
2. JEWELRY:
Decide and pack now what you think you might not be able to replace.
3. WALL
HANGINGS: Decide what you can replace. If you must take it with you, have a
plan and proper packaging that does not slow you down during evacuation.
PLASTIC
1. Make sure
you have with you or have in your escape Go-Bag your critical credit card and
ATM cards.
2. Have cash
on hand and ready to go during an evacuation. If electricity is out; cash is
king.
SUMMARY
Do not die
for stuff! But to survive and perhaps save your home, follow the 6 P’s for
Preparedness. Meet with your local fire department or volunteers for a home
fire risk assessment before you are breathing smoke. Take this plan and make it
yours. Go over it and practice it with your family. Put the info on your
smartphone. BE READY. Wildfires have no conscience and will take your home in
minutes.
Read my take on being part of the Mega-Fire Generation and what we can do about it NOW! Get my book from Amazon here.
#wildfire #fire #firepreparation #firepreparedness
MORE HELPFUL LINKS:
DEL'S BOOKS (LAND USE, WILDFIRE, DEATH VALLEY, COWBOY POETRY, AND MORE)
WEBSITE (HOME PAGE)
PINTEREST (BOOKS, ARTICLES, AND MORE)
DEL'S ARTICLES (LAND USE, LIFE, WILDFIRE, VOLUNTEERISM, AND MORE)
More land use and volunteerism help here:
- MEETINGS:
- RUN A BETTER MEETING
- NEPA:
- LEARN MORE ABOUT NEPA
- LETTERS:
- WRITE A LETTER
- SPEECHES:
- GIVE A SPEECH
- FACILITATE:
- LEARN TO FACILITATE MEETINGS
- CLUBS:
- WHY JOIN A CLUB
- CONVOYS:
- ORGANIZE A CONVOY
- JOIN:
- JOIN THE RIGHT GROUPS
- TRAINING:
- GET VOLUNTEER TRAINING
- LEAD:
- LEAD VOLUNTEERS
- JOBS:
- CHOOSE THE RIGHT JOB FOR YOU
