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As wildfires continue to burn across the Bay Area and in nearby counties with little or no containment, now is the time to double-check your emergency and evacuation preparedness.

Don’t wait for evacuation warnings or orders. Preparation is important, safety experts say, when it comes to taking the edge off anxieties and also lessening the blow if tragedy happens.

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.

Read the latest stories on wildfires burning across the Bay Area and in nearby counties.

How to prepare for trouble

As this week’s wildfires have painfully demonstrated, an evacuation may be necessary at any time day – or night. Here are some things you can do now to prepare for emergencies you may encounter later.

Here is a checklist for things to put together and try to take with you should you be forced to evacuate. Click here to download a more detailed plan put together by FireSafeMarin.org:

What to take
(Time permitting)

  • Photographs of all family members.
  • Food and water (for up to seven days, if possible).
  • Pets (if advance warning, take to an approved shelter).
  • Pet ID tags, medications, leashes and water bowls.
  • Change of clothing for each person (for one to seven days).
  • Cell phones and chargers. Laptop computer. External backup hard drives.
  • Health and car insurance cards and related documents.
  • Property deeds.
  • Marriage license.
  • Tax papers.
  • Birth certificates.
  • Drivers’ licenses.
  • Checkbook, credit cards, cash, wallet, purse.
  • Medications, including analgesics and motion sickness tablets.
  • First-aid kit.
  • Prescription eyewear, dentures, hearing aids.
  • Jewelry.
  • Irreplaceable keepsakes.
  • Flashlights and portable radio with extra batteries.

How to prepare for an emergency

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.
  • 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.
  • Draw a diagram of your home. Plan two ways out of every room, especially the bedrooms.
  • Make provisions as to how your pets will be taken from the home.

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.