Follow these steps so you and your family are prepared to evacuate at a moment’s notice:

1. Sign up for alerts and warning systems
2. Create an evacuation plan
3. Review your evacuation checklist
4. Assemble an evacuation go-kit
5. Prepare to evacuate children, seniors, and people with disabilities
6. Prepare to evacuate pets and large animals

When a Red Flag Warning has been issued or a fire is burning nearby, take steps to prepare for the possibility of evacuation. Leave immediately if ordered. Don’t wait for an evacuation order if you feel unsafe or conditions change; leave early if unsure.

A summary of the evacuation checklist:

1. Monitor all available information sources.
2. Notify members of your household and neighbors to alert them to prepare for evacuation.
3. Dress for survival
4. Communicate and protect themselves, such as extra food, long cotton clothing, and a list of primary and alternate emergency contacts and numbers.

When you’re making an evacuation plan, first check to see whether you can stay in a hotel or with friends and family, which may be the safest options during the pandemic.  If you can’t make other arrangements, details of evacuation centers will be provided by the County through Alert Marin, Nixle, social media and news agencies.

Stay with friends or Stay in a Hotel

If you have relatives or friends outside the evacuation area whom you think might have space to accommodate you, ask them ahead of time so they’re prepared for you.

Check with hotels, motels or campgrounds outside your area to see whether they can accept you.

If staying with a friend or in a hotel isn’t an option, you can go to an evacuation center. It’s wise to research which center you’d be going to ahead of time — because you don’t want to research your destination as you scramble to evacuate.

Emergency managers will attempt to provide information on safe evacuation centers if time allows. For small-scale local evacuations or disaster recovery and sheltering, local schools, community centers, or large parking lots may be used.

Details of nearby evacuation centers will be provided by your county, so find your nearest evacuation center.

The American Red Cross also provides evacuation shelters across California. Check to see whether there’s a Red Cross evacuation shelter near you.

If You Are Unable to Evacuate on Your Own

• Ask a neighbor to assist you or give you a ride. Plan ahead and make a list of neighbors who may be able to assist you.
• If first responders are in your neighborhood, attempt to notify them that you require assistance.
• Call 911 if you are disabled or need assistance to evacuate. Be aware that emergency resources will be limited during a major wildfire.

Children & Schools

Public and private schools will attempt to notify parents and evacuate children only if time allows. Schools may need to shelter in place and will protect children in safe places on campus if a wildfire strikes without time to evacuate.

When an evacuation is ordered, parents may not be allowed into the evacuated area to pick up students. Communicate this with your children in advance, and send them to school prepared with the tools they need to communicate and protect themselves, such as extra food, long cotton clothing, and a list of primary and alternate emergency contacts and numbers.

The Ready.Gov FEMA website includes the following to prepare for disasters:

• Basic Disaster Supplies Kit list
• Recommendation to make an emergency kit stocked with the items in the kit
• Downloadable Checklist
  

• Fire Safety Checklist for Caregivers of Older Adults
• Older adults are more likely to die in home fires because they may move slower or have trouble hearing the smoke alarm.
• Make sure the people you know are prepared and safe.

• DISASTER PREPAREDNESS: For Seniors By Seniors
• Some seniors are in good health but aren’t quite as agile as they used to be. Some have hearing or vision problems; others use a cane or wheelchair.
• Whatever the limitations, they still need to be prepared.

• Many public shelters and hotels do not allow pets inside. Know a safe place where you can take your pets before disasters and emergencies happen
• Plan with neighbors, friends, or relatives to make sure that someone is available to care for or evacuate your pets if you are unable to do so.
• Make sure your pet is microchipped