Emergency Preparedness Information

Storm Season Preparedness

Planning ahead for severe storms is the best way to ensure everyone's safety. With severe storms, you may experience high winds, flash flooding, and multi-day power outages. Be prepared, stay aware of conditions around you, and stay informed to keep you and the people you care about safe. 

Here are four steps you can take to practice preparedness:

Make a Go-Bag

Put together a bag that you can quickly grab if you are in an emergency and need to leave home. Include items like nonperishable foods, water, copies of important documents, cash and anything else you think your family would need.

Make a Family Emergency Plan

Make an emergency plan that you and your loved ones can rely on in case of an emergency. Identify a safe place you and your family will meet in case you need to leave home, how you will communicate with each other if you get separated and important contacts of those you would need to get a hold of.

Learn Your Evacuation Routes

Make sure everyone in your family knows multiple evacuation routes for your home, work, or school. When a disaster strikes, road can become clogged with traffic, or they may be closed for safety. Knowing alternative routes around these areas can help you be more prepared during an emergency. Knowing how to leave safely is an important step in disaster preparedness.

Engage Your Support System

Check in on those who may need extra care, including children, elderly, individuals with limited English proficiency, or other access and functional needs. If you need extra help, build a support network with people you trust who can help care for you before, during and after a disaster, Makie sure everyone in your support network is involved with your emergency plan.

  How to sign up for RAVE Mobile Alert (Link)

Printable Disaster Ready Guide (link)

• Don't Do It! Don't Drive Through Flooded Areas
• Remember: 

• 6 inches of water can cause a vehicle to lose control  
• 12 inches of water can sweep most cars away 
• 2 feet of rushing water can carry away any vehicle                                                       

• Plan Ahead in Case of a Power Outage!
• Planning ahead for power outages is the best way to ensure
• everyone's safe until the lights come back on.
•  
• Sign up for alerts through your energy company so you can be
• notified about power shutoffs if you use electric and assistive devices.

• Have Enough Nonperishable Food and Water to Last
• Sometimes you have to stay home to stay safe. 
• 
  
• Pack a Stay Box with gallon jugs of water, food you could eat if there 
• is no power and items you use every day.

TIP: Plan to have enough of what you need for your entire family.

• 
  
• Keep Car Gas Tank at Least Half Full
• When winter weather is heading your way, keep
• your eyes on the gas gauge and don't let it get 
• below half full!
• 
  
• TIP: Keep your car battery charged or your gas
• tank as full as possible in case of evacuations, 
• unexpected detours or power outages.
• 
  

• Avoid Non-Essential Travel During Storms
• Rain is in the forecast again, California.
• 
  
• With more cold, wet and windy weather expected
• to continue, it's important to stay informed and aware. 

Pay attention to weather forecasts and listen to local authorities.

• Powerlines
• A downed power line can be scary, but it's important
• to be prepared and not scared!
• 
  
• If a power line falls on your vehicle, call 911 and stay inside until trained
• personnel can remove it. 
• 
  

• 
  
• Stay Safe In A Flood
• This is a friendly reminder to stay safe during these
• storms and to stay out of floodwater!
• 
  
• Did you know? Flood water may contain toilet
• waste, hazardous chemicals, dead animals and heavy
• or sharp objects.
• 
  
• Stay dry, stay smart, stay away from floodwaters. 

For more tips visit www.listoscalifornia.org or contact Jackie Olivares at 530-458-0165, email jtolivares@countyofcolusaca.gov