Are You Ready for Any Emergency?
September is National Preparedness Month: Prepare for All Hazards
Lake County reminds residents to anticipate emergencies of all types. Putting together a personal or family emergency plan, and having supplies on-hand for any type of disaster, can be lifesaving.
Lake County’s residents have shown resilience in the face of disaster-related challenges including repeated highly destructive wildfires and atmospheric river storms. The recent Boyles Fire, which destroyed 30 structures in the City of Clearlake, was a reminder of how essential it is to be prepared.
Lake County Office of Emergency Services, in coordination with other County Departments and Agencies launched a new one-stop website for residents and visitors earlier this year. Residents and visitors can access preparedness steps and resources as well as link to active incident and recovery information.
Five steps to prepare for all-hazards are to Get Alerts, Know Your Zone, Plan for Emergencies, Prepare Your Home and Connect with Neighbors. Visit https://Ready.LakeCountyCA.gov and click “Prepare” to learn more about each of these steps and access additional resources by topic. “A Step by Step Guide to Prepare for Lake County Hazards” and activities to help you understand preparedness are available to download.
Additional ways to prepare for emergencies include learning CPR and first aid, checking insurance for flood, earthquake, and wildfire coverage, and knowing safety protocols for utilities.
In addition to County offered resources, Cal OES Listos’ readiness program offers a wealth of information for specific hazards including earthquake, power outages, wildfire smoke safety and flood. Learn more below and visit the links provided for additional detail.
Earthquake Preparedness: Earthquakes are familiar to Lake County. Remember these tips:
Practice drop, cover, and hold on.
Secure loose furniture.
Keep a “Go Bag” and sturdy shoes ready.
Stay indoors, avoid doorways, and don’t use elevators.
Remain in bed and cover your head with a pillow.
Outdoors, move away from hazards like power lines.
If driving, pull over away from hazards.
Listen for official alerts and evacuate the coast post-quake.
Check for gas leaks.
Learn more here.
Power Outage Preparation: Extreme weather may cause power shutdowns. Stay prepared:
Create a plan for medical device users.
Use flashlights, not candles.
Keep all electronic devices charged.
Have a battery-powered radio and cooler ready.
Manually operate garage doors.
Know your circuit breaker locations.
Unplug electronics during outages.
Avoid using stoves or grills indoors.
For detailed tips, learn more.
Wildfire Smoke Safety: Wildfire smoke poses risks to health. Protect yourself:
Stay indoors with windows closed.
Use air purifiers.
Avoid burning candles or using ventilation fans.
Minimize propane or gas appliance use.
Wear protective masks outdoors.
Include inhalers in evacuation plans.
Explore further information here.
Flood Safety: Flooding can follow even moderate rainfall. Key precautions include:
Avoid flooded areas.
Do not drive or walk through water.
Stay clear of power lines.
Ground conditions may be hazardous after floods.
For more, visit here.
As part of National Preparedness Month, let's commit to safeguarding our families and community. Many County agencies prepare to keep you safe all year-long including public works, law enforcement, fire, health services, social services and emergency services. Taking your time to prepare now will help everyone during the next emergency.