By Ashlyn Rhodes
Fire season is coming on quick and, with the exceptionally dry winter, it’s sure to be a rough one. Patti Carter, who is the emergency preparedness coordinator for Nevada County, says being prepared can mean the difference between panicking and handling the situation.
Carter says that keeping at 100 yard defensible perimeter around your house can help save it from a wildfire, but to also bring important items with you when you evacuate, like tax papers, birth and marriage certificates, and spare keys. She says the local groups in charge of shelters are efficient and well-practiced.
If a shelter can’t accept your pets, Carter says there are networks in place so you don’t have to leave them behind.
Carter also says the local Code Red program is great for helping people know when a fire is threatening their area and when to evacuate. All Nevada County landlines are automatically enrolled in the reverse-911 call system, but that households without landlines need to manually enter their cellphones in the system.
To learn more about preparing for emergencies, or defending your home against wild fires, go online to Ready.gov, BePreparedCalifornia.CA.gov, or CAFireSafeCouncil.org.
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