Across California, the return of hot, dry and windy weather conditions once more has residents bracing for wildfires.
The increased wildfire risk also increases the likelihood that power outages from public safety power shutoffs may take place, to prevent fires from sparking.
To top it off, the COVID-19 pandemic has added another layer of challenges for first responders, emergency managers and evacuees headed to evacuation centers. With the BA.5 variant being the most dominant strain of COVID-19 in the country, more people appear to be contracting the virus multiple times as the variant appears to evade immune responses, even in those who have been fully vaccinated with a booster shot.
According to a report from the California Department of Public Health, the statewide positivity rate has jumped to 16% from the previous week, and several counties have reported surges in case rates. To limit the spread of infection, clean masks should be worn indoors, and disinfectants/hand sanitizers should be readily available.
We gathered tips on what should be in your emergency bag during the pandemic, with advice from San Francisco’s Neighborhood Emergency Response Team (NERT), Listos California Emergency Preparedness Campaign (guide available in English and Spanish), Cal Fire, the American Red Cross and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Items for the pandemic:
People who are vulnerable to the coronavirus or are self-quarantining may want to take special mask precautions, such as wearing two face coverings.
Regular emergency bag list:
Remember: You may have to walk to safety, so pack your emergency supplies in something that’s durable and easy to carry, such as a backpack or duffle bag. For heavier items, such as food and water, using a tub or chest on wheels may make it easier to transport — but make sure it's still light enough to lift.
Pet emergency bag list: If you have pets, Cal Fire has put together this list of items to make sure you bring, which includes:
Make sure your pets have collars with identification, rabies and license tags. Check to make sure your contact information is up to date.
For more information on transporting pets, larger animals and livestock, check Cal Fire's animal evacuation guide, and read our story on how to plan for wildfires if you have pets or livestock.
Items to take if time and space allow:
Where should I keep my go bag and other essentials?
According to Cal Fire PIO Heather Williams, keeping your bag by your front door or in your car is best. Anywhere you can easily grab it and go.
Having to evacuate your home due to threat of wildfire is a scary prospect — especially if you've never had to do it before. Read our guide to safely and swiftly leaving your home, from when you should leave to what you should bring (and what you should wear.)
Fire preparedness is multifaceted — especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
If you live in a fire-prone area, it's important to make sure your home is prepared though home hardening and maintaining a defensible space to increase the chance of your home’s survival in the case of a wildfire.
Normally, Cal Fire conducts defensible space inspections at households vulnerable to wildfires, but the pandemic has limited their ability to do so. So they've established a self-assessment that homeowners can complete to address where weaknesses may lie.
“This self-assessment helps our inspectors comply with social distancing recommendations while still collecting vital information,” said Chief Thom Porter, Cal Fire director. “We urge you to participate in the survey and do your part to protect your community by creating defensible space and hardening your home to increase its chances of surviving a wildfire."
For more information, see KQED's guide on how to prepare for fire season.
Should we turn off our natural gas?
If you need to evacuate immediately, you should follow evacuation orders and leave.
However, if you have the time, FEMA and Cal Fire recommend that you turn off the gas supply. First locate the shutoff valve, which is usually located close to your gas meter. Using a 12-15 inch wrench, turn off the gas by turning the hand wheel clockwise so that it is perpendicular to the pipe. You should also turn off any propane tanks.
Do not turn your natural gas back on by yourself after an evacuation. PG&E crews will inspect each meter and turn it back on.
According to the CDC, if you are preparing to go to a shelter and want to lower the risk of a possible COVID infection, make sure your go bag has items like hand sanitizer that can help protect you and others from the virus. You should also be staying up to date with COVID vaccines, making it less likely that you will need medical services while hospitals are under strain from the emergency.
The CDC recommends vaccines for everyone age 6 months and older, and COVID-19 boosters for everyone age 5 years and older, if eligible.
The American Red Cross — which has provided evacuees shelter during recent California wildfires — established standard precautions based on guidance from health officials, FEMA and the CDC.
However, the Red Cross will prioritize providing refuge in individual hotel rooms or dormitory style rooms when possible.
"The biggest changes is that, when possible, we are trying to support people — who would otherwise need to be in a shelter — with non-congregant accommodations such as motel or hotel rooms. That won't always be possible, but it's our first option these days for obvious reasons," said Jim Burns, spokesperson for the Northern California American Red Cross, in an email.
To ensure Red Cross emergency shelters are safe, here are additional precautions they are taking at evacuation centers:
Plan ahead and find out if your local public shelter is open in case you do get evacuated. Keep in mind that your evacuation center may be different from last year due to the pandemic. Read more about evacuation centers during COVID-19.
In the case of being trapped in an evacuation emergency, you should call 911 and turn on lights to help rescuers find you.
You should monitor local alerting systems for the most up-to-date emergency information and instructions. It’s best to set up multiple ways to receive emergency weather alerts:
“We’ve become so reliant on smartphones. And when it fails us, there is that panic moment,” said Capt. Erica Arteseros of San Francisco’s Fire Department, who is the program coordinator for NERT. “So, we always recommend to identify an out-of-state person to be a check-in contact.”
Here's How to Prepare for Fire SeasonArteseros said you should send a text message to that out-of-state person with the time and your location, even if you don’t have wireless service, because that text message will eventually get to that person. Phone calls will fail when cell towers are down for either you or your contact, but text messages work on a relay system between emergency beacons on cell towers, so they are more likely to reach people than voice messages and phone calls.
It's also a good idea to update your social media profiles on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram to let friends and family know your status, including where you are and when you will update your status again. This allows people to know when to expect information from you and will save cellphone battery, allowing you to go without cell service and Wi-Fi for a little while, if you must.
Remember, some smartphones allow you to change settings to make calls over Wi-Fi, and some apps like Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp allow Wi-Fi phone calls.
Read more about how to keep communicating with loved ones during a disaster situation in our guide.
Will I miss important news because I don't have a smartphone?
Not necessarily. Counties increasingly rely on the WEA system — wireless emergency alerts that by and large are delivered to cellphones through the IPAWS system, the federal integrated public alert and warning system. Those alerts also go to NOAA Weather Radios, which operate on emergency cranks or battery power. NOAA weather radios broadcast official warnings, watches, forecasts and other hazard information consistently.
You can also sign up to get NIXLE alerts, which can come via texts, voice messages and emails. If you have a friend, family member or neighbor who does have a smartphone, set up a system so they can get you important info.
Arteseros recommends building a special box that you can take with your go bag.
Those items would include heirlooms, photos and scrapbooks — anything that you consider special in your life that you would be devastated to lose, but is not practical for the go bag.
"Make a plan," Arteseros said. She said it's important to know who your neighbors are. You can help them make a go bag if they don't have one, and make sure they have a way to escape, especially if they don't have a car. (Keep your gas tank full.)
“We don’t want anyone waiting for a neighbor that just can’t get ready,” she said. “But it is important for everyone to look out for each other when something happens.”
We want to know what your questions and concerns are about wildfire preparation during the pandemic. Fill in the form below and let us know:
This story has been updated. KQED's Molly Peterson, Danielle Venton and Michelle Wiley contributed to this report.
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