Despite the cold weather conditions locally, the devastating fires in Southern California have provided a harsh reminder that we all need to remain ready for wildfire throughout the year, not only in the warmer months.
There are actions you can take throughout the year to increase your level of personal preparedness for a wildfire and increase wildfire resiliency in the Fremont community, regardless of where you live or the type of dwelling you reside in.
Here are a few key wildfire preparedness tips to keep in mind:
1. Make a Wildfire Action Plan
Creating a well-thought-out Wildfire Action Plan is important for every family, regardless of where you live. Customize your plan to address specific family needs and situations, ensuring everyone is prepared long before a wildfire begins.
Your Wildfire Action Plan should include:
- Meeting point: A preselected meeting location outside high-risk areas to determine who has evacuated from the affected area.
- Several escape routes: Multiple escape routes, known to everyone in your household. Practice these routes often so your loved ones know where to go.
- Animal arrangements: Specific arrangements for pets and larger animals like horses and other livestock.
- Communication plan: A family communication strategy names someone outside of the area to be the main point of contact for all family members in case you get separated or have difficulty with phone connectivity.
To download a free Wildfire Action Plan for your household, visit
CAL FIRE: Wildfire is Coming. Are You Ready? Create a Wildfire Action Plan
2. Prepare an Emergency ‘Go Bag’
Make an Emergency ‘Go Bag’, or an emergency supply kit for each person in your family long before any wildfire or disaster. Make sure it’s accessible for quick evacuation and prepare for the possibility of being away from home for an extended period of time.
Each ‘Go Bag’ should be easy to locate and carry. Use backpacks to store items like basic necessities and copies of personal documents. For food and water, consider a wheeled tub or mobile container that allows for easier transport. Keep your bag light enough to carry or for comfortable lifting into a vehicle.
Items to consider for your Emergency ‘Go Bag’ include:
- A 3-day supply, at minimum, of non-perishable food and three gallons of water per person
- A map with at least two evacuation routes
- Necessary prescriptions or medications
- A change of comfortable clothes and extra eyeglasses/contact lenses
- Extra car keys, credit cards, cash, or traveler’s checks
- A first aid kit and sanitation supplies
- A flashlight and battery-powered radio with extra batteries
- Copies of important documents (birth certificates, passports, housing records, legal paperwork, etc.)
- Pet food and water
Always have sturdy shoes and a flashlight near your bed, ready for sudden night or early morning evacuations.
3. Review Your Insurance Coverage
When is the last time you reviewed your insurance policy? Do you know what damage is covered by your insurance when a disaster strikes? It’s important to make a practice of reviewing your home and/or business insurance policies on a regular basis to ensure you have the right coverage to meet your needs.
Here are essential insurance tips to think about as you develop your Wildfire Action Plan:
Complete an Insurance Check-Up:
- Contact your insurance agent for an annual policy checkup
- Update your policy after completing home improvements
- Ensure your policy includes key coverages like extended replacement cost, annual inflation adjustment, increased living expenses coverage, and building code coverage
- Verify the accuracy of your home’s details in your policy, such as square footage and home finishes
- Consider purchasing renters insurance if you’re renting
- Keep homeowners insurance active, even if your home is paid off
- Add coverage to your auto policy for post-wildfire vehicle replacement
Create a Home Inventory:
- Use your cellphone to record video of each room and garage for a home inventory
- Describe items in detail, including in drawers and closets
- Record purchase details of large appliances and furniture
- Note expensive or special items (jewelry, collections, etc.)
- Photograph or save receipts for big purchases
- Store your inventory list offsite or in the cloud
4. Sign up for Emergency Alerts
Wildfires can move quickly and may require City or other emergency officials share critical updates with you.
Ensure that you and your loved ones have registered to receive local text, email, and/or phone updates via:
- Nixle Alerts from the Fremont Fire Department and Fremont Police Department by texting your zip code to 888777
- AC Alert emergency notifications in Alameda County by visiting https://alamedacountyca.gov/emergencysite
- Genasys Protect (formerly known as Zonehaven) is an emergency communications platform with standardized evacuation zones established for all of Fremont, the entire County of Alameda, and many communities throughout the state. Take a moment to become familiar with your evacuation zone by visiting https://protect.genasys.com/search to locate your zone.
Wildfire won’t wait! The steps you take to prepare, prevent, and minimize damage of wildfires now, the better off you and your loved ones will be.
To review additional emergency preparedness tips, visit
https://www.fremont.gov/residents/emergency-preparedness
If you’re someone who is
Ready for Wildfire and would like to learn more about helping your neighbors during a disaster and participating in an upcoming Community Emergency Response Team training in Fremont, please visit
https://www.fremont.gov/government/departments/fire/safety-preparedness/cert for more information.
