Although Southern California is one of the most beautiful areas to live in, it can also be quite dangerous when wildfire season rolls around. Planning ahead will be instrumental in keeping you safe from this deadly natural disaster.
In this guide, youâll learn how to create an emergency supply kit for wildfires. Letâs take a closer look at what you need to stay safe.
Medical Supplies
The first thing you need to pack in your emergency supply kit is anything medical. This includes prescriptions, vitamins, sanitation products, and a first aid kit.
These items will offer immediate relief if you happen to face a medical emergency during evacuation. Additionally, you might also want to bring extra glasses or contact lenses if someone in your family has a prescription. Hopefully, you wonât need to use any of these items while you seek shelter, but itâs better to have them and not need them than the other way around.
Travel Gear
If your home is in the current path of a wildfire, pack plenty of travel gear because you wonât be able to return home until the coast is clear. You may want to pack a weekâs worth of clothes and enough food and water for each person in your family. A flashlight, a radio, and cell phone chargers can also prove valuable.
You may want to invest in fire-resistant clothing for forest fires if you live in an at-risk area as well. Also, even though mask mandates are starting to loosen nationally, a face mask will help you get through the smog when thereâs excess smoke in the air.
Other Important Items
Grabbing everything you own when thereâs a wildfire in your backyard is extremely difficult. This is why having everything packed in your emergency supply kit is so critical. You may want to keep copies of essential documents, such as your birth certificate, passport, and social security card, in your emergency supply kit so that they donât get destroyed. If thereâs any leftover room in your case, you can put valued family belongings in it, such as jewelry. This way, youâll always have it.
Overall, if you pack your emergency supply kit the right way, you should have everything you need to stay safe when thereâs a wildfire. Now that you know how to create an emergency supply kit for wildfires, you can ensure that everyone will be alright if such a disaster arises.