Sonoma County has become an increasingly disaster-prone region. As such, it is extremely important that we are all prepared to evacuate swiftly and safely should the need arise. Here are some tips to help you develop a plan to stay safe, have an emergency kit and be informed as emergency events unfold. The County has published additional recommendations for those who have access and functional needs.

Be Prepared

• Stay informed by signing up for SoCo and Nixle alerts.

• Inform yourself of other alert systems such as Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA), Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Hi-Low Sirens.

 • Subscribe to County Emergency Updates to receive email updates on safety information and road closures.

• Familiarize yourself with local radio stations such as KCBS 740 AM, KSRO 1050 AM, KBBF 89.1 FM (Bilingual/Spanish), KRCB 91 FM and KZST 100.1 FM.

Planning in Advance

• People and pets are your first priority.

• If you need help evacuating quickly, reach out to family, friends or neighbors and discuss a plan for getting you out quickly and safely.

• Make sure you have a full tank of gas.

• Meet your neighbors. You may have a neighbor who is a first responder, one who has a generator or someone who is older and may need assistance.

• Make sure you have an extra supply of life-saving medications as well as copies of your prescriptions.

• Complete a Personal Emergency Plan.

• Create an Evacuation Timeline for various scenarios.

• Know the “6 P’s”.

           o People and Pets.

          o Papers, phone numbers and other important documents.

          o Prescriptions, eyeglasses and supplements.

         o Pictures and irreplaceable items.

          o Personal computers or any external hard drives.

          o Plastic (credit cards, ATM cards) and cash.

Build Emergency Preparedness Kits

• Personal Preparedness Go Bags should contain at least 72 hours’ worth of essential supplies such as food, water, blankets, medical supplies and important documents, and more.

• Home Preparedness Kit should contain a minimum of 7 days’ worth of emergency supplies.

• Vehicle Preparedness Kits should contain at least 24 hours’ worth of emergency supplies.

Our community has been tested over the last several years and we have proven to be resilient and Sonoma Strong. Let’s all do our part to be prepared and keep our community safe.

Additional resources:

https://socoemergency.org/prepare

http://listos.org

https://www.ready.gov

http://sebastopolcert.org/map-your-neighborhood

https://srcity.org/461/Citizens-Organized-to-Prepare-for-Emerge

https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies.html