If you live in a woodland setting or dry area, wildfires are a very real danger. While there's no way to completely protect your family and home from a wildfire, you can take steps to reduce the possibility of a wildfire and its effects. Here's how:
- Maintain your home with fire safety in mind.
- Create an emergency plan.
- Prepare your family.
- Understand your insurance policy.
A woodland setting, especially one with low humidity, can be a beautiful place to live. But sometimes, the spark from a not-quite-extinguished match or blink-of-an-eye lightning bolt can trigger a wildfire that can destroy property and lives in an instant.
It's up to you to be prepared for the unexpected. Advance planning can help you react quickly to protect your family and home.
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Maintain your home with fire safety in mind
Visit
Ready.gov to learn how to create your emergency plan and prepare your disaster supplies kit.
Protect your home and property using these tips:
- Clear brush at least 100 feet around your home, cut low hanging branches from nearby trees and mow your grass frequently.
- Use fire-resistant material on your roof and exterior of your home.
- Keep your roof and gutters clean.
- Clear an area of 10 feet around propane tanks and grills.
- Protect porches and decks with screens, as well as openings in the roof or attic.
- Keep a rake, ax, shovel and ladder available as handy fire tools.
Remove flammable items like woodpiles, lawn furniture and tarps from around your home.
- Make sure to have easily accessible water outlets and enough water hose to reach any area of your home.
Prepare your family for an emergency
Now you're ready to put your emergency preparedness plan together. Visit Ready.gov for their downloadable Family Communication Plan for Parents and Kids to help you organize an effective plan for your family.
Keep these tips in mind, too:
- Discuss your evacuation plan. Choose two emergency meeting places - one near your home and one outside your neighborhood - in case your family can't get back home.
- Appoint an out-of-state friend or family member as your point of contact. All family members should have this person's phone number to update their whereabouts.
- Be sure your kids know your phone numbers. Younger children should have a contact card in their school backpacks. Remember, text messaging may be easier than phone calls during an emergency.
- Check out your community's emergency communication service and sign up for automated calls or text updates, if available.
- Understand emergency plans for your children's school or day care, which should outline closures and emergency communication policies.
- Locate emergency shelters in your area.
- Plan for your pets. Have crates or other carriers and pack plenty of food and water for them. Check with friends, relatives or your local emergency shelter to be sure your pets are welcome.
- Create a disaster supply kit for a quick and easy evacuation. Ready.gov has tips and suggestions about what you should have in your kit.
- Know your military installation's emergency family assistance plan, which includes assistance locations, service procedures and training exercises to prepare for emergencies.
Evacuating your home
If a wildfire is headed your way, you need to evacuate immediately. Here are some things to remember when it's time to go:
- Wear protective clothing and a handkerchief to cover your face.
- Grab your disaster supply kit and lock your door on the way out.
- Shut off gas and propane, if possible.
- Turn on lights to make the house more visible in heavy smoke.
- Tune in to local radio stations for updates on evacuation routes.
- Connect with your emergency contact and say where you're going.
Understand your insurance policy
In most cases, homeowner’s insurance covers fires, including wildfires. Here are some things you can do to understand how your insurance policy works:
- Understand your coverage. Your insurance likely includes both home and belongings, but there may be exceptions.
- Know the difference between replacement cost and actual cash value. Replacement costs cover the price of new items. Actual cash value covers the actual value of those items. For example, a 10-year-old refrigerator has a lower actual cash value than the cost of a new one.
- Inventory your house. An inventory is essential when you file a claim or ask for financial assistance after a fire. The inventory can be a written list, pictures of items or a video. Store your inventory in a fireproof and waterproof safe or a safety deposit box at your bank.
The emergency preparedness plan you put together ahead of time will help you and your family react quickly and effectively.
Learn to regroup after a natural disaster in "Steps to Take After a Flood, Fire or Other Natural Disaster." Military OneSource offers a number of articles related to natural disasters — hurricanes, tornados, tsunamis, earthquakes and winter weather. Check them out and get the jump on whatever nature throws your way.