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Together, we’ve reached the sixth of the six P’s – “plastic” and cash. In previous posts, I’ve brought up the fact that an evacuation can be ordered at any time – whether we’re at home or away. Therefore, we need to consider multiple possibilities for having these items available when we need them. “Plastic”
The best way to have these items when you need them is to make sure you always carry them with you when you’re out or have them near your Go Bag when you’re home. Fortunately, if you get caught without your wallet, there are ways to use your phone to make purchases. Google Wallet/Google Pay, Apple Pay, and Samsung Wallet/Samsung Pay are available to us. (For more information and pros/cons about each, check out this 2025 Android Authority article written by Joe Hindy: “Google Wallet vs Apply Pay vs Samsung Wallet: Which is right for you? (Which should you trust your payments to?)”) Unfortunately, this means that you (1) need to evacuate with your phone, and (2) must visit a business that accepts one of these forms of payment. Another option is to store a credit or ATM card in your Go Bag. Or store checks in your Go Bag (but do all business still accept checks?). And I highly recommend storing a decent amount of emergency cash in your Go Bag, too. Cost: $0 Frequency: Check the cards and cash stored in your Go Bag semi-annually, and add or swap any items right away (such as when one card expires and you receive a new one) Let’s complete this one, and then we can congratulate ourselves on everything we accomplished over the past six weeks. I think we’re much better prepared to evacuate now, don’t you? What are your thoughts about how to safely store money in case of emergency? Let me know in the Comments. Important Disclaimer: I am not a fire preparedness professional. I am merely sharing my research, opinions, and what I find that applies to my geographic and personal situations in hopes that it will help others. Please make sure that whatever steps and advice you follow are what is best for you.
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What is a computer (hard drive and disk), but a (pricey) vessel used to store digital versions of papers, phone numbers, and important documents?
In the current age of cloud storage options, I think of this fifth P as an extension of the second P (from Week 9). If you’re at your residence when you receive an evacuation order, then do grab your personal computer(s), hard drive(s), and disk(s). But, in the event you’re away from your home when wildfire ignites and it isn’t safe to return, I recommend taking steps now to ensure your files are still accessible. Either put these items near your Go Bag, in a fireproof safe, or make sure the most important files are stored in a trustworthy cloud storage option (links to possibilities are below).
Cost: $0 - $$$ (Depending on the supplies you may need to buy now) Frequency: Check your supplies semi-annually, and add or swap any new items right away This task depends on where you are when an evacuation is ordered. How do you plan to tackle it? Links and Resources
Important Disclaimer: I am not a fire preparedness professional. I am merely sharing my research, opinions, and what I find that applies to my geographic and personal situations in hopes that it will help others. Please make sure that whatever steps and advice you follow are what is best for you.
This week, we’re addressing the items that we can survive without, but really hope not to have to. Thank goodness for phones with high quality cameras and the ability to store memories photographically. But, for those of us who started taking pictures when film was the only option, here is your reminder to digitize your favorites. Fire that scanner back up and get to work! And, although it’s impossible to photograph or scan a three-dimensional item and still have the same emotional response, perhaps that image will be better than nothing following an emergency. If anything, it will help prompt stories.
Pictures and Irreplaceable Memorabilia
This fourth P is particularly personal. The list above includes examples of what may be most important to you and your family. Like the documents from Week 9, I scan or take photos and videos of my items and save them on the disks and in the cloud. Of course, if there are items you absolutely cannot part with (I know I have a few), make sure they’re stored with your Go Bag to be evacuated with you or placed in a fireproof safe. For items that cannot be evacuated with a short notice order, such as a piano passed down from generation to generation, there are methods you can use from a variety of sources to emotionally prepare yourself for or recover from loss. I encourage you to find what will work best for you and your family, but below are some examples of how to identify the items that are most important to you, as well as how to let them go.
There’s no doubt that dealing with the loss of items qualifies as a grieving process. It is important to not dismiss those feelings, and to work through them on your terms. Emotions aside, it is also smart to capture “before” videos and photos of your property, structure, and possessions for insurance purposes. Then, when you can return to your property post-fire, it’s important to have “after” evidence and record damage to your home and personal items. (Refer to “10 Ways to Prepare Your Home for Natural Disasters” from Lawrence & Associates). Cost: $0 - $$ (Depending on the supplies you may need to buy now) Frequency: It’s probably ideal to get the most up-to-date files on the removable disk to someone you trust at least semi-annually. If you have advanced warning before an evacuation, what item(s) will you be sure to pack? Share in the Comments. Important Disclaimer: I am not a fire preparedness professional. I am merely sharing my research, opinions, and what I find that applies to my geographic and personal situations in hopes that it will help others. Please make sure that whatever steps and advice you follow are what is best for you.
After this week, we’ll be halfway through the P’s. Last week (Week 9), you gathered important information, including prescription and vitamin details, as well as vision records. This week, make sure to collect the actual items.
The third P only lists prescriptions, vitamins, and eyeglasses, but I recommend adding anything you need regularly to this list. If you want, you can separate the items by “must haves” and “nice-to-haves.” Prescriptions, Vitamins, and Eyeglasses
Here is what I do: Every time I get a new prescription or bottle of vitamins I count out 14 pills and save them in a pill box in my Go Bag. That way I’m not storing pills for several years past their expiration dates because I’m cycling them each time I acquire a new bottle. Also, this serves as a time to check what is in my Go Bag. If you need glasses during an emergency, store a pair purchased from the drugstore in your Go Bag. Or, when you pick up a new prescription pair, save the previous pair in your Go Bag (assuming the prescription hasn’t changed that much). If there are any other items you require during an extended time away from home, make sure to have something that will get you through at least two weeks. For example, purchase an extra cane or hearing aid batteries and store them with your Go Bag now. Cost: $0 - $$ (Depending on whether you need to purchase anything) Frequency: Check your supplies every two-to-three months, but add or swap any new items right away. Do not let medications expire or batteries lose their charge. I’d love to know how you all tackle this step. Leave your tips and ideas in the Comments. Important Disclaimer: I am not a fire preparedness professional. I am merely sharing my research, opinions, and what I find that applies to my geographic and personal situations in hopes that it will help others. Please make sure that whatever steps and advice you follow are what is best for you.
If you’re like me, you have a mix of hard and soft copy documents scattered around. Maybe you went through a streak of scanning and digitizing documents in 2014, for example, but haven’t updated and organized your files since then. Now is your sign to get back to it.
This step is tedious. Believe me, I understand. But now it is as good a time as any to take some time to prioritize organizing, digitizing, and saving the documents you need in case of emergency. Fortunately, many of the keepers of our most critical records have gone digital. Medical and dental records, at least the recent ones, are likely saved and available through your provider’s portal. Your pharmacist should be able to pull prescription information to get you your refills. Government documents can be re-issued. Phone numbers can be stored in phones or can be found online. Papers, Phone Numbers, and Important Documents
You know what you and your family members will need. If you’re on a mission to get all medical records scanned and saved for peace of mind, then do that. Of course, you may not need every record stored and available in the event of evacuation. If you do not have a scanner of your own, phone cameras and apps are getting better about digitizing documents. You can also head to your local library and use their scanner; just remember to grab all documents and don’t leave anything behind. I do not recommend leaving paper copies of documents in your vehicle in case it gets stolen – that’s a great deal of personally identifiable information that is now in the hands of someone who already proved they aren’t trustworthy. Instead, I scan and store the digital versions as files in an encrypted folder. Then I…
There are also fireproof (and waterproof) safes (also called fire chests) that keep items protected. Basic models advertise the ability to keep items protected for up to 30 minutes at 1550 degrees Fahrenheit (843 degrees Celsius). (I’ve included some links to reviewed fires safes below.) In the event you can’t go home to retrieve documents before an evacuation order is issued, you may want to purchase one of these to store hard copies of documents (in addition to saving digital versions). To have the most important phone numbers stored and easily accessible, I have them saved in my phone. However, I also typed and printed in-case-of-emergency phone numbers on wallet-sized card stock (so it’s a bit more durable) for my wallet, just in case something happens to my phone. And, speaking of phones, remember it’s best to stick to texting during an emergency – “test messages get through even when voice networks are congested” (City of Homer, AK: Communicating With Your Family & Friends During a Disaster). Cost: $0 - $$$ (Depending on the supplies you may need, such as a scanner, disks, fire safe/chest, or cloud storage space) Frequency: Check your documents and get the most up-to-date files on the removable disk to someone you trust at least semi-annually (or depending on the amount of documentation you acquire throughout the year). If you update a particularly important document (such as a driver’s license), get that digitized, encrypted, and stored on the disk and/or cloud right away. The above steps are what I’ve taken to put myself in a better position regarding this second P. I’d like to know – what do you recommend? Please tell me in the Comments. Links and Resources
Important Disclaimer: I am not a fire preparedness professional. I am merely sharing my research, opinions, and what I find that applies to my geographic and personal situations in hopes that it will help others. Please make sure that whatever steps and advice you follow are what is best for you.
Admittedly, and I don’t know why, building a Go Bag feels like a big undertaking. How do you assemble at least two weeks’ worth of basic necessities and your most valuable possessions? I suppose in the same way you do anything else – one step at a time.
For the next six weeks, I want to build our Go Bags incrementally by focusing on the six “P’s.” What are they? I’m so glad you asked:
Okay, fine… I suppose you could argue that’s closer to eight P’s, but I recommend we stay consistent with the organizations that recognize six (like the Los Angeles Fire Department, the Colorado Springs Fire Department, CAL FIRE, Oregon Wildfire Response & Recovery, and many more). No matter how many P’s you count, they include the items you need to have packed and ready when it’s time to go. People and Pets Fortunately, we’ve already completed a lot of the work associated with the first of the six P’s. Way to go! In Week 2, we prepared to evacuate with pets. In Week 3, we identified emergency evacuation routes and shelter locations. In Week 6, we built our Get Home Bag (the bag that lives in our vehicles or outside of our homes and, if push comes to shove, already contains the basic items we want for evacuation). In addition to what we’ve done in past weeks, Oregon Wildfire Response & Recovery lists food, water, hygiene, sanitation, clothing, and comfort items as the things to gather to fulfill the first P. I raided my 20-year-old backpacking supplies and here is what I collected for myself:
Of course, your items will look different depending on your needs and the needs of other people and animals in your care. Don’t forget about:
Another courtesy would be to attach a sign to the door for first responders to let them know the people and pets have fully evacuated. Cost: $0 - $$$ (Depending on the supplies you may need to buy now) Frequency: Check your supplies semi-annually, and add or swap any items right away How are you getting yourself, family, roommates, neighbors, and pets ready? What items did I miss? Are there any other useful resources you recommend? Let me know in the Comments. Important Disclaimer: I am not a fire preparedness professional. I am merely sharing my research, opinions, and what I find that applies to my geographic and personal situations in hopes that it will help others. Please make sure that whatever steps and advice you follow are what is best for you.
May is Wildfire Awareness Month and, since Saturday May 3rd was Wildfire Community Preparedness Day (#WildfirePrepDay2025), what better way to keep the activities going than to learn what to do around your property just prior to an evacuation (the pre-evacuation stage)? These are the steps that will hopefully help reduce damage to your structure but, very importantly, will also support the responding firefighters.
Days-to-Hours Before Evacuation: If you anticipate an evacuation alert, or if you choose to evacuate on your own and there is time after you’ve packed everything in your vehicle:
Hours-to-Minutes Before Evacuation: If you only have a little time to do a few things after the vehicle is packed, here is what is recommended:
Cost: $0 - $$$$ (Depending on the supplies you need to buy now, such as hoses, a ladder, buckets, and materials to cover vents) Frequency: Check your supplies annually, but you’ll only need to take the listed steps if you prepare to evacuate. Even though this isn’t a particularly long list, this is a lot to remember if you’re experiencing a great deal of stress due to the potential threat of wildfire. What tips do you have to remember what to do when it officially becomes pre-evacuation time? For example, will you create a checklist and tape it to a door or include it in your “In Case of Emergency” binder? Do you have a mnemonic or a song that helps you remember the important steps? Let me know in the Comments. References:
Important Disclaimer: I am not a fire preparedness professional. I am merely sharing my research, opinions, and what I find that applies to my geographic and personal situations in hopes that it will help others. Please make sure that whatever steps and advice you follow are what is best for you.
I’ll address a “Go” Bag in a future #FirePrepFriday but, this week, I want to share what I call my “Get Home” Bag. In my mind, a Go Bag is what I have packed and stored in my house – it includes emergency essentials and is among the things I would quickly grab after receiving an evacuation alert. A Get Home Bag, on the other hand, is always stored in my vehicle. That way, if an emergency occurs while I’m away from home and out in town or in the wilderness… whether it’s a wildfire, a blizzard, or just a flat tire… I have supplies I can use to get back to the house.
Here are the items in my Get Home Bag:
Here are the additional items I keep in my vehicle:
Cost: No Cost - $$$$ (depending on what you already have and what you need to add to your supplies) Frequency: Check your Get Home Bag at least semi-annually. If you have items like mine, you need to ensure the batteries aren’t dead, the medical supplies aren’t expired, and you have weather-appropriate clothing (for example, in your location, you may not need several blankets, gloves, or the warmest jacket you have). What’s in your Get Home Bag? What do you recommend I add to mine? Share your thoughts in the Comments. Important Disclaimer: I am not a fire preparedness professional. I am merely sharing my research, opinions, and what I find that applies to my geographic and personal situations in hopes that it will help others. Please make sure that whatever steps and advice you follow are what is best for you.
We addressed Zone 0 last week, and your neighbors undoubtedly saw you checking the distances between your home and vegetation, patio furniture, and any other potentially flammable objects. Now is a great time to get them involved in #FirePrepFriday, too!
For Week 6, I encourage you to tell your neighbors what you’ve discovered about wildfire preparedness and how it affects your geographic location. Share why it’s important to work as a community to mitigate and prepare before a disaster and reassure them that, when you take care of a task one week at a time, fire preparedness doesn’t have to feel so daunting. As a visual learner, I greatly appreciate the Colorado Springs Fire Department’s (CSFD) Wildfire Mitigation Booklet. I attended a City of Colorado Springs event a couple months ago and took CSFD up on their offer to grab a stack of the booklets to share with my neighbors. It succinctly walks community members through the Ready, Set, and Go steps. If each of us shares a similar booklet or online resource with our neighbors, and then they share with their neighbors, and so on, just imagine how prepared a whole neighborhood will be. At the next block party, be sure to bring one of these booklets in addition to the cheese plate, veggie tray, and sparkling beverages. Cost: $0 Frequency: Acquire the latest version of your area’s documentation annually. Are your neighbors aware of the fire risk in your area? Do your local fire department, city, or county services offer a handy booklet or online resource you can share with your community? If so, paste the link in the Comments. Important Disclaimer: I am not a fire preparedness professional. I am merely sharing my research, opinions, and what I find that applies to my geographic and personal situations in hopes that it will help others. Please make sure that whatever steps and advice you follow are what is best for you.
It’s Week 4 of #FirePrepFriday, and this week I was inspired by the news stories I’m seeing about creating defensible space around the structures where we spend most of our time.
This San Francisco Chronicle article, written by reporter Julie Johnson and originally published on April 10th, is one such example of the reports coming out about Berkeley, CA. The Berkeley City Council met last Tuesday to discuss a proposal to pursue the creation of defensible space around homes in neighborhoods near Tilden Regional Park, an area considered to have high fire danger (Johnson, 2025). The City Council proposal is similar to one being developed by the State of California and, in addition to sharing a lot of good information, writes “Best practice requires removing flammable materials and maintaining vegetation to minimize wildfire exposure, particularly within the critical Ember Resistant Zone (Zone 0) and surrounding Home Ignition Zones 1 and 2. These measures require elimination of all combustible materials from within 5 feet of a structure, including vegetation and accessories” (Berkeley City Council, 2025). What is Zone 0? Zone 0, the space between 0 and 5 feet from a structure, is not a new concept. To learn more, I recommend reading through CAL FIRE’s Defensible Space webpage. They write that “The intensity of wildfire fuel management varies within the 100-foot perimeter of the home, with more intense fuels’ reduction occurring closer to your home. Start at the home and work your way out to 100 feet on your property line, whichever is closer. … The first five feet from your home is the most important. Keeping the area closest to buildings, structures, and decks clear will prevent embers from igniting materials that can spread the fire to your home. Why? The majority of homes lost to wildfire are ignited by flying embers. Embers can travel miles ahead of the active fire front of wildfires” (CAL FIRE). If you’re wondering if the concept of Zone 0 is just a fad or if 5 feet was a random decision, the answer is no. It’s supported by science. Three scientists I greatly admire – Drs. Alexandra Syphard, Teresa Brennan, and Jon Keeley – published the results of their 2014 work and found “Structures were more likely to survive a fire with defensible space immediately adjacent to them. The most effective treatment distance varied between 5 and 20 m (16-58 ft) from the structure, but distances larger than 30 m (100 ft) did not provide additional protection, even for structures located on steep slopes. The most effective actions were reducing woody cover up to 40% immediately adjacent to structures and ensuring that vegetation does not overhang or touch the structure” (Syphard, Brennan, and Keeley, 2014). Several studies have been published by these and other top wildfire science researchers in the field – definitely check out the work being shared by places like the Berkeley Fire Research Lab and the Missoula Fire Sciences Laboratory, too. There are many organizations doing incredible work. What Can You Do in Your Zone 0? Have I convinced you to inspect Zone 0 and make some changes? Great! Here are just a few things you can do to get started (this is not an exhaustive list):
The 0-to-5-foot buffer from your home isn’t that big of a space, but it’s a critical zone. If you love plants and greenery, your yard will still be beautiful even when it starts 5 feet away. The creation of defensible space is extremely important in the event of wildfire, it’s better for the integrity of the structure (particularly in the case of vines), and it prevents unwanted critters from gaining easy access to your home. “Adequate defensible space acts as a barrier to slow or halt the progress of fire that would otherwise engulf your property. It also helps ensure the safety of firefighters defending your home. Defensible space is the first line of defense for your home against wildfire” (CAL FIRE). Cost: $0 - $$$$$ (depending on whether anything needs to be removed from Zone 0) Frequency: Ideally, this is a one-time update to a property. Of course, it's always important to remove any encroaching vegetation or new objects that get added over time. As this week’s task is focused on Zone 0, you may be wondering about home hardening steps. Don’t worry, we’ll get to those in a future #FirePrepFriday. What does Zone 0 look like around your home or workplace? What changes can you make today to create a defensible space? Let me know in the Comments. References
Important Disclaimer: I am not a fire preparedness professional. I am merely sharing my research, opinions, and what I find that applies to my geographic and personal situations in hopes that it will help others. Please make sure that whatever steps and advice you follow are what is best for you.
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Krista West has been at the intersection of the remote sensing, wildland fire, and science communication communities since 2016. One of her main goals is to help emergency responders and the community members they serve. Archives
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