Krista R. Lee West
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Week 8: The Six P’s of Evacuation – Part 1: People and Pets

5/30/2025

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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:
  1. People and pets
  2. Papers, phone numbers, and important documents
  3. Prescriptions, vitamins, and eyeglasses
  4. Pictures and irreplaceable memorabilia
  5. Personal computers (data on hard disk drives (or any electro-mechanical data storage devices))
  6. “Plastic” (credit cards, ATM cards) and cash

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:
  • Large backpack
  • Food: Emergency ration provisions, food utensils
  • Water: Water bottle, water bladder, and water purification items
  • Hygiene and Sanitation: Camping soap, towel, toothbrush, toothpaste, lotion, deodorant, comb, bandages, feminine products
  • Clothing: Rain jacket, long-sleeved shirts, tank tops, pants, belt, socks, sun hat, neck gaiter, ear warmer, gloves, fleece jacket, fleece pants, long johns, and undergarments
  • Sleeping bag
  • Stuff sacks to keep clothing, hygiene/sanitation, food, and water items organized
  • Duplicates of items from the Week 6 Get Home Bag
 
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:
  • Children
    • Project Wildfire: Preparing Your Children for Evacuation
    • Save the Children: How to Prepare for a Wildfire
    • The National Child Traumatic Stress Network: Wildfire Resources
    • American Red Cross: Teaching Kids About Emergency Preparedness
  • Older and Elderly Adults
    • Elder Love USA: Wildfire Preparedness for Older Adults
    • Frontline Wildfire Defense: Wildfires and the Elderly: Protecting the Most Vulnerable
    • Home Instead: 10 Tips to Stay Safe from Wildfires
    • Aging.com: Disaster Preparedness – A Complete Guide for Seniors
  • People with Disabilities
    • National Fire Protection Agency: Emergency Evacuation Planning Guide for People with Disabilities
    • United Spinal Association: 9 Wildfire Preparedness Resources for People with Disabilities
    • Disability Rights California: Wildfire Resource Guide & How Disability Rights California Can Help You
    • Loyola University Maryland: Evacuation for Persons with Disabilities
      • This is for general evacuation information, as opposed to specifically written for wildfire evacuation, but the information is helpful
  • Pets (including Large Animals)
    • National Fire Protection Agency: Evacuation for Household Pets and Horses
    • Ready.gov: Prepare Your Pets for Disasters
    • American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals: Wildfire Safety: How to Stay Prepared and Keep Your Pets Safe
    • American Veterinary Medical Association: Large Animals and Livestock in Disasters
    • Santa Cruz County Office of Response, Recovery & Resilience: Large Animal Emergency Preparedness
    • Lake County Fire Safe Council: Evacuating Large Animals & Livestock
    • Idaho Firewise: Evacuation – Evacuating Pets & Large Animals
 
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.
​

□️□ It’s Week 8 of the #FirePrepFriday series. We’ll work through the Six P’s of Evacuation over the next six weeks. This week, we’ll tackle the first P - People & Pets. Visit my website for the associated blog post with more info and links with resources: kristaleewest.com/fireprepfriday.html

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— Krista West, Ph.D. (@rsfirenerd.bsky.social) May 30, 2025 at 4:14 PM
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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.

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