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Subscribe to RSSA Washington couple packs their necessities to evacuate from the nearby Taylor Bridge wildfire.
Adrienne and Tom Blum busily were packing necessities into their car, truck and trailer Thursday afternoon to evacuate from the nearby Taylor Bridge fire that has burned an estimated 70 homes and nearly 23,000 acres of sage, grass and timberlands in Central Washington since Monday.
The couple live on 15 partly wooded acres with their many dogs, cats and chickens.
With frustration, Adrienne described how she heard from a friend that their area was under a "Level 3," or highest level, evacuation, which means evacuate immediately.
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Blazes in multiple states threaten houses and cause evacuations.
“The people aren’t getting informed. They should have a station that says ‘You’re outta here!’” Adrienne said. When she called a help line for information, she was asked if she had a computer to help her learn about the fire updates. She responded that the computer was already packed for evacuation.
The Blums evacuated their home later Thursday, with Tom heading to work as a general contractor and Adrienne and the pets staying with a friend in nearby Roslyn.
Firefighters reported they are making “good progress” in the fire. The fire on Friday was 33 percent contained, up from 25 percent Thursday.
Related: 'Thankful we weren't in it': Wildfire evacuees return to find homes gone
Photoblogs:
- Razing trees to save a house
- Wildfires continue to burn, destroy homes in Central Washington
- Lone house, surrounded by scorched earth, survives wildfire
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i would take to city living.
Grab the cats and the Whiskey Martha
1. Anything that breathes.
2. Grab the box with important papers.
3. Keep photo albums where they can be scooped into a suitcase.
4. Jewelry and keepsakes - IF there's time.
Run like Hell because it's right behind you.
I thought this article would be more informative than it was.
Jamie - You stated what needed to be pointed out in this article. Thank you!
Yep
Totally agree Jamie, Ourselves and our pets first, then important papers (cause otherwise you may not have access to your money or accounts) Photos and cd's of precious moments, (if there is time) and if there is room and time other keepsakes. If I had 24hr notice that things could change I'd set traps for my wildlife critters like my fox, racoons, skunk and oppossums too:). There chance of survival is slim to none and if I can save them to that's all the better.
You'll want to take your computer too, or at least the hard drive.
The fire looks like it's happening in the Cle Elum area in case anyone was wondering where in Central Washington this is going on. Thanks to the excellent journalism skills of NBC News' Jim Seida I had to Google it. I lived about 50 miles west of there for the last few years in North Bend, WA. Just moved back east.
Good luck to anyone in harms way.
The trouble with living in paradise? Very few people prepare their property and homes in advance of fire. By being more fire aware, there is a better chance of the property and home surviving a fire. There are all sorts of recommendations about what to do to make your rural property more fire safe - including having very large water storage tanks with fire department hookup valves, and a sprinkler system on the roof. Sadly, very few people do that, because they believe that a fire would never happen to them. Turn on the roof sprinkler system when you leave.
In the meantime, when told to evacuate, take everything that breathes is a very good idea. Photos and other things that cannot be replaced should be next. ALWAYS follow the evacuation instructions, and get the hell out of there ASAP.
After the fire, rethink your living choices. Yeppp, life is all about choices. It is OK to live in paradise, BUT, there are many ways to help protect your property and make it more fire safe.
IF the fire department knows they have access to a couple of 10,000 gallon water tanks on your property, it might incline them to place your property on a priority "save list."
Leave it all. Shopping for new stuff is fun!
Get the safe and let's get out of here!
Now, if only there was something valuable in that safe.
Hopefully you're smart enough to have all your important irreplaceable documents in a fire proof safe...ready to recover after the fire...grab the family and get out as fast as possible...if you're too slow you risk being cut off and trapped by the fire...everything except your life can be replaced.
my computer
It seems the only time anyone talks emergency preparedness is only after a real emergency is right on top of them or is imminent. The thing that most people would find surprising is that many of these measures are something you should do automatically.
Original copies of important papers should be stored in a safe deposit box; duplicate sets should be stored at a bug-out location while only absolutely essential papers should remain on your person, in a concealable, water -tight container.
A medical bag is a no-brainer. I'd start with compression tape, gauze, underwrap tape, and athletic tape to deal with most cuts and sprains. Add non-latex gloves for treating major cuts without risk of reactions to latex. Hand sanitizer to reduce infection risks. Petroleum jelly and rubbing alcohol are dual purpose musts. Petroleum jelly turns an emergency fire fuel source into a long-burning fuel source while alcohol is a means of rapid ignition that can get an emergency fire going when you need one in a hurry. Tampons, when used with compression tape, can act as an emergency tourniquet on knife or gunshot wounds. And the obvious: any prescription meds plus headache reliever, analgesics, anti-diarrhea medicine, allergy medicine, and salt tablets.
A bug-out bag for every member of the family, complete with appropriate gear is another no-brainer. I'll focus strictly on gear here, with an emphasis on keeping the weight as low as possible. First are the standard olive green space blankets; lightweight and can pull as much duty as you can think of. All you need is my next item, paracord, and the space blankets become a tent, lean-to, hammock, et al; again, light on weight, heavy on utility. Follow it up with mosquito/camo netting, depending on the conditions and cover needs. Throw in some tent stakes which are durable enough to pull double duty as a defensive weapon (think kubaton). Add magnesium fire starters; take up no space and work in wet conditions. In the tools department, I start with an elite level entrenching tool. If it can not perform as a shovel, wood splitter, and defensive weapon, it's a piece of junk that could cost you your life. Next is the hand axe. I look for light weight and around 18 inches in length; that axe needs to perform effectively as a one-handed defensive weapon if need be, and weight is a hindrance to thins type of performance. I also like a particular model of hand saw, with a locking blade that folds up into the handle; once again, needless weight is eliminated. Add in a good man-portable water purification system and reservoir; bleach and boiling are no-no's because they are highly inefficient and make you a sitting duck for anyone who may want to kill you for your water supply. Finally, I go to knives; I tend to prefer the longer, heavier blade because it performs more functions. As a tool, it can be used like a machete. Defensively, you have more knife to block and counter with; there's also the advantage of having something heavy enough to break, as well as slice, the other guy's knife hand. And don't forget a good portable sharpener that can handle an axe as well as a knife.
Now, on to the subject of bug-out locations. You should have multiples. One should located with quick access to highways that you know can get you out of Dodge quickly. This one should have enough food and hydration to cover a couple of weather emergencies, plus a couple of changes of clothes which cover multiple and changing weather conditions. It doesn't necessarily need to be away from urban/inner city areas, but it's a bonus if it is. The main bug-out location should be far from urabn/inner city areas. This is where you keep a minimum of three to six months of food and hydration. This is also where you keep spare gear and a supply of clothing which will carry you through multiple seasons.
It shouldn't take an emergency being right on top of you to force you to come up with an emergency evacuation game plan.
Having fled two disasters (Three Mile Island, from inside the 5-mile radius; and a hurricane) I'm here to tell you that Jamie is closest to on-point. People and pets first. Take passports; cash and credit cards; wedding, vacation or kids' photos; computer backups; small items of sentimental value and a day's or two's urgent medical needs (like insulin, not deodorant).
Given space limitations, DO NOT take clothes, tents, sleeping bags, medical kits, TVs, toys, musical instruments (unless you are a professional), diapers, etc. Somebody -- Red Cross, relatives or friends outside the disaster area, a church -- will see that you are clothed and sheltered. There is a CVS drug store on every corner in every town. Ditto thrift shops for t-shirts or Wal-Mart for undies. But you never can replace the photos of your grandmother's wedding or DVDs of your daughter's first swim meet. If your computer is backed up locally, grab the 1TB backup but forget the computer. Grab heirlooms and works of art. Head UPWIND of the disaster.
Take what you can't easily replace, if there's time, take more. If there isn't time, just get out, and fast. Your life is more important than things.
Forest service, FEMA whoever agency who always involve in these things have got to have a ready-made list of STUFF TO TAKE IN 10 MINUTES.
Don't live int the country if you don't even bother to think about this ahead of time.
My thoughts and prayers go out to those who have had to evacuate!
I used to teach emergency preparedness and encouraged people to prepare a 72 hour kit.Something they could grab and go.Since you didn't know how long you would be gone or what the circumstances were that might require you to leave, it was always best to cover the basics. Especially if your home might be destroyed.The following were the basic suggestions usually given.It assumed you might have shelter.So no blankets or shelter were added, nor cooking or heat sources.If you want to create your own special list, start with the Red Cross, or do an on-line search for emergency kits. There are many good sites that will turn up.I ended up compiling a master list from dozens of different sites over the years and my own experiences in rescue and emergency medicine.
Each family member should have a backpack.One could also make a kit for the car with extra fluids, rope, flashlight, etc.Keep a file with important documents close by, and tape a list of what to grab inside the closet door your kit is stored in.So when an emergency happens you can follow the instructions easily.List such as jewelry,photo album,grandma's antique silverware,etc. In order of importance. Also, run practice fire drills and time yourself.Find out where any potential problems are NOW.
1.Change of clothing appropriate for season,think layers
2.Medications required, eye glasses (rotate monthly as refills are ordered)
3.Snack foods enjoyed (under stress people need comfort food they know and are used to)
4.Entertainment-books,word search,computer games,deck of cards,paper-pens,etc
5.Tape and marker-to leave message on front door where you are going-helps emergency personal clear area
6.gum,hard candy-to relieve stress
7.Flashlight w/batteries,don't store assembled
8.Radio
9.Water jug
10.Good pair of walking shoe
11.Decent first aid kit
12.Swiss pocket knife
13.Sanitary kit-toothbrush,toothpaste,hand sanitizer
You should keep important documents in a bank safety deposit box.Copies at home.Keep a file you can grab and take.If you have pets, take what is needed for them, food they like, meds, carrier.But remember, in an actual emergency, if you can't find your pet because they have disappeared, you need to leave when ordered. People have died because they tried to find their pets.Often pets will run off sensing danger. Also, keep backups of your hard drive So in the event you had to go with no notice, you could grab the backup. Run practice fire drills and time yourself. Then try taking your backpack and spending the night camping in your living room, unless you want to try the backyard,. to see how you can improve on it.
Last, remember, fire proof safes don't protect documents from being destroyed when exposed to actual flames. The internal temperatures inside will increase, causing spontaneous combustion.You want a safe that will insulate the documents from temperature fluctuations.There's a difference. In the end, with some planning and preparation, one can be prepared so that if something happens, they are ready.The average time for help to arrive after a disaster strikes, is 72 hours.When I tried to put my first kit together decades ago, I thought I could do it in just an afternoon.But I realized to save money, it would take me much longer, and it did.Doing something is better than doing nothing.
The first thing I would do is gather all my pets (who are all indoors and I know their hiding places) and I wouldn't stop til they were all in the car. Then if I had time I'd go back for the other items. I probably would rather die trying to get them out than to live the rest of my life with such guilt that I didn't save them. Without them there is no life and no purpose for me to be here. They are my everything.
Recent fires in my area when I was heading out on vacation made me put into practice my own personal evacuation plan. I did not want the house/pet sitter to have to think about what I would want to go had disaster struck in our absence. The Pets, the boxes and Go. I was surprised that my rock bottom list all fit into three book boxes. Photo albums in one (I have been scanning in pre-digital age family photos for several years now so there is only one envelop left to go). Childrens school papers in another. Important papers in the third. Additionally, be sure to take your prescription medications with you (I always have mine in a small box) and a set of clothes. I have evacuation buddies....fire near them and they evacuate to my house....fire near me and I evacuate to them.
Here are two websites with handy information for fire evacuation (or probably any evacuation really).
http://www.ready.gov/wildfires
http://www.rmiia.org/Catastrophes_and_Statistics/Wildfire.asp
A dear friend just lost her house in one of the fires. Fire proof safes did not all survive the intensity of that fire. She hasn't found hers in the debris yet. I had birth certificates as well as a small hard drive with all those family photos in my fireproof safe. I'm rethinking that and will likely move them to a safety deposit box at a bank not surrounded by forest and buildings that can burn (there are a few like that in my region).
Absolutely take your insurance papers with you so you don't have to rely on the insurance company for a copy. Her adjuster ripped off the "top page" and replaced it with another one right in front of her leaving her to wonder what was on that original front page.
Inventory everything. Absolutely everything. Her full replacement policy turns out to be only full replacement based on an inventory she does not have. Looking at the melted aftermath in the remains of her house tells her not much. Pictures of everything is important (I'm half way through building mine). Take pictures of your house. All the rooms. From every angle. You have DVDs...... keep a list. Think about the money invested in your 500 DVDs at a minimum of $10 a pop. Document, Document, Document.
And READ those insurance papers and the fine print and go to their website to define the fine print. Know what Full Replacement Value means. I know what I have had in mind with my policy is not what it is turning out to be with her policy.
Good Luck.
I'm hooking the 14 x 70 up to the Chevy and taking everything. ;-)
l live on the island of Barbados and even though we just get slight brushes from hurricanes and no other disasters, we are given a daily report on radio and TV of where our shelters are per parish, what to take and how much. shelter wardens know who they are and shift systems are already worked out.
This info should be detailed to all who live in risky areas whatever the risks.
I live in Pine, Idaho, and you are all right that this article was not at all informative...I have a tote filled already with pics, documents, photo equipment, my external hard drive, and small treasures....one to put my turtles in, and one with a minimum of clothing and toiletries...I have my camping backpack with my tent & sleeping bag...My laptop bag...everything else will stay-didn't have it when I moved here-probably don't need it now...
For those who would opt for city livin'...well, your neighbor can burn down your apt. building, there's a fender-bender around every corner, and folks tryin' to take your stuff every day...
Just sayin'
And for those of you who are prayin' for us or wishing us well...THANK YOU!!
~Pinky~