Evacuation

While no one wants to be evacuated from their home, we live in a fire prone area and need to be ready for that possibility. Nevada County Office of Emergency Services (OES) uses the phrase "Ready, Set, Go":

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• Be "READY" before an event.

• Get "SET" when there is a red flag day or fire weather watch, a fire in the area, and especially if your zone receives an evacuation warning.

• "GO" when it's appropriate (as early as practical, but definitely when an evacuation order is issued!).

 

Remember that we only have one good route out of our area--Greenhorn Rd. west to Brunswick--and most everyone will be on that road. Leaving early helps keep you (as well as your neighbors and first responders) safe. Don't wait for an evacuation order if you have the ability to leave earlier.

 

Below you will find resources to educate yourself and prepare prior to fire season, what to be aware of during fire season, and what to do when evacuation seems imminent.

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Big Picture

• Nevada County's "Ready, Set, Go!" video (15 minutes)

• "Ready, Set Go!" Handbook (this also contains information about home hardening and defensible space).

• Wildfire is Coming, Are You Ready? (CALFIRE)

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READY: Prior to Fire Season

Yes, you do want to spend time fall through spring on your home hardening and defensible space, but this is also the time to do your emergency planning and practice.

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• Develop your emergency plan and practice it (American Red Cross). Remember to plan for contingencies: You may not be home when it's time to evacuate. And your family might be in different places (work, school, out running errands, or even having fun). What will you do?

• Know your evacuation zone.

• Know your possible ways out and practice driving them--in the dark too. Remember, you may not be at home when a fire breaks out, so know multiple routes from work and other areas as well as from your home. Besides the obvious routes, do you have back ways out--perhaps through neighboring properties? Also keep in mind that your choice of route depends on where the fire is coming from. 

• Find Your Five and Share Your Plan (Ready Nevada County). Note your evacuation routes, meeting place, and five trusted Emergency Allies who know your plan.

• Prepare your go bags (if you have pets, they need one too). Be sure to plan for medical needs.

• Have important papers ready--preferably scanned and stored on a portable drive (keep it with you) or in the cloud.

• Sign up for emergency alerts, especially CodeRed.

• Obtain an evacuation tag. Keep it with your go bag or in your car, or near your evacuation checklist by a home or garage door.

• Review the information below so you will be ready to act if that time comes!

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SET: Red Flag/Fire Weather Watch, Fire in the Area, or Your Zone Receives an Evacuation Warning

The most important thing we can emphasize about evacuation is to LEAVE EARLY if at all possible. If you have mobility or other medical issues, or want to take your RV, or have a lot of animals, you will want to leave before the "Go" stage. Some residents do leave town on Red Flag days. 

 

For everyone, this is a time to monitor the situation and prepare to leave, so that you can leave quickly if warranted. Though you don't need to do everything on this list simply because it's a red flag day, you do need to stay informed and take appropriate actions if a fire becomes a threat or if you receive an evacuation warning.

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• Leaving Early Helps Keep You Safe (Fire Safe Council and Ready Nevada County).

• Prepare Before an Evacuation. In this 3-minute video/slideshow, CALFIRE Battalion Chief Matt Wallen explains what you can do to prepare in the 6-12 hours before an evacuation order. (15-minute version)

• Wildfire Evacuation Checklist. This excellent resource from Firesafe Marin covers how to prepare yourself, family, pets, vehicle, home, and property before you leave, and what to do when you leave. (The green section at the top and the emergency numbers are specific to Marin County, but the rest is fully applicable to us in Nevada County.)

• Monitor multiple information sources.

  • List of trusted local information source for Nevada County (radio stations, newspapers, county offices, YubaNet)

  • Ready Nevada County Dashboard

  • CALFIRE text alerts

  • Watch Duty phone app

  • Greenhorn GMRS Radio Alert Group

  • Any neighbor groups that you keep in touch with

• Dress appropriately. What to Wear During a Wildfire Evacuation (Chris Reilly, Retired Firefighter). 20-minute video | 3-minute condensed version

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GO: If You Feel Unsafe or When You Get an Evacuation Order

• Evacuate immediately if you find out your zone is being given an evacuation order (via CodeRed, the Nevada County Dashboard, or any other source).

• If you hear the hi-lo siren, evacuate immediately.

• Put your evacuation tag on your mailbox, gate, or address sign, as appropriate (the goal is to save first responders the time it takes to go up long driveways to check on residents).

• Refer back to Firesafe Marin's Wildfire Evacuation Checklist for additional details.

• Safety During an Evacuation. 4-minute video/slideshow by former CalFIRE Division Chief Jim Mathias. (17-minute version)

• Learn What to Do If Trapped (UC California Fire Network)