This past rainy season has blessed us with lush green hillsides full of wildflowers. Unfortunately that lush vegetation will soon dry out and become dangerous wildfire fuels. As we enter prime Wildfire Season, we all need to prepare for evacuation. We have two upcoming events to guide our community members through this process and then practice in real time, including testing evacuation routes.
- Sunday May 3rd: Wildfire Evacuation Preparedness workshop—RSVP for this in-person event
- Saturday May 30: El Sobrante Valley-Richmond Evacuation Drill—Signup
The Wildfire Evacuation Preparedness workshop will walk you through what you need to do before an evacuation call, and what you’ll want to do during an evacuation. We’ll cover building your go-bags, what documents you want to take with you (and what you can store in the Cloud instead), setting up kits for your pets’ evacuation, and how to leave your house so firefighters can better defend your property. We’ll answer your questions, or find the answers for you. A bonus will be meeting some of your neighbors, and checking out The Good Table (where we will be meeting) and Planting Justice Nursery.
Goals for the May 30 Evacuation Drill:
- Ensure you are informed about emergency alerts, signed up, know your zone, and prepared to evacuate
- Residents practice the evacuation in real time, using directions to find evacuation routes (and identify how they can improve!)
- Run through this exercise, so everyone participating can review and improve how our alert systems and responder agencies operate at scale and in collaboration
The Community Warning System (CWS) is an all-hazards public emergency notification system designed to quickly alert residents of imminent threats to life, property or health. To receive CWS alerts, you must opt in. Richmond OES and the WCCFSC will share additional information in the lead-up to the drill—including your evacuation zone, Red Flag warnings, pre‑evacuation guidance, go‑bag essentials, and more.
Want to start with some basic steps right now?
- Sign up for CWS alerts
- Sign up for Nixle alerts, and choose Richmond and other cities
- Download the Watch Duty app on your cell phone (free or donation)
- Find your Evacuation Zone (enter your address)
