We’d like to start this blog by recognizing how difficult of a time this has been for a lot of our community. The most recent fires throughout Southern California have uprooted entire families and caused immense amounts of pain and devastation.
While we can’t turn back time, we can do our best to be here for you and help when things are tough. Our team works hard to provide fire restoration services in Orange County from start to finish. This might be the last thing on your mind right now, but we’re here to help when you need it.
Many local residents in our community are still awaiting evacuation orders and are under high stress. This blog is intended to give you some instructions as to how you can safely do your best to mitigate damage, protect family heirlooms, and keep your loved ones protected.
A Checklist for a Fire Emergency
The Santa Anna winds are fast and dry, often leaving very little time for you to prepare when a fire starts. Hopefully, this checklist lets you focus on the important things so you can stay safe, while our team takes care of the restoration after.
- Listen to evacuation orders. Start off by diligently watching the evacuation orders of your local municipality. Maps should be updated regularly and you’ll be able to see when your neighborhood is in imminent danger of a fire. Your residence might be fine when all is said and done, but you should never be in your home when it’s in a fire warning area. Evacuation is the first and most important step.
- Gather supplies and important items. If you’ve got time, gather supplies like clothes, water, toiletries and important family heirlooms you can fit in your bags. We’d also recommend collecting important documents like ID, statements, insurance records, mortgage records, and more. These can be hard to collect again.
- Stay in touch with your family. Make sure you check in on loved ones in other evacuation zones, and update your out-of-town loved ones about your safety. This can help to ease stress and ensure everyone is accounted for.
- Listen to emergency personnel. When you’re leaving your home, make sure you listen to the trained emergency personnel you come across. Sometimes there will be detours in roads as the fires are contained, and you’ll need to take certain streets or highways you’ve never traveled before. These experts know what they’re doing and listening to them should be a top priority.
- Take pictures and document your home before you leave, if you have time. If you have time, take pictures of your home and important pieces of furniture. This can be helpful for our team and for your insurance provider, even if your home is only minorly damaged. These records can help you rebuild after the fires.
- Make plans to stay somewhere safe. Lastly, once you’re out of the evacuation zone, make sure you find accommodations for you and your family. You can speak to emergency personnel, call our team, or even speak with family and friends to find a place to stay.
If you’re in need, call the local authorities. And when the dangerous weather conditions have passed, make sure you call your insurance and schedule an appointment with us so we can help you rebuild.
Stay safe out there. Don’t hesitate to contact the team at Jarvis Restoration.