Tag Archives: wildfire

Prevention Tips, Residential

9 tips to help you prepare for a wildfire

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Wildfires happen quickly. Sometimes it’s only a matter of seconds from spark to blaze. And once a fire begins, it can spread at a rate of up to 14 miles per hour. With that in mind, the message to homeowners is simple: Be ready. You will have precious little time to react once a wildfire gets started. Since planning ahead is critically important, we created a lineup of important things to remember and prepare for as wildfire season approaches. 

  • Post a contact list in your home. The list you create will be unique to your situation, but it should include local emergency numbers, contact information for a friend or relative who lives outside your area, and information for getting in touch with your insurance agent. Be sure to add the emergency numbers to the contact list on your cell phone.
  • Know emergency warnings and alerts. The National Weather Service (NWS) issues red flag alerts when weather patterns are identified that could contribute to extreme fire danger. A fire weather watch is issued when critical fire weather conditions are possible but not imminent. A red flag warning urges residents to take extreme caution because fires are ongoing or expected to occur shortly. And an extreme fire behavior alert indicates that a wildfire is likely to rage out of control.    
  • Stay informed. Start by downloading the Be Smart. Know Your Alerts and Warnings document at ready.gov/prepare for a summary of available notifications. It’s important to know how to receive timely information about weather conditions and other emergency information, and this is a good place to start. You can also tune in to local news radio and television for up-to-the-minute coverage of the weather. Some communities offer text or email alerting systems, or you can purchase an NOAA Weather Radio (NWR) to receive broadcast alerts directly from the National Weather Service.
  • Gather important documents and belongings. If you and your family are forced to evacuate, you may need to take necessary medications and prescriptions with you, as well as eyeglasses, hearing aids and any medical equipment. Hard drives or portable flash drives with important documents should be on your to-go list, along with certain irreplaceable items, such as photos, mementos and jewelry that can be easily transported with you. Put everything in a to-go bag or container that you can grab in a hurry. You will also need quick and easy access to your car keys, driver’s license, cell phone (and charger), and credit cards or cash.
  • Plan your evacuation routes. Ideally, you should be familiar with at least two ways to exit your neighborhood in case some of the roads are blocked. Of course, you need to make sure your vehicle has plenty of gas at all times. Your community may have an evacuation plan of its own, which could include information for people with disabilities, pets, service animals and livestock. You probably won’t have much time to evacuate, so back your vehicle into the garage or driveway so it faces the direction of your escape.
  • Arrange for temporary housing. Identify a place to stay in the event that you have to leave your home. This could be the home of a friend or relative who lives outside your area. If you need to go to a shelter, find out ahead of time where the emergency shelters are located or contact the American Red Cross for additional information.      
  • Take care of your pets. You may need to find your furry friends in a hurry, so don’t let them wander off. Be sure to also include them in your evacuation plans. Shelters typically accept service animals, but they don’t always accommodate pets. Call ahead so you know the rules in advance.
  • Plan for communicating with your loved ones. Because you can’t assume that your entire family will be together when a wildfire strikes, it’s important to agree on how you will communicate and where you will meet. Texting is easier and often faster than calling someone, but cell phone batteries can die, so experts recommend recording important numbers on a piece of paper and stashing it in your wallet.
  • Prep your property. Click here for steps to take before, during and after a wildfire to help protect your home.

When it comes to wildfires, preparation is critical. Take some time to plan ahead, and you’ll be ready if and when a wildfire strikes.

Download this infographic and share it with all those who may be affected by wildfires this year.

CS_N_23052_PH_Wildfire-Infographic_FA-1

For information only. Not applicable to all situations.

Prevention Tips, Residential

6 wildfire evacuation preparation tips

While wildfire season often occurs during the summer, a wildfire could start at any time if the conditions are right. With how unpredictable and fast the wildfires are, surviving begins with being prepared to evacuate. Here are 6 evacuation tips to keep in mind when fire, or any natural disaster threatens.

1. Know where to go. Have a destination in mind, and know how to get there. Let family and friends know your plans and how to reach you. Don’t just rely on your GPS, take a map as well. Keep the car fueled and ready to go.
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Prevention Tips, Residential

Wildfire emergency evacuation checklist

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During an emergency, there may be little or no time to think about what you need to do. This checklist is designed to help you prepare and respond quickly. You might want to post it where everyone in your household can see it, such as on the refrigerator or by the door. Or for easy access, simply take a picture of it with your cell phone.

Before You Evacuate

If time allows, here’s what you can do to help firefighters protect your property.

  • Turn on all the lights both inside and outside your home to make it more visible in smoky conditions.
  • Close all windows, doors, vents and fireplace screens to reduce drafts and radiant heat in your home.
  • Disconnect your automatic garage door opener so the garage can be opened by hand if power is lost.
  • Remove flammable curtains and other window treatments.
  • Move indoor and outdoor flammable furniture to the center of your home away from any windows.
  • Remove pillows, cushions and umbrellas from outdoor furniture.
  • Turn off the natural gas from the source, as well as pilot lights and air conditioning.
  • Move any propane or fuel oil supplies away from your home.
  • Connect the garden hose and fill any large containers with water.
  • Turn off the sprinklers and don’t leave water sources running as they might affect much-needed water pressure for fighting the fire.

When You Evacuate

Heed the advice of local authorities and leave when an evacuation order is first enacted.

  • Roll up the windows in your vehicle and close the air vents to minimize any harm from the smoke.
  • Drive slowly with your headlights on to improve visibility.
  • Call 9-1-1 if you’re trapped.
  • Use N95 masks, if you have them, to avoid breathing harmful particles.
  • Listen to NOAA Weather Radio, the Emergency Alert System (EAS) or other local alert systems for instructions and emergency information.

What to Take

Gather these items ahead of time and put them in a place where you can grab them at a moment’s notice. And keep your pets nearby so you can find them quickly.  

  • Important documents, such as birth certificates, passports and legal papers
  • Medications, prescriptions and medical equipment
  • Irreplaceable and nostalgic items, such as photographs, mementos and jewelry
  • Hard drives, laptops, portable flash drives with important information, and phone chargers
  • Car keys, wallet, driver’s license, credit cards and cash
  • Pets

When You Return

To avoid potential hazards, don’t return to your home until fire officials have given you the okay – most likely through a formal notification. Above all, only return when it is safe to do so.

  • Stay away from damaged or fallen power lines, poles and wires.
  • Check propane tanks, regulators, and lines before turning the gas on. Have them inspected if necessary.
  • Examine the roof and exterior areas, as well as the attic and interior of the house, for sparks, embers or smoldering fires.
  • Beware of hidden embers. Keep small children and pets close by.
  • Find out if the water is safe to drink.
  • Dispose of any food that’s been exposed to heat or smoke.
  • Properly dispose of any paint, batteries, and damaged fuel containers.
  • Contact your insurance agent if your home is damaged or uninhabitable.

Download this infographic and share it with all those who may be affected by wildfires this year.

CS_R_20043_WildfireEvacuationTips_Infographic_V3-1

For Information only. Not applicable to all situations.

Sources:

  • Emergency Evacuation Checklist, Rivington Partners

Recreational

We’ll help pay to get your boat, yacht, or car out of harm’s way

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When someone yells, “Get out of the way!” you should. In fact, we’ll pay you for getting out of the way.  One of the benefits of your Boat or Yacht policy, or Collector Vehicle policy, is that we’ll cover part of the cost to move your vessel or vehicle to safety when it’s threatened by a named storm, wildfire, or other pending disaster such as a flood.

A little advance planning is needed. For smaller watercraft you should contract with hauling company to get it to on-land storage when threatened (of course you will need to make that kind of arrangement well in advance). For larger watercraft, it’s much easier just to navigate out of harm’s way in advance. Either way, we’ll reimburse you up to $500 for the cost and a higher reimbursement limit is available as an optional endorsement.

For a collector car, just drive or tow it away from the impending disaster. We’ll reimburse you up to $200 for that cost.

Your agent may provide you with a short form that lets us know where you are normally moored or garaged, and where you expect to be during an emergency. Otherwise, it’s just a matter of acting quickly and then showing us your expense receipts later.

You may never need it, but this policy perk will save you both money and a headache if you don’t get out of the way when you can.

For information only. Not applicable to all situations.
Coverage is subject to policy terms, conditions, limitations, exclusions, underwriting review, and approval, and may not be available for all risks or in all states. Rates and discounts vary, are determined by many factors and are subject to change. Policies are written by one of the licensed insurers of American Modern Insurance Group, Inc., including American Modern Home Insurance Company d/b/a in CA American Modern Insurance Company (Lic. No 2222-8).

Prevention Tips, Residential

6 simple steps can help minimize your exposure to wildfires

Wildfire risk used to be seasonal, but in many states, it is now a year-round risk. Brush and forest fires cause extensive damage every year, and it’s not just the Western part of the country. Any home situated on the edge of grasslands, or near brush or trees, is vulnerable. Taking the following steps can reduce a home’s vulnerability to any exterior fire. Continue reading →