Under threat of heat-wave power outages and/or fire evacuations, what would you be staying on top of?

Are cars filled up with gas? Do you have a car charger to charge you phone? Credit and debit cards handy and a list of bank accounts? Passwords? Insurance policy info?

Good luck!!!

I have a Survival Backpack which has supplies for up to 72 hours ,all ready at all times

placed right beside by apartment door since the 2015 Wildfires forced Evacuation

procedures to be updated at all times.

Why 72 hours? Because that is how long it would take for authorities to scramble together to

either get everyone out or reinstate power, should it go out as well?

NO one would be available for assistance until after 72 hours( standard procedures).

Of a list of things vital were Cash on hand since ATM machines will not work.

Since then I have cleared out excess items that I have not used for years, took all

photographs OUT of there respective photo albums and placed into archival sleeves and

packed in a shoe box that fits the one only suitcase requirement that is allowed.

Took pictures of all items for insurance purposes, have original documents in suitcase as well.

Tried to always keep my credit card balance low in order to access if and when I reach a
major city and use that for living in short term accommodations if need be.

Have all passwords user names of online accounts in an address book to access out of town if need be.

Have all contacts addresses and phones numbers available.

Although Out Town never had the actual Wildfire the smoke from the nearby Province

( in Canada) blew hourly over our town causing poor air quality and plugged up our air

exhaust systems as well.

It would had been much more comfortable had I included a Air Purifier for easy breathing at

lest in my apartment. ( since we could NOT open widows nor leave vents uncovered..the

heat itself became unbearable…here the Air Purifier would had made it much better).

Considering my location here in town, I’d say power outages.

@inspired. Very good information! Probably something everyone should do, at least to some extent.

@Inspired_2write, great list. How do you manage to stock food for 72 hours in a backpack, and what air purifier do you have that doesn’t require electricity?

It is amazing to me that in the US in the year 2020, that we have parts of the country that lose power because of corporate inadequacy.

Is this Venezuela? Syria? Gaza?

Shameful

They should test you for covid if you went to the hospital, so try not to worry too much about that.

You already named medication, directives, but also have a sheet with medical information like allergies, and any little things a doctor or nurse should know. Send that sheet to whomever can responsible for advocating for you if you can’t speak for yourself.

Bottles of potable water. Pantry food.

Make ice. Pack your freezer full of bags of ice wherever you have space.

FILL YOUR BATHTUB WITH WATER if your house is on public water. If the water doesn’t hold, there are tricks to plug it up. This water is for flushing the toilet if your water company loses power.

Fill your car with gas.

Have some cash on hand.

Put some of the items you would hate to lose in your car now if the temperature isn’t a concern. Wrap them well in plastic or put them in containers in case some smoke is getting in the car.

Buy an external battery to charge your phone.

Buy a charger or wire that plugs into your car for charging your phone (I don’t know how new you’re car is).

Flashlights and electric candles. Battery radio.

@Jeruba
The Backpack comes pre-stocked with water packets that last up to five years or more.
Bars that are nutrient packed etc
A compact Radio that is solar powered
First Aid kit and instructions/treatments.
Flashlight and compass +

See Link: This is what I purchased ( Emergency Preparedness backpack)

https://www.canadiansafetysupplies.com/default.asp?gclid=CjwKCAjwm_P5BRAhEiwAwRzSO1QgyjAF5GlpCH4s8BQ4G-QONHsXYHK9UfLaCnMJuVZd9mAAqmuX2BoCqFsQAvD_BwE

Ugh. Sorry for typos.

Up here the air is also fouled with smoke the wife thinks is coming from Vacaville & Point Reyes. Right now it’s a balmy 76 degrees here, which means the smoke will quickly vanish this close to the ocean. It’s a sure bet that 15 miles inland it’s hot enough to blister paint. I’m seriously considering the purchase of a generator if I can find the right one that runs on diesel. We too are threatened with brownouts and I fear it pretty much portends the future.

The air is very smoky now, at about 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, and getting thicker. Areas close by are under evacuation orders, and we don’t have anywhere to go that isn’t worse. We’re pretty much surrounded. The only direction we could go is west, where you get stopped by an ocean.

We are also situated among Silicon Valley zillionaires who will undoubtedly have already secured the best options for themselves. Hotels are out. Even if we could get into one, we would be physically unable to get out. Right where we are, we could, with some difficulty, walk to a large open parking lot, we could get to the creek, and (with a lot of struggle) we could make it the distance to the SJ airport with its big bare spaces and its generators and provisions.

There are a lot of high-tech and other outfits, such as Apple and Google and eBay and other major names, that have a huge vested interest in protecting this area we live in. The upside of living in a city that Google is going to own in a few years, if it doesn’t now.

We haven’t seen any sign of evacuations in our neighborhood.

So we are staying put for the present. But I have packed meds, devices and chargers, paper and pens, other glasses, a change of clothes, and a few records just in case.

@Jeruba Stay safe and keep us updated.

Scary. My cousin lost her house in a California fire a couple of years ago. I know you will want to conserve battery power on your devices if you lose electricity, but hopefully you can check in and let us know you are ok. I know everyone here will be thinking about you.

The smell of smoke is gone here in the city. And it is currently 69 degrees with brilliant sunshine. Odds are you could probably get a really good deal in the city on a hotel room if your hubby is ambulatory. If you can head West, why not do it. Hide at the ocean. Santa Cruz or Half Moon Bay?

Thanks for the ideas, @stanleybmanly, but I’d sooner stay here and face down a fire than be stuck in traffic going over the hill south on 17 or over to the coast via 92, either one of them harrowing enough on a good day for a nervous driver like me.

You know the scene in the movie right before the guy gives the gal a look of stunned admiration and asks, “Where’d you learn to drive like that?” Well, I’m not going to be in that movie.

The air is still full of smoke, and evacuation orders are in place not too far from us, within the county borders. My throat is feeling raspy.

As for ambulatory, technically he is, but not really. A walk to the corner and back with the Rollator is enough to wear him out, and he can’t do it without hauling a portable oxygen concentrator along. In practical terms, it would be pretty dicey.

However, I have a sort of plan A and plan B. And my bags are packed.

Good luck!

In California, the right solution for the power outages is solar power and something like a Tesla powerwall. It’s the right solution anyway for California and other western places with a lot of sun.

I know that takes some capital investment that some people can’t afford, or they’re in rental homes. But seriously, a typical residence can have enough solar panels to run your AC all summer and you never pay a cent for electricity again. The power wall gives you resilience for the inevitable shutdowns when there are fires and high winds.

@Jeruba Can you check in with us and let us know you’re ok?