WILDFIRE IS COMING. ARE YOU READY?
PLAN. PREPARE. STAY AWARE.
The geography, weather patterns and number of Wildland Urban Interface communities in San Mateo County make it a county particularly threatened by devastating wildfire, as was the case in August, 2020 when the CZU Complex Fire burned 40,000 acres in Santa Cruz and San Mateo Counties. As catastrophic wildfires continue to increase each year in California, make sure to protect yourself and your family – plan, prepare and stay aware. Property owners and residents in areas most at risk are encouraged to take the steps in CAL FIRE “Ready, Set, Go!” to be ready for wildfire.
Get prepared for wildfire before it strikes by following Ready, Set, Go!
- Be Ready: Create and maintain defensible space and harden your home against flying embers.
- Get Set: Prepare your family and home ahead of time for the possibility of having to evacuate. Ensure you have a plan of what to take and where to go. Ask friends or relatives outside your area if you would be able to stay with them, should the need arise. Check with hotels, motels and campgrounds to learn if they are open.
- Be Ready to GO!: When wildfire strikes, go early for your safety. Take the evacuation steps necessary to give your family and home the best chance of surviving a wildfire.
- Also get set by learning about your community’s response and evacuation plans for each disaster. Download the Genasys Protect app. San Mateo County uses Genansys and SMC Alert to communicate evacuation information.
- Develop a communication plan with your family.
- Ask your local fire department, police department, about whether they offer any emergency special assistance programs for those with access and functional needs.
- Ask your city or county how they will warn you of a disaster situation and provide information to you before, during, and after a disaster. Sign up for San Mateo County alerts and warnings at smcalert.info
- Know which television and radio stations in your area broadcast the Emergency Alert System (EAS). In San Mateo County, those TV stations are KTVU TV-2, KRON TV-4, KPIX TV-5, KGO TV-7, and KNTV-11 (NBC Bay Area). EAS radio stations include: KCBS 740 AM and 106.9 FM, KQED 88.5 FM, and KCSM 91.1 FM.
- Learn more at: https://www.readyforwildfire.org
