Build one plan for smoke and evacuation
Smoke preparation and evacuation planning belong together. A home may have unhealthy air while remaining safe to occupy, or fire behavior may require immediate evacuation even when the AQI is not yet high. Your plan should make both decisions easier.
Alerts and information
- Register for county, city, and utility alerts.
- Enable emergency alerts on household phones.
- Keep a battery or hand-crank radio.
- Bookmark official fire, weather, AQI, and evacuation pages.
- Choose one out-of-area contact who can help reconnect separated family members.
Evacuation routes and meeting points
Identify at least two routes out of the neighborhood. Drive them in daylight and consider how traffic, closed gates, downed lines, livestock trailers, or smoke could affect them. Choose a meeting point well outside the hazard area.
Cleaner indoor air
Select a clean-air room, test portable cleaners, verify HVAC filter compatibility, and store replacement filters. Make sure air-conditioning and recirculation settings are understood before smoke season. Identify public cleaner-air or cooling locations for situations when the home is too smoky or hot.
Medication and medical needs
Keep an updated medication list, copies of prescriptions, clinician contacts, insurance information, and essential devices. CDC recommends preparing a 7- to 10-day prescription supply when possible. Plan for refrigerated medication, oxygen, mobility equipment, and backup power.
Go bags
Include water, shelf-stable food, medications, first aid, flashlight, radio, batteries, chargers, cash, keys, maps, important documents, N95 respirators, clothing, hygiene items, and comfort items. Add glasses, hearing-aid batteries, menstrual products, infant supplies, and disability-specific equipment.
Children and schools
Know school closure, pickup, and reunification procedures. List approved pickup adults. Include medications, copies of action plans, and comfort items. Practice the plan without using frightening detail.
Pets and animals
Prepare carriers, leashes, identification, photographs, medical records, food, water, bowls, litter, waste supplies, and medication. Confirm which shelters, hotels, friends, or boarding locations accept animals. Large-animal owners need trailers, routes, and destinations planned early.
Transportation
Keep fuel or vehicle charge above a practical minimum during red-flag periods. Store a vehicle kit and paper map. Arrange help for anyone who does not drive or needs accessible transportation.
Practice and update
Run a short drill: receive a pretend alert, gather people and animals, load essential items, and drive the route. Note delays and adjust the plan. Update contacts and supplies twice a year.
Leave early
Do not delay evacuation to gather property, improve indoor air, or wait for the AQI to change. Fire and evacuation instructions take priority.