Wildfire

With dry conditions and below-average rainfall over the last few years, wildfire season is now a year-round phenomenon in Ventura County and throughout California. Ventura County’s vast open space areas are abundant with fuels that allow wildfires to spread easily, creating hazards where the hills interface with neighborhoods and homes. Here’s how you can be prepared.

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Five Ways to

Stay READY

1 Register for VC Alert. Local authorities use this emergency notification system to issue evacuation warnings and orders.
2 Have a Family Emergency Plan, including communication and evacuations. Include friends and neighbors who might need assistance.
3 Pack a go-bag for each family member. Click here for a list of recommended items.
4 Follow local guidelines to fireproof your surroundings. Click here for fire prevention tips.
5 Help us help you. Know the difference between Evacuation Warnings and Evacuation Orders and take appropriate action when called upon.

Four Ways to

Save the Day

1 Report a wildfire – call 911. Your report might be the first. Multiple reports are better than none!
2 Size up the situation. Don’t wait for alerts from public safety. If it looks and feels dangerous, leave.
3 Know where to turn. Visit www.vcemergency.com for trusted and timely disaster information.
4 Make an assist – Don’t forget anyone in your plan.

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3

Three Things to

Know

1 Where’s my TEP? During an evacuation you may be directed to a Temporary Evacuation Point, to receive comfort items and register for shelter accommodations. Find the one near you.
2 “Fire Weather” is present when weather and low fuel moisture conditions combine to create wildfire occurrences.
3 Click here to access your Wildfire Action Plan!

Two Things to

Ease Your Mind

1 Firefighting just keeps getting better. Ventura County just increased its helicopter fleet to six with two recently acquired Firehawk helicopters, capable of traveling nearly 185 mph and dropping up to 1,000 gallons of water!
2 The Sheriff’s Office is going high tech to streamline evacuations. Here’s a look at how it works:

Video Transcript

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When disaster strikes.

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Time is never on our side
when it comes to life safety.

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Ventura County
is prone to a variety of hazards.

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All of which may result in the need
to evacuate your residents.

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During the recent Thomas and Woolsey
fires.

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Over 170,000 Ventura County residents
were impacted by evacuation orders.

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Through effective coordination efforts
and a great deal of cooperation

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from you, Ventura
County residents stayed out of harm's way.

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When the situation calls for evacuations.

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Fire and law enforcement leadership
at the incident command post will decide

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whether an evacuation order or warning
is appropriate.

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An evacuation order, formally known
as a mandatory evacuation, instructs

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residents to leave the area immediately
to avoid imminent danger.

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An evacuation warning, previously known
as a voluntary evacuation,

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instructs residents to prepare to leave
as danger may be approaching.

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If you require additional time to evacuate
due to a disability access

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or functional need, it is recommended
you start the process of evacuating early

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Evacuation
notifications may be delivered using

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several methods
for evacuation warnings and orders.

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The sheriff's Office of Emergency Services
will use the vehicle or emergency

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notification system to deliver bilingual
mass notifications simultaneously

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via text, message, phone and email.

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In addition to alerts, bilingual
evacuation information will be posted at

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www dot vc emergency dot com.

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This website provides residents
with real time incident information,

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including interactive evacuation
maps and shelter locations,

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because each emergency presents
a unique set of challenges Public

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safety officials do not rely on just one
notification method to alert residents.

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Another way
you may receive a notification to leave

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the area is by use of the high low siren.

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If a law enforcement vehicle drives
through your neighborhood and you hear

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this sound

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that is
your signal to evacuate immediately.

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When time permits, public safety personnel

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may also go door to door
advising residents to evacuate.

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Door to door
notifications are one of the areas

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where the Ventura County Sheriff's

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Office is using new technology
to enhance an old method of notification.

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Local law enforcement officials
now have access to an evacuation app

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to aid in collecting information
on residents contacted

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during an evacuation to ensure no
individual is left behind using this app.

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Deputies can quickly log whether or not
a person or family is evacuated

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and document any type of disability access
or functional needs they might have.

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As a result,
first responders are more quickly able

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to identify and effectively
track evacuation compliance

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and the need for additional resources
during an emergency.

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Rescue resources may be overwhelmed.

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Making a plan

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with neighbors, friends or family members
should be your first line of defense.

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Successful evacuations depend on careful
planning and preparation.

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But our success in keeping you safe
also depends on you.

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Make sure you and everyone
in your family register for VC Alert.

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Visit www dot VC

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alert dot org or text VC Alert.

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2313131.

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Remember if we can't reach
you, we can't alert you.

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Photo Credit SKIP ROBINSON, VERTICAL MAGAZINE

1

One Question to Ask Yourself

Right Now

1 Am I in a fire-prone zone? If your home borders a natural area, what firefighters call the Wildland Urban Interface, you are at risk from a wildfire. You may live in an Ember Zone, where homes are at risk from wind-driven embers. Find out here.

Resources

Ready, Set, Go!

Ready, Set, Go! (en Español)

Equipment Use Safety

Fire Hazard Reduction Tips

Ventura County Fire Department

City of Fillmore Fire Department

City of Oxnard Fire Department

City of Ventura Fire Department

Ventura County Wildfire Hazard Map

CalOES MyHazards

Did you know?

Disaster recovery efforts begin almost as soon as the disaster.

During the Thomas and Hill/Woolsey Fires, recovery efforts were already underway within hours. Swift and well-planned damage assessment efforts ensured public assistance was available for local recovery efforts. Ventura County is committed to supporting city and unincorporated areas in the recovery process. Please visit Ventura County Recovers for information on recovery efforts and assistance available for fires impacting Ventura County residents.

Download Preparedness Guide

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