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Daxon: If there’s an emergency, are you prepared? Here are some ideas

January 23, 2025

The horrible wild fires that destroyed so much of Los Angeles County could happen here, and we need to be prepared to leave our homes in case of wildfires, earthquakes or who knows what else.

One way to be ready to leave in a hurry is to have a go bag. I’ve had mine in my car’s trunk for several years. The only items I’ve used out of it are gym shoes that came in handy recently when my shoe strap broke just before I walked into church. I changed shoes and got into church on time.

You never know when you may need your go bag. Many of us living north of State College Boulevard had to evacuate in 2008 when the Freeway Complex Fire came roaring over the hills. That was when I took the go bag seriously, and we all should today.

According to the American Red Cross and other emergency services, your go bag should include a first aid kit, a gallon of water per person per day and granola bars or other non-perishable food like nuts, seeds and raisins, for example.

I keep a case or two of bottled water on hand. It would be easy to pop into the car trunk if I had to leave in an emergency.

Your go bag also should have a flashlight and extra batteries, a hand-cranked or battery-powered radio, cell phone, your computers and chargers, a Swiss army knife or other multi-use hand tool and a manual can opener. Also pack medications and personal hygiene items, including a hairbrush, toilet paper and hand sanitizer.

Also include an emergency blanket, copies of your birth and marriage certificates, passports, insurance policies and other personal documents, including checkbooks and bank books, credit cards, a copy of your will or trust, at least $200 in cash, including a roll of quarters for buying food from vending machines.

Don’t forget your family and emergency contact information, even your Christmas card address list. You might need to bunk with someone on the card list.

My go bag also includes extra socks, undies, a change of clothes and N95 masks.

The Red Cross and other sources sell go bags filled with emergency needs. But you’d still want to add some clean socks and undies in your kit. And if you have little ones, be sure they leave with their favorite toy or stuffed animal and their blankie.

What about your pets? Diane Wiltsie, a Crestline resident who has evacuated twice due to fires, told me to not pack cat litter or bags of pet food.

“You can get pet food and litter at a pet store,” said Wiltsie. Maybe pack a small bag of dry food, just in case. And don’t forget Lassie’s leach and a sturdy carrier for Sammy the cat.

Cheryl Pirih, another Crestline resident and past evacuee said, “Take photos of the outside of your house, each room and even contents of drawers.”

If your house burns down, those photos will be a big help dealing with insurance and rebuilding. She also recommends taking irreplaceable items like special photos.

One Christmas I received a gift of a “Survival in a Bottle,” a 32-oz. plastic water bottle filled with a flashlight, AA batteries, a survival blanket, an emergency poncho, a whistle, a reusable zip-lock bag and a carabineer to clip to a belt loop. I keep this mini- survival kit in my car. It can hook onto my go bag if the need to evacuate happens again.

To be even better prepared, take a first aid class or the next CERT – Citizens Emergency Response Team – 20-hour training, starting Feb. 27.

Terri Daxon is a freelance writer and the owner of Daxon Marketing Communications. She gives her perspective on Brea issues twice a month. Contact her at [email protected].

Orange County Register

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Daxon: If there’s an emergency, are you prepared? Here are some ideas

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