WILDFIRE WARNING

September 7, 2011 No Comments  

Lake Oswego, Ore. – Sept. 7, 2011 – With rising temperatures and high winds, Oregon faces the continued threat of destructive wildfires.

As fires broke throughout the Northwest on Labor Day weekend, some residents endured evacuations and many travelers encountered closures on roads, campgrounds and recreation areas. Meanwhile, firefighters braved unpredictable conditions to contain damage.

September marks National Preparedness Month and Better Business Bureau servingAlaska,OregonandWestern Washingtonurges Oregonians to be ready for possible climate hazards:

Plan: Decide what to do and where to go if natural disasters strike. Come up with an emergency plan with instructions on where to meet. Get tips and materials from the Red Cross and Federal Emergency Management Agency—or FEMA.

Prepare: Cover all bases. Get information on what to do before a wildfire from FEMA and a Wildfire Safety Checklist from the Red Cross.

• Conduct a home inventory of possessions if homeowners or renters’ insurance is in place. If not, consider purchasing coverage. Utilize Preparing the Northwest, a free resource of the NW Insurance Council.
• Keep vital documents in a fireproof safe; items may include birth certificates, Social Security cards, passports and photos.
• Create an emergency survival kit with plenty of food, water and safety materials.

Pay Attention: Be aware of what is happening locally. Stay informed through radio, television and printed news. Check with the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center, Incident Information System, Oregon Department of Forestry, Oregon Emergency Management and FEMA.

Prevent: Burn responsibly. Find tips at oregon.gov/ODF and keeporegongreen.org.

Protect: Know how to react if emergencies strike. Some individuals, families and businesses may seek disaster aid assistance or financial support for damaged property and losses not covered by insurance. Get options at disasterassistance.gov, fema.gov and oregonredcross.org.

Turn to BBB for more natural disaster tips and donation advice for relief efforts. Find additional preparedness tips at ready.gov, fema.gov and redcross.org.

 

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