The City of Santa Rosa has made significant enhancements in our ability to alert and warn our community in the event of a disaster, including wildfires. Our goal is to provide early notification whenever possible, so our community has time to safely evacuate. Wildfires can happen at any moment, especially during fire season and the threat typically increases during Fall season. It is especially critical that seniors and those with special needs or disabilities develop and implement their emergency plans.
Residents should learn how to protect themselves by planning for the need to evacuate, regardless of physical limitations. We recommend that our senior community form a support network that includes family, neighbors, and friends. Have a kit or go-bag, make a plan, and be informed.
Planning ahead helps to reduce anxiety. Consider having a member of your support team sign up to receive emergency alerts through SoCoAlert and add your address to their new or existing SoCoAlert account. This way, the person or team you’ve identified will be notified if you’re alerted and it will prompt them to check in on you.
If you live in an area that is in the wildlandurban interface (WUI), prone to wildfires or you require extra time to evacuate, consider relocating or staying out of the area during critical fire weather events specifically affecting your area such as a Red Flag Warning. There’s no reason you should wait for an evacuation order or warning to leave if you don’t feel safe or comfortable being in the area.
Learn more about how to prepare our seniors, including those with access and functional needs, to evacuate in the event of a wildfire by:
- Reviewing the CAL Fire Wildfire Ready webpage found in our Property Owner Resource Library at srcity.org/WildfireReady.
- Reading the Red Cross' Disaster Preparedness For Seniors by Seniors guidebook here.