VOLUNTEER DONATE SUBSCRIBE Published: 8th December 2017

California Wildfires: How to Safeguard and Protect Yourself

PC: Ryan Cullon Ventura County Fire Department

Thousands forced to evacuate. Southern California fires are rising quickly and are posing an extreme threat. Be prepared to ensure the safety of you and your loved ones.

Los Angeles, California: This past week, California has been ravaged by wildfires and officials have issued an emergency "extreme fire danger" alert to counties around Los Angeles. The damage is extensive; wildfires have claimed over 300 homes, business, and other buildings. The raging plumes of fire have forced over 200,000 people to evacuate their homes and flee towards safety. The smoke has forced main highways and over 300 schools to close due to safety concerns.

Chief Ken Pimlott of Cal Fire stated, "more than 110,000 acres have been engulfed by the wildfires. Forecasters are using a purple color to indicate an extreme fire risk, which is an unprecedented designation." The threat of the fires looms over California as thousands of firefighters are called to action.

In this moment of time, it is critical to protect yourself and your family by evacuating to safety and using precautions to remain safe in the face of the wildfires. Please reference and share the UNITED SIKHS Fire Readiness flyer to help secure your safety. These policies and recommendations are based on guidelines provided by national emergency preparedness agencies.

Advice for Residents Threatened by Wildfires: Evacuate away from the fire zones as soon as possible. Remain on high alert and monitor the news for updates on the fire. Practice safety by wearing face masks to guard against smoke. Boil water to ensure no residue from the destruction is being ingested. Contact your insurance companies. Most will cover hotel stays, apart from the usual coverage. Call your credit card companies and have the last 3-6 months of your purchases reimbursed (get a police report that testifies you are a fire victim). If you are renting and are a minor, your parents' home insurance may cover your belongings. Call your local chain retail stores and see what aid they can offer to fire victims.

UNITED SIKHS' National Center of Disaster Relief & Emergency Preparedness (US-NCDREP) offers a variety of trainings and educational opportunities in the field of Disaster Preparedness and Humanitarian Aid. The information and resources offered are based on the guidelines provided by the Department of Homeland Security, National Disaster Interfaiths Network and various Emergency Preparedness Agencies. To bring these workshops to you, contact us at DisasterPreparedness@unitedsikhs.org . You can also reach out to 1-888-243-1690 for any urgent assistance required.

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Issued by,
Gurvinder Singh
Director, UNITED SIKHS
Tel: 1-646-688-3525
E: contact@unitedsikhs.org