Wild Fires all over Colorado - what if a Wild Fire gets close to your house?

Wildfires are expected to be worse this year in Colorado, than in any other year.

The threat of a wildfire near your house, your work, or your apartment is real. Almost Every day in the Spring

there are wildfire evacuation orders here in Colorado.

Be sure to keep an eye on local fires on the internet. Here's a site that updates hourly.

https://data.coloradoan.com/fires/. 

Listen to your local news and weather channels when the wind is really bad so you get as much

notice to prepare as possible.

The day I decided to post this blog, this video popped up on my phone. Please watch the whole thing, it's only 2 min and 48 seconds. This woman never heard any sirens. Just cars honking in the street. She said she didn't pay attention because they weren't in her driveway. By the time she decided to go see what was going on, the tree in her back yard was engulfed in flames and she only had time to unleash her two dogs. She lost everything she owned. Her house and car are just ashes..and she's in Monte Vista, Colorado.  https://youtu.be/H3dBCAk-s1o

Sometimes, you'll get 5 minutes or less to be out of your house with the police pounding your door and everyone screaming get out get out get out...  But, if you keep and eye on the weather and local fires, you'll have much more time to prepare, and you'll be able to grab more things to make you and your family more comfortable.

If you only have 5 minutes, it will be life or death, get out of your house. But if you have a few hours, you can pack your purse in your car, medications, laptop and most of your small valuables. So the more time you have to prepare, the better. My entire family uses the website above and we all take turns checking it thougout the day. 

If a wildfire gets close to your house, you should do these things right away.

Turn off your heater/airconditioner so it doesn't suck smoke or embers into your house.

Take all curtains off your windows and closed all windows and doors

Turn off the gas and all pilot lights in your home. Don't forget the water heater and your fireplace.

If you have gallons of water, move it all in plain sight so the firemen can use it to put out fires in your house

Keep your lawn watered and make sure you have water hoses connected to all outdoor faucets so the firemen 

  can use them.

Turn on every light in your house so the firemen can see easier, and so that firemen can see your house from the street

Start today, and create a new email account with your family last name and zip code like davis80918@yahoo.com

Scan and email your birth certificates, bank info, insurance, vet records, Driver's Lic and SS Cards and tax records.

You can also scan and email all of your family photos. 

Don't rely on just a hard drive that you may forget to grab,or can get damaged. From an email account, you can access your records from anywhere, even if you have to go to a library to use a computer. 

When the sirens go off, you will have 5 minutes or less, to get out of your house, so keep your go bags beside the door ready to go, or put them in your car. 

You may not have time to get shoes or your children's shoes if you are freaking out trying to get your kids, pets and your purse, so make an emergency bag that has every single thing your family might need for 3 or 5 days. 

So, TODAY, get started gathering items and make sure they are already in your car so you can concentrate on getting your pets and family into your car, and not worrying about what you need to grab, and where it is..  

Food, bottled water, meds, food you don't have to cook uncase you are not able to. We also packed a coffee pot that just heats water so we can add hot chocolate in case it's really cold.

Spare blankets and throw pillows in case you can't get a hotel room and you're stuck in your car. 

Car chargers and a charging cord that plugs into your cigarette lighter and lets you use a wall plug in so you can at least watch DVD movies on your laptop in your car. 

One spare pair of shoes for each family member in case your shoes and clothes get wet.  

Baby wipes, toilet paper and hand sanitizer

Don't forget kitty litter, pet food and pet medications, dog collars and leashes. 

Make a basic first aid kit with bandaids, antibiotic cream, ace bandages, 

tylenol, ibuprofen and cough and cold medicine. 

The Family Fudge has some excellent videos on YouTube that you should see. They will give you some really great ideas and more things to gather that I'm sure I left out.

In a large catastrophe, ATMs may not work so you'll need some cash.  You can always run into Walmart and grab a rotisserie chicken and loaf of bread so you have something warm and quick to eat. 

If you have the time and space, make a toiletries bag. It's cheaper to put these bags together with all the things

that you already have, without going to buy it all brand new.  Shampoo, toothpaste, deoderant - If you are lucky enough to be able to get a hotel room. 

One last thought, if you have renters or home owner's insurance, did you know you need the serial number of all your appliances, computers, printers, TVs and other electronics or you will not get a replacement if you loose everything in a fire or tornado. Take an inventory and take a video of your home and belongings. 

Spend some time communicating with your family that lives out of town. Share your emergency plans with each other so that you know where everyone will be going in the event of an emergency. Choose more than 1 place in case your meeting place isn't accessible. For example, we'll meet at First and Main if that isn't an option and we can't get there, then we will all meet at the dog park on Second Street. 

I hope you start working on all of this today, and don't wait until it is too late. Get only your belongings that you just can't live without. Don't pack everything in your home. Beds, furniture and appliances can all be replaced. You and your family can not.