Amber Alcoser serves as the Emergency Preparedness Coordinator in the Central Region states of Colorado and Kansas. On a regional Zoom call, Amber mentioned new wildfires that were breaking out in Colorado and how her dad did certain things when she was a child to help her know what to do in case of an emergency. Here are some worthwhile tips from Amber:
“As fire season is upon us it is a good now time to review some preparations. Fires can spring up so quickly and their intensity can leave us feeling a bit panicky. I want to encourage you to take a few minutes to think through your preparations and escape routes. I am going to list below some very practical steps.
- Sitting in a quiet space can help you focus on the task at hand.
- Box breathe for 2 minutes. Breathe in for 5 seconds, hold for 5 seconds, release for 5, hold for 5 seconds, and repeat. Breathing helps to engage the logical side of your brain while oxygenating the body to remove any stress chemicals.
- Open up your maps. Either on your computer, phone, or paper.
- Look at where you live and all the roads surrounding you.
- Ask Holy Spirit to highlight all the details and different routes.
- Stay away from major thoroughfares, highways, or one-ways.
- Seeing it on the map before an emergency is important! If you can familiarize yourself before the need arises that is even better! Sometimes a route cannot be completely accessible via GPS or phone maps as you may lose internet connection.
- Have a meeting place and time with family or friends for communal help or safety. Power and phone lines can be affected during emergencies. Send texts if in need as calls may not go through.
This is also a time to review checklists and gather important documents for easy access. Sometimes it is helpful to put things into a Rubbermaid container or in a central location. I want to highlight that in a stressful situation, it is hard to process logically! So even visualizing walking through your home beforehand can remind you of what is important! Which just reminded me of taking videos of rooms and the house for insurance purposes!”
As Amber said, fires start quickly and spread quickly. Make your plans in advance with several options so that in the pressure and panic of the moment, you already have an escape route in mind. Have important papers and medicines in a central location so you can grab and go when necessary.
For more information visit the website of the American Red Cross: How to Prepare For Emergencies or Evacuation Ready.gov from the U.S. Government.