Now is the Time to Make Your Evacuation Plan, By LizAnne Jensen

FEATURED COLUMNIST Now is the Time to Make Your Evacuation Plan

By LizAnne Jensen

Iam a board member of the Fire Safe Council of Santa Cruz County. My husband and I recently evacuated for the third time from our beloved home in Bonny Doon, thanks to the CZU Lightning Complex Fire.

As you might expect, we’ve learned a few things. As we continue through this historic fire season and look ahead to next year, I want to share my story. I made a 2020 New Year’s resolution to take detailed photos of our entire property,

LizAnne Jensen since insurers typically will not reimburse you for lost items unless you have proof you really had them.

I went into every room, opened every drawer, and photographed everything I saw. The process took me about two months. Using the photos, I documented everything we have, including every book, every plant in our garden, every tool in our tool shed, and everything in each of our cars. I put copies of the photos on two thumb drives and sent them to two relatives who live outside our area.

After I finished the photo project, I took a notepad and made a list of everything I would want to take with me if I had

“Volunteer Center” from page 24

“This project has been maintained with the support of our community for more than 30 years,” she added. “Despite the challenges that have come with 2020, we are confident their generosity will shine through again. Because the need is so great, we’ve increased the number of families we serve to include families impacted by the fires. We know that the act of giving also brings us joy, and it’s my pleasure to help those most in need.”

There are a number of ways to support the project. Individuals can call the adoption line between now and Dec. 9 or they can select a family through the online adoption portal on the Volunteer Center website. Additionally, individual contributions of items, gift certificates or cash can be made. Donations can be made online

Photo courtesy of Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety Homes in a neighborhood destroyed by fire. time and space. I used one page for each binder. When we evacuated on evening of part of the house. Aug. 18, I pulled it out and started staging

Then I prioritized the items on each things to go in two piles: page, with the most important items at the • What we needed to keep but were not top. I colored in red all the things at the top likely to use while we were evacuated. of each page that I would not want to live This pile included original artwork, without. photos, tax documents, deeds, etc.

Next, I spread out the lists and looked • What we were likely to use as soon at the red items, made a master page that as we got settled. This included comcontained those, and then ranked them in puters and electronic gear, clothing, order of importance. pet needs, medications, etc.

Finally, I printed out the pages and We loaded into the car first the stuff put them in a red binder. It was a relief to we weren’t planning to use, and then have a “grab and go” list with my master piled on top the stuff we knew we would list at the front, and the individual pages need most. Packing your car to evacuate following. can be a complicated and frustrating

About three months later, I needed that task.

Based on our experience with three evacuations, I recommend using cloth bags to pack the car, like the ones you take to the grocery store. You can stuff things in them, particularly documents.

Once you tie off the handles, they will wedge in just about anywhere.

Fortunately, this time around, we had about eight hours before we had to leave. It was incredibly helpful and calming to know in advance what to grab.

Just before leaving at 3 a.m., we reviewed the pages in our “grab and go” binder and confirmed we had gathered up everything we had marked on our checklist.

Though we’re well into fall now, the danger of wildfires remains.

If you were lucky enough not to be affected by the terrible CZU Fire, now is a good time to work on an evacuation plan.

Preparing for an evacuation is a lot of hard work. Even if you only take the time to document all your spaces with photos, imagine how important this would be if you are faced with the unimaginable loss that hundreds of our friends and neighbors experienced in August.

Believe me, when the time comes, you will be so glad you did it. n •••

LizAnne Jensen is a board member of the

Fire Safe Council of Santa Cruz County. or mailed to the Volunteer Center at 1740 17th Ave, Santa Cruz, CA. 95062. And community members are invited to volunteer. n •••

For information, contact the Volunteer Center Adopt a Family Project at (831) 4579834 or visit www.scvolunteercenter.org

Wednesday December 2

SIXTH ANNUAL STATE OF THE REGION 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Monterey Bay Economic Partnership Virtual Event Monterey Bay Economic Partnership’s 6th Annual State of the Region will be a virtual event from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 2

Bruce Katz, founding director, Nowak Metro Finance Lab at Drexel University, will share insights on how COVID-19 has highlighted the power of local communities. He is an expert in shifting demographic and market trends and policies that are critical to metropolitan prosperity.

Dr. Micah Weinberg, CA Forward CEO, will discuss

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

how California is building an equitable and resilient recovery. Jessica Morse, deputy secretary for forest resources management at the California Natural Resources Agency, will speak on lessons learned from this year’s fire siege, including strategies implemented to make the state more fire resilient and solutions around biomass.

Short talks will address broadband access, progress on a vaccine for COVID-19, and the importance of local investing.

State Sen. Anna Caballero will address next steps for housing in California.

This year’s Community Impact Award goes to leaders who battled 2020’s incredible fire siege. Accepting on behalf of their colleagues are: David Fulcher, CalFire San Benito/Monterey Unit Chief, Michael Urquides, Monterey Regional Fire Chief, Jonathan Cox, CalFire San Mateo Division deputy chief and Chief Chris Clark of the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office. Tickets are $59. Register at https://attendify.co/WX2UbtG

Wednesday December 9

UNDERSTANDING ALZHEIMER’S AND DEMENTIA 10:00-11:30 a.m., The Alzheimer’s Association and Salinas Public Library Webinar Alzheimer’s disease is not a normal part of aging. Learn about the impact of Alzheimer’s; the difference between Alzheimer’s and dementia; stages and risk factors;

current research and treatments available for some symptoms; and Alzheimer’s Association resources.

Please call 800.272.3900 or visit tinyurl.com/ UADM120920 to register.

Once you complete registration for the meeting, you will receive an email confirmation with the call-in information and instructions for joining our webinar. This event will be conducted via phone and web meeting. n