In the wake of the devasting fires in Los Angeles last week and the return of the Santa Ana winds this week, many clients have asked what they can do to prepare for a wildfire. Here are few actions steps you can do to prepare:
Reduce the chances of flying embers catching your home on fire
- Cut back any plant material that is touching or overhanging your home. Rake up dead leaves.
- Remove debris and leaves from the gutters and rooftop.
- Remove any combustible items from around your home including wood piles, umbrellas, and cushions.
Update your home inventory
- Video your entire home, making sure to document every room. Open up all drawers, cabinets and closets. Describe the contents as you are creating the video.
- Don’t forget the garage, attic and basement.
- Make a list of all your valuable items, such as jewelry, fine art, and other collectible items. Scan appraisals and/or the receipts for these items.
- Load your home inventory video onto the cloud.
Prepare a Go Bag
- Create a list of items to take in the event of an evacuation and prioritize the items, as you may not have time to gather everything on the list. Items to include are:
- Valuable documents – personal, financial and medical records, such as identification, passports, birth certificates, marriage certificate, health insurance cards, medication list, etc.
- Estate planning documents, such as your trust, will and power of attorney
- Home and auto insurance documents
- Medications and eyeglasses
- Cell phone chargers
- Baby supplies
- Pet supplies
- Credit or debit cards and extra cash in case ATMs aren’t working
- Irreplaceable family heirlooms
- Extra clothing and sturdy shoes
- First aid kit